Saints rookie Ingram escapes injury in Alabama car accident

New Orleans Saints rookie running back Mark Ingram came away unscathed after a car he was driving collided with an 18-wheeler early Friday morning.

The accident occurred just before 1 a.m. in Huntsville, Ala., according to WAFF-TV.

Ingram took to Twitter to update fans on his well-being.

"Thanks for everyone's prayers and concerns," Ingram tweeted. "I'm perfectly fine, not one scratch!"

According to the accident report, both vehicles were traveling southbound on Leeman Ferry Road approaching Metro Circle in Huntsville. As the truck's driver, Paul Clewis, prepared to turn right onto Metro Circle from Leeman Ferry Road, he said he made a wide turn.

Police said Ingram failed to yield right of way to the truck and hit it on the passenger side of the cab. Ingram told police the truck driver didn't signal before making the turn.

Huntsville police said neither drugs nor alcohol was involved in the crash. Neither Ingram nor Clewis was cited for the accident.

Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, was drafted No. 28 overall in April by the Saints, who gave up a 2011 second-round choice and a 2012 first-round selection to the New England Patriots to trade up for the running back.

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Saints' Payton hosts beach football game with Cowboys stars

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton had to go on vacation to find a football game.

Payton, at his holiday home in WaterColor, Fla., organized a beach football clash Saturday with a Dallas Cowboys-heavy guest list: quarterback Tony Romo, tight end Jason Witten and Hall of Fame signal-caller Troy Aikman. Detroit Lions linebacker Bobby Carpenter, formerly of the Cowboys, also joined in the spirited 7-on-7 matchup, according to SportsNola.com.

"It got so competitive to where the whole beach was watching," Payton told the website. "A highlight for me was my son Connor caught a touchdown pass from Romo. No, he didn't spike it -- he knows better."

For those wondering if Payton's beach football game violates the lingering lockout's "no-contact" policy, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tweeted in April that it does allow for "normal social interaction" between players and coaches.

Payton served as an assistant with the Cowboys from 2003 to 2005 and ruffled some feathers in March when he moved his family from New Orleans to a gated community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, leading to rumors that he was eyeing a front-office position with the Cowboys, according to SportsNOLA.com. But Payton, who has two more years on his Saints contract, hasn't given any indication that he's looking to move on from the team.

Payton said his assistants decided to take their scheduled vacations this month with hopes that the season will start on time.

"It's been real quiet," Payton said. "Obviously, we pay attention. We're all waiting to hear good news. I get the news from the Internet, or the newspaper, or the TV just like you do. I'll touch base once a week with (Saints general manager) Mickey (Loomis)."

Payton acknowledged that the lockout presents new challenges to coaches and front-office personnel around the league.

"There are going to have to be some ground rules to operate that transition into training camp," Payton said. "If you were to ask me what's the first thing I'd like to have, it's a period of time with the rookies to get them jump-started like you normally would have had after the draft.

"That has been in the back of my mind as something that's possibly on the horizon, if and when this is resolved within a certain time frame. We'd like to do that, but we'll have to acquiesce to whatever we're told by the league. But what I'd like to do is have a 2- or 3-day rookie orientation. I'd like to have that take place before the start of training camp if it's possible. It may not be."

Said Payton: "I'm optimistic that we're going to play preseason games. I'm sure there is a lot to do, but the good news is, it's July 2nd. I know there is the Hall of Fame Game in early August, and there are other things to consider, but logistics vary from team to team. I really think the only thing you can do is remain optimistic and just stay on top of it as best you can."

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Saints wrap up workouts, pleased with what they've achieved

NEW ORLEANS -- Drew Brees launched a high, hard throw down the middle of the field and into the end zone, where second-year tight end Jimmy Graham leapt to grab it over his shoulder, out of reach of the nearest defender.

That's the kind of timing play the Saints were able to hone during six weeks of player-organized workouts at Tulane University. Those sessions are coming to an end this week. The plan now is to treat what would normally be vacation time as exactly that and hope that their next gathering is back at team headquarters for training camp in late July with an NFL labor agreement in place.

Brees said Wednesday that a sense of optimism that the NFL lockout's end was nearing has spread among Saints players this week in light of reports that representatives of owners and players were meeting and making progress. He also warned his teammates not to take anything for granted.

"I tell them there's a lot of hypotheticals," Brees said. "I just try to prepare the guys -- hope for the best, prepare for the worst. And that's been what we've had to do this whole time."

Brees and veteran teammates, including defensive captain Jonathan Vilma, designed the workouts to mimic what the Saints would normally have done at team headquarters during spring. After Thursday's session, they'll start nearly six weeks of vacation, hoping that a new collective bargain agreement is complete by the time Saints players are scheduled to report for training camp on July 27.

If the lockout endures into the fall, Brees said he is not yet sure what he might do to bring teammates together to train again. If training camp starts on time, Brees suspects his decision to organize workouts at Tulane will prove particularly fruitful.

"We always wanted to stay ready and feel like we were gaining an edge," Brees said. "I feel like we have been very organized.

"It has been great work for the past six weeks. Thirty-plus guys just about every day coming out, a combination of everything we would be doing at our own facility, but we're locked out. And yet we've found a way to work."

Players attending the workouts included free agents who played with the Saints last season and hope to be back, as well as rookies selected in the NFL draft who have yet to sign their first pro contracts.

Veterans took responsibility for helping the rookies on both sides of the ball adapt to the pro game and the Saints' schemes.

"You've got to throw them into the fire a little bit," Brees said. "Obviously, we've had some classroom time with them and some opportunity just to talk through fundamentals and position-specific stuff. Then you just throw them out there and let the natural athlete and the natural competitor come out in them and see what their strengths are."

Saints players pushed each other on the field and in the weight room and banded together to organize some of their own charity events, including two raffles in which fans were invited to spend a day with players and even practice with them.

Together, both raffles raised about $105,000, Brees said. Although the charities have not been selected, some of the money is expected to benefit Tulane's scholarship fund and victims of recent Mississippi River flooding in Louisiana. Other local charities might benefit as well.

"Everything we do, we have a purpose for," Brees said. "With the raffle it was, No. 1, to give fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When would they ever have the chance to practice with an NFL team and be in the mix? That wouldn't happen unless we were in a lockout and we make the rules. Secondly, the charitable aspect to it. We had the chance to raise six figures in charitable dollars for the community. That's a great thing."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Saints' Meachem played 'pretty much every game' hurt in 2010

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem believes he'll be healthy enough to contribute in training camp following February ankle surgery, Sporting News reported Thursday.

Meachem acknowledged that his 2010 campaign -- on the heels of a career-best 45 catches and nine touchdowns in 2009 -- was spent in pain.

"Pretty much every game," said Meachem, who managed 44 catches for 638 yards and five TDs. "But that's the deal we go through. After the third week, I don't think anybody in the NFL is healthy. But if training camp starts on time (in late July), I'll be ready."

Meachem had to be carried off the field following a postgame collision with a photographer after the Saints' Week 16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons last season. Meachem tripped over the photographer, who was on the field shooting photos, but he still appeared in the Saints' regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (with one catch for 5 yards) and playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks (three catches for 29 yards).

Meachem underwent surgery last May to fix torn cartilage on the second toe of his left foot. After being a first-round draft pick, he missed his rookie season in 2007 because of a knee injury.

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White's Katrina tweet gives Saints bulletin-board fodder

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Roddy White regrets sending a tweet referring to Hurricane Katrina. The Atlanta Falcons star isn't backing down from anything else he posted on the popular website.

In a game that really didn't need any additional hype, White managed to stir things up with some incendiary comments he wrote on Twitter leading up to Monday night's crucial contest between the NFC-leading Falcons and the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

White's teammates claim it's nothing out of the ordinary, just some good-natured trash talk from perhaps their most outspoken player.

"There's nothing wrong with promoting the fight, just like boxers do," Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez said Thursday. "A lot of fans like that stuff. It's just like boxing. We're promoting the fight. Roddy is promoting the fight, getting it hyped. He's our hype man. He's our Don King."

The Saints don't see it that way, especially when White brought up the devastating hurricane that slammed into the Big Easy five years ago.

Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove said White crossed the line when he started taking shots "at not just us, but our fans, our city. We're not going to talk about you Roddy, but inside, these guys are definitely upset."

"Thanks, Roddy, for the motivation," Hargrove added.

White initially went on Twitter this week to complain about comments made by former quarterback-turned-TV analyst Trent Dilfer, who said New Orleans was capable of winning twice in Atlanta, including the playoffs, to earn a return to the Super Bowl.

"No chance in hell the Aints come into the dome and win once trent dilfer," White wrote.

Naturally, that stirred the ire of the Saints and their supporters. Defensive end Will Smith tweeted back, questioning how White "has the audacity to call us AINT'S." Some replies, apparently from Saints fans, were downright crude.

White kept up the war of words Wednesday.

"The grace of god gave them tht championship so tht city wouldn fall apart now and now they think they hot (obscenity)," he wrote.

In hindsight, White said, that post was probably over the line.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I really didn't say anything about the hurricane, but they took it that way. I wasn't trying to say anything mean about the city. I was just talking about the sports team. I am a football player. This is a sports topic. But everybody took it like, 'He hopes the city of New Orleans dies or something.' Come on, are you serious, man? It's not that serious."

Falcons coach Mike Smith said he spoke to White about his social networking but declined to reveal any details. White insisted that his coach didn't scold him for the posts.

"He was like, 'Roddy, just go out there and be yourself. Don't change anything that you do. You're a competitor,'" the player said.

White is the NFL's leading receiver with 106 catches for 1,284 yards and the catalyst for a star-studded Atlanta offense that also includes Gonzalez, quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner.

The Falcons (12-2) already have clinched a playoff spot, but they can wrap up the NFC South title and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs with a win over the Saints (10-4). New Orleans is one win away from clinching its playoff spot and still alive in the division race.

"I'm an ultra-competitive guy," White said. "Sometimes I express my feelings too much. But it's not like that's going to make me play any harder."

Still, there's little doubt that his Twitter posts have stirred up hard feelings in the Saints' locker room. Running back Reggie Bush even re-tweeted Smith's response to White.

"He took the words right out of my mouth," Bush said of his teammate.

He believes the New Orleans secondary will be especially eager to get some shots on White.

"Of course. And he knows that," Bush said. "Everyone else in the building knows that. And everyone watching TV on Monday night knows that. You open your mouth, you're going to have to answer to somebody."

White doesn't sound too concerned.

"I'm going to be a target every time we play those guys," he said. "Nothing is going to change. I'm just going out there and play my game, be physical and try to win my side of the ball."

White initially protested on Twitter that he was only complaining about Dilfer's comments, but some of the angry responses he received just stirred him up even more.

"The first time we played them their coach gone say after we won the game thts a good win for yall like the saints are the colts," he wrote. That was followed by, "The saints win one championship and want to go crazy well yall ... aint winning this year we gone make sure tht doesn't happen."

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Smith believes these are more than just stream-of-conciousness ramblings coming from White. The Saints player figures it's all designed to fire up the home crowd at the Georgia Dome, giving the Falcons a little extra boost in a venue where they're 6-0 this season.

"He's just trying to speak to the fans, trying to rile those guys up," Smith said. "We kind of think it's a little funny and a little over the top sometimes. He's searching for a little attention. But, I mean, if he needs to do that to get the Atlanta fans interested in a game, then more power to him."

White said he's through tweeting for the week, though he vowed to return as soon as the game is over.

"No more twittering because of the people in New Orleans," he said. "I don't want them overreacting."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Brees throws four TDs, leads Saints over Seahawks

NEW ORLEANS -- Drew Brees became the Saints' all-time completions leader, throwing for four touchdowns in New Orleans' 34-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Brees was 29 of 43 for 382 yards and completed his 1,850th pass as a Saint in the second quarter to break a record held by Archie Manning since 1982.

Brees hit Marques Colston and Robert Meachem twice each for TDs to keep the defending champion Saints (7-3) one game behind NFC South Division leader Atlanta.

Matt Hasselbeck was 32 of 44 for 366 yards, the most yards allowed by New Orleans' top-ranked passing defense this season, but Seattle (5-5) had trouble getting in the end zone. The Seahawks lost two fumbles and had four drives end with field goals.

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Saints TE Shockey suffers rib injury on 500th career catch

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey left Bank of America Stadium in an ambulance Sunday with injured ribs after scoring a touchdown on his 500th career catch.

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Shockey caught a 7-yard TD pass from Drew Brees late in the first quarter before he was hit hard by the Carolina Panthers' Charles Godfrey. Shockey staggered to his feet, then walked to the Saints' locker room.

Just before halftime, Shockey was spotted walking from the locker room to the back of an ambulance while dressed in street clothes.

The Times-Picayune reported that Shockey returned to the stadium during the second half, with the hospital trip a precautionary measure. The newspaper also reported that Shockey's injury wasn't believed to be serious.

Saints coach Sean Payton said after the game that x-rays on Shockey's ribs were negative, the Times-Picayne reported.

The milestone catch gave Shockey 33 touchdowns in his nine-year NFL career.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Saints take care of business, easily dispatch hapless Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The record is not as flashy, the offensive numbers not as gaudy and the New Orleans Saints aren't running away from the competition like last year.

The defending Super Bowl champions still like where they sit, however. Of course, everybody seems to gain confidence playing the dreadful Carolina Panthers.

Drew Brees shook off an early interception to throw two touchdown passes and Jabari Greer's interception return gave the defense its first TD of the season as New Orleans routed the Panthers 34-3 on Sunday.

The Saints (6-3) overcame the loss of tight end Jeremy Shockey to a rib injury after his touchdown catch to stay a half-game behind Atlanta in the NFC South. Rookie tight end Jimmy Graham caught his first NFL TD in Shockey's absence and the Saints held Carolina to 195 yards for their second straight win.

"We're used to last year where we ran off 13 in a row. That's hard to do," Brees said. "You know that feeling once you get on a roll and you feel like everything is going to go our way. You just believe it. We want to get back to that feeling again."

Building off an emotional home victory over Pittsburgh a week earlier, the Saints never gave the Panthers (1-7) a chance.

Carolina lost quarterback Matt Moore and running back Jonathan Stewart to first-half injuries, further depleting the league's worst offense. Rookie QB Jimmy Clausen was later benched in favor of rookie Tony Pike.

"Pretty pathetic," said receiver Steve Smith, held without a catch until the final minute. "That would be the only thing I have to say. There are no explanations, no excuses."

Brees overcame his 12th interception to complete 27 of 43 passes for 253 yards. He was replaced by Chase Daniel after Ladell Betts' 1-yard TD run made it 34-3 with 8:12 left.

It ensured the Saints would enter their bye week with as many wins as any team in the NFC.

"I think that this was a game that is really going to give our team the confidence, the know-how and the blueprint to get to where we want to get to," Greer said.

New Orleans got a boost to its banged-up secondary with the return of Greer and Tracy Porter to complete its first season sweep of Carolina since 2001.

The Panthers went 1-15 that season, and this year is looking just as bad.

"I think they tried," coach John Fox said. "I think we're not real good right now -- on offense -- not as a football team."

Moore was 3 of 6 for 13 yards before leaving with an injured throwing shoulder after Sedrick Ellis sacked him in the second quarter. Clausen was no better and Greer returned his poor pass 24 yards to make it 27-3 late in the third quarter.

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The embattled Fox yanked Clausen early in the fourth quarter after he completed 8 of 18 passes for 47 yards. Rookie Pike then made his NFL debut. The sixth-round pick from Cincinnati finished 6 of 12 for 47 yards.

"There probably wasn't much fear of a comeback at that point in the game," Fox said of benching Clausen. "It gave (Pike) valuable time."

By then, the Panthers were down to a skeleton crew and few of their home fans were still in the stands.

Stewart, starting with DeAngelo Williams (foot) missing his second straight game, left in the first quarter with a head injury after gaining 30 yards on five carries.

The Saints won a replay challenge on the play, giving them the ball when it was ruled Stewart fumbled. It set up Brees' 7-yard touchdown pass to Shockey to give New Orleans the lead for good at 7-3.

Shockey, though, injured his ribs on what was his 500th career catch and didn't return. He was sent to the hospital just before halftime.

"We took him just to make sure there was nothing else more serious," coach Sean Payton said. "The X-rays were negative."

The Saints didn't need him, not with the Panthers failing to reach double digits in points for the fourth time in eight games. And even the backups got hurt -- third-string running back Tyrell Sutton left with an ankle injury.

The Saints have had their share of injuries, too, namely to running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. They remained sidelined and the Saints got off to a slow start.

Brees bobbled a snap and rushed a throw that bounced off Robert Meachem's hands and was picked off by Richard Marshall. He returned Brees' 12th interception -- one more than he had all of last season -- 67 yards to set up John Kasay's 20-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

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That was the only offensive success for the Panthers, who finished with 68 yards passing and had two more turnovers to give them 25 on the season.

But with few options, Fox said Moore would start next week at Tampa Bay if he's healthy.

"I think he can operate our offense the best of the quarterbacks," Fox said. "unless we decide to go to the wishbone."

Notes: The Panthers also lost LB Dan Connor (hip) and DE Greg Hardy (head). ... S Darren Sharper (hamstring) and RB Chris Ivory (shoulder) left for the Saints. ... The Panthers several times had no down linemen on obvious passing downs, rushing players from off the line of scrimmage.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Saints RB Thomas using crutches, unsure about injury status

Pierre Thomas hobbled into the New Orleans Saints' locker room on crutches Thursday, keeping weight off his sprained left ankle and sounding perplexed about why his recovery is going so much slower than he'd hoped.

"I really don't know what's the whole problem. Everybody keeps saying it's a sprain or maybe a little tear there," Thomas said. "I don't know for sure if that's true. I'm hearing so many different stories. I don't know what to believe."

With Pierre Thomas in line to miss another start, both Chris Ivory and Ladell Betts should be avoided in the Saints' tough matchup with the Steel Curtain. More ...

Thomas, the Saints' leading rusher in 2009, accounted for 280 total yards from scrimmage and one rushing touchdown in the first three games of this season. His injury occurred while he was being tackled late in the fourth quarter of a Week 3 overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Thomas returned for the extra period in that game and gained 23 yards on a screen.

Thomas even returned to practice on a limited basis three days before New Orleans' Week 4 loss at Arizona.

At that time, Saints coach Sean Payton sounded optimistic that Thomas was close to returning when he spoke about the possibility of both the running back and safety Roman Harper (then slowed by a hamstring pull) playing in the Cardinals game.

"They were limited, but they got work today, and both of them are progressing quickly," Payton said then, adding that the players would be game-time decisions that week.

Thomas hasn't practiced since, though he seemed to be making progress Wednesday when he was present for the portion of practice open to reporters, participated in the team stretch and did some light jogging.

During the open portion of practice Thursday, however, Thomas was nowhere to be seen.

"All I'm thinking about is just trying to get healthy, just trying to get better," Thomas said. "I was told to stay off my foot. So that's why I'm in the crutches and in the boot. They told me to take a little pressure off, be on crutches for a little while just see how it does."

Thomas said he hasn't been given a timetable on his return, but he doesn't fault the doctors and trainers who have diagnosed and treated the injury.

"I'm not upset with anybody -- no person. I'm upset with my injury," Thomas said. "It's taking too long."

Fellow running back Reggie Bush also didn't practice Thursday as he continues to recover from a broken bone in his lower right leg. It's highly unlikely that Bush will return this week, a league source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Wednesday.

"Both with him and Pierre, there's a little bit of wait and see," Payton said Thursday. "They'd have to do something more than what we've seen these first two days (of practice this week). In Pierre's case, we put him in a walking boot to take some of the pressure off after his workouts leading up to this week, trying to rest it. So it will be unlikely that he gets to practice, and then with Reggie, we'll just monitor him again. We'll list the game status (Friday)."

There were signs of the Saints getting healthier on defense. Starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer (left shoulder) and Tracy Porter (left knee) both practiced Thursday on a limited basis, as did linebacker Scott Shanle.

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Greer was injured during the Saints' Week 6 victory at Tampa Bay. Porter had arthroscopic surgery to repair his left lateral meniscus after injuring himself in Week 4. Shanle has missed two games since pulling his left hamstring.

Porter said he felt "pretty good," but he wasn't yet sure if he'd play Sunday.

"I'd like to," Porter said. "But I want to be smart, just as my coaches and my trainers want to be smart with me as well. If they don't feel it's the right time, they're going to hold me out. But if they tell me I can go, I'm definitely going to be happy and excited about that."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Brees, struggling Saints insist they aren't in panic mode

METAIRIE, La. -- Drew Brees still smells greatness in the New Orleans Saints' locker room, even though they stunk up the Louisiana Superdome during their most recent performance against the struggling Cleveland Browns.

"We're all in the midst of trying to put our finger on what exactly is going on," Brees said Monday, one day after the Saints dropped to 4-3 with a stunning 30-17 loss to the Browns. "We know the type of team we have. We know the type of work ethic we have. The effort is there. Guys want to win. Guys want to be great."

Last season, the Saints wore T-shirts around the locker room that read, "smell greatness," a motto derived from a motivational speech they received from San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott. The Saints won their first 13 games in 2009, lost just three all season and won their first Super Bowl.

In 2010, the Saints have vacillated from super (a 31-6 road victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), to so-so (close wins over the struggling Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers) to plain sloppy (turnover-filled losses to the Browns and Arizona Cardinals).

Brees, who threw 11 interceptions all of last season, already has 10 in this campaign, tying him with Minnesota's Brett Favre for the NFL lead in that category entering Monday night's Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants game.

Against Cleveland, Brees' passes were intercepted four times, tying a career high for one game, and two were returned for touchdowns by linebacker David Bowens. Brees also was sacked three times by the Browns, and the Saints were penalized seven times for 98 yards, too.

Brees also threw three interceptions during a 30-20 loss at Arizona.

Coach Sean Payton said Brees' turnovers, as well as the lack of interceptions by New Orleans' defense, are symptomatic of the Saints not jumping out to big leads as they did so often last season.

"Certainly your chances of turning the ball over from an interception go up if you're playing come-from-behind football," Payton said, pointing out that teams are often forced to throw more when trailing. "It gets back to being in a position where you're playing with a lead, playing with balance. As soon as you become one-dimensional, it becomes more difficult."

At the same time, Payton said, opposing offenses have had an easier time calling conservative plays and protecting the football, limiting takeaways by a Saints defense that was among the best in the league in that category last season.

"The way we practice and the effort we give, I think the turnovers will come," Payton said. "The difference this season clearly is that there haven't been many cases or series or quarters where we've played with a lead of above a score compared to a year ago. When (a team has a two-score lead), the defense has more opportunities to rush the passer and the opposition is one-dimensional."

On paper, New Orleans' defense appears to be one of the bright spots on the team, ranking fourth overall in yards allowed per game, compared to 25th last season. All-Pro safety Darren Sharper, who on Sunday played his first game since having offseason knee surgery, said using such stats to judge the Saints' defense can be tricky.

"Now we're top-five, but we haven't created as many turnovers as last year, so is the defense better than last year, or is the defense worse?" he asked.

"We don't worry about stats," Sharper continued. "Getting takeaways is what we pride ourselves on doing and that's the biggest factor in changing the makeup of a game and whether or not you win or you lose."

Brees said the whole team was mindful of how hard it can be to defend a title, and how often recent NFL champions have faltered the following season, a phenomenon often referred to as the "Super Bowl hangover."

The Saints never underestimated how hard it would be to maintain last season's excellence. They're simply disappointed they have struggled to play well consistently through the first seven weeks. It only gets harder this week, with the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) visiting Sunday night.

"We're never going to panic, but there's definitely a sense of urgency," Brees said. "We just have to really focus on the details -- not letting anything slide, from being on time to meetings, from what you're doing in the film room, what you're doing in the weight room, what you're doing in the training room, taking care of your body. Just don't let a single thing slide. Make sure you're accountable to one another. That's what everybody's preaching right now."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Saints RB Bush says he's clear to test leg that was broken

Reggie Bush expressed optimism Monday that he can practice this week on his healing right leg and possibly play Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The New Orleans Saints' star running back, who has missed five games since fracturing his right fibula in Week 2, said team doctors have told him he has healed enough to test his leg at full-speed.

Bush said he plans to try that when the Saints return to practice Wednesday.

"I expect to go out there and see what I can do," Bush said. "I don't know if I can practice, if I'm going to be 100 percent. I'm just going to go out there and give it my best shot. I feel good, but I haven't gone out there."

Bush said his leg has responded well to strength and conditioning exercises with the training staff during the past few weeks. However, he cautioned that he isn't sure how he'll feel when he tries to make sharp, lateral cuts typically required of him during games. Bush said doctors have told him he'll know he's ready to play when he can tolerate those types of football moves.

"I'm an explosive player, so it's different doing things in the training room than getting out there on the football field and making those hard cuts and routes and all those things," Bush said. "I've got to play a whole football game, not just an hour in the training room."

Bush's injury occurred when players piled on him while he recovered his muffed punt during the fourth quarter of the Saints' 25-22 victory at San Francisco.

Before his injury, Bush had been most effective in the passing and punt-return games. He had a 6-yard touchdown catch and 43-yard punt return against the 49ers. He was off to a slow start as a rusher, gaining just 18 yards on seven carries.

The Saints (4-3) have gone 2-3 in the five games that Bush has missed. Although Bush isn't always prolific, the Saints consider him a threat to score at any time and value his versatility.

"It's going to be wait and see this week," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We're optimistic, yet we're guarded. I think we just have to pay attention to how this work week goes."

Bush said he is eager to return, but he must be cautious.

"It's all about being safe and being 100 percent and being sure that you're ready to go out there and contribute without having any lingering pain or nagging injuries or anything like that," he said.

Payton also addressed speculation of tension between the team and injured starting running back Pierre Thomas, who has been slow to recover from an ankle injury.

"There hasn't been any tiff," Payton said. "Certainly we're all frustrated with the progress of Pierre's rehab. Anything specific in that matter would be between Pierre and I, and the club."

Pressed further on the matter, Payton continued: "Like I said, anything that takes place with Pierre and myself in those meetings is certainly not for you. Listen. You're asking me a question, I'm telling you the answer. All right? I'm telling you we're all frustrated. ... We're all frustrated with the injury, all right? We're disappointed it's taken this long. And any communication -- and certainly Pierre and I are on the same page -- is for us, the club, the player, and it's simple."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Saints sign ex-Seahawks RB Jones, cut kicker Carney

The New Orleans Saints decided they needed a new running back more than two field-goal kickers.

Hoping to boost a running game that ranks 31st in the NFL through five games, the Saints on Tuesday signed former Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones and released 46-year-old kicker John Carney.

The Seahawks released Jones on Oct. 5 to clear a roster spot for Marshawn Lynch, whom they acquired from the Buffalo Bills in a trade. Jones, 29, restructured his contract and took a hefty pay cut right before the start of the season, then carried the ball just 12 times for 30 yards in two games for Seattle this season.

Jones was the Seahawks' leading rusher the previous two seasons, gaining 663 yards last season and 698 yards in 2008. Now he joins a Saints backfield that has been hurt by injuries and bad bounces.

The Saints, who are averaging just 75.6 rushing yards per game, have lost two of three games since running back Reggie Bush fractured a bone in his lower right leg. Pierre Thomas, the team's leading rusher last season, has missed the past two games with a left ankle injury. Backup Ladell Betts lost a fumble that was returned for a score and tipped a pass that was intercepted Sunday during the Saints' 30-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Betts and undrafted rookie Chris Ivory have received all the work at running back the last two games, and Saints coach Sean Payton said as recently as Monday that he didn't plan to look for another option at the position.

"These are guys that we have a lot of confidence in," Payton said Monday of Betts and Ivory. "I felt a week ago that Ladell played very well. ... I thought Chris ran hard (Sunday). We'll keep coaching them. These are our guys. There's no one walking in here to save the day on the street right now."

The coach's stance apparently shifted Tuesday, when the Saints also announced that they signed safety Matt Giordano, a free agent, and waived reserve running back DeShawn Wynn.

Carney signed with the Saints in late September to fill in for struggling Garrett Hartley, who was inactive the past two weeks but is poised to reclaim the job now. Carney made five of six field-goal attempts in two games, missing the final one -- from 29 yards out -- late in the third quarter of the Saints' loss at Arizona.

Giordano is a six-year veteran who spent four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and was with the Green Bay Packers in 2009. The Saints must play at least one more week without free safety Darren Sharper, who began the season on the physically unable to perform list. New Orleans also lost reserve safety Chris Reis to a season-ending shoulder injury two weeks ago.

Wynn has played in four games for the Saints this season and made two tackles on special teams.

Running back Clifton Smith, a former Pro Bowl kick returner who was waived by the Miami Dolphins last month, and defensive back Quincy Butler, who was with the St. Louis Rams last year after being on the Saints' practice squad for part of the 2008 season, also worked out with the Saints on Tuesday, NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported, citing league sources.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Defense regroups to lead Cards over Saints

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Max Hall's debut as Arizona's quarterback was a winning one as the Cardinals defense intercepted three passes by Drew Brees and went on to a 30-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The undrafted rookie from BYU completed 17 of 27 passes for 168 yards, Jay Feely kicked three field goals and Kerry Rhodes returned a fumble 27 yards for a score to lead the way.

Hall threw an interception that led to an early Saints field goal and fumbled twice, but both turned out to be key plays for Arizona (3-2). The first was returned 2 yards by Cardinals tackle Levi Brown for a touchdown. Guard Alan Faneca pounced on the other for a 10-yard gain.

Arizona's defense, awful in a 41-10 loss at San Diego a week earlier, converted two turnovers by the Saints (3-2) into touchdowns.

Rhodes returned Ladell Betts' fumble for a score and, with 10 seconds to play, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie returned an interception 28 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.

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Payton unsure if injured Saints DE Smith, RB Thomas will play

METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said Thursday that he still hasn't decided whether or not to play running back Pierre Thomas and defensive end Will Smith this weekend at Arizona.

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Payton said Smith, who has a groin pull, was able to participate in some individual work, but he sat out all of the team drills for a second consecutive day. Thomas also missed his second day of practice this week after sitting out last weekend's victory over the Carolina Panthers with a left ankle injury.

If Thomas cannot play, Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory will handle running back duties, as they did against the Panthers.

Payton said he doesn't want to discuss who might start at cornerback for the injured Tracy Porter. The coach said it could be Randall Gay, recently re-signed veteran Leigh Torrence or rookie Patrick Robinson.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Saints' Porter expected to miss 3 to 4 weeks after knee surgery

METAIRIE, La. -- Another player who contributed to the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl run has to be replaced for a few games.

Tracy Porter will be out three to four weeks after arthroscopic surgery to repair the lateral meniscus in his left knee, leaving a team that has already looked vulnerable without one of its starting cornerbacks.

Four regulars were unable to practice Wednesday: Porter, defensive end Will Smith (groin), and running backs Reggie Bush (right fibula) and Pierre Thomas (left ankle). Then there were players -- including strong safeties Roman Harper (hamstring) and Pierson Prioleau (chest) -- who were banged up but practiced on a limited basis with the hope of being able to play at Arizona on Sunday.

"Part of the success that you have in this league has a lot to do with how you respond to injuries and how a team can persevere through some of the unfortunate things that happen," said Prioleau, a special teams captain who started at safety last Sunday in place of Harper but was knocked out of the game on kick coverage.

"It's obvious that we've had to endure some injuries to some key players in key spots on this team, but it's going to show the mark of the team that we are to have the ability to come out and still produce on the field with the guy that's next in line."

In all, 19 players were listed on New Orleans' injury report, although 12 practiced fully.

The Saints (3-1) have found a way to win and are tied for first place in the NFC South. But their performances haven't approached the level of dominance they displayed last season, when they won each of their first six games by double digits.

After opening the season with a five-point win over Minnesota, the Saints edged winless San Francisco with a last second field goal, lost to the Falcons in overtime after missing a field goal that could have won it, and then needed a field goal late in the fourth quarter for a two-point, comeback victory over winless Carolina.

The Saints contend their best football is still ahead, given how many players are out or playing hurt.

Quarterback Drew Brees is playing with a brace on his left knee, which was injured on a hit by Atlanta defensive end John Abraham in Week 3.

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Rookie running back Chris Ivory, who had 12 carries against Carolina, favored his left knee with a pronounced limp as he made his way from the trainer's room to his locker.

Ivory's path to the regular season roster was cleared in training camp by season-ending injuries to Lynell Hamilton and P.J. Hill. Then when Bush went out after Week 2, Ivory began to see significant action the past two games and the Saints signed Ladell Betts, who is now the only running back not listed on the injury report.

Brees said the club's running back situation exemplifies how the Saints have been forced to overcome factors beyond their control as they try to defend their title.

"Did I think at this point that Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory would be our two starting running backs going back to training camp? I don't think they were on the radar at that point," Brees said. "Anytime some of your key components are not on the field, it's going to affect you a little bit and you just kind of wait for the time to put all the pieces to the puzzle back on the field. I feel that the guys that have stepped in have done a very good job."

Saints coach Sean Payton said the Saints worked out two safeties this week -- Macho Harris and Pat Watkins -- but decided against signing either because the club hopes either Harper or Prioleau can play Sunday. When both were out on Sunday, Chris Reis went in at strong safety, only to leave the game with a season-ending shoulder injury. Then Usama Young, already a regular on special teams, had to fill in at strong safety.

Young was drafted as a cornerback and is now a reserve free safety, so moving to strong safety on Sunday required him to contribute on run support more than he is accustomed.

"You've got to be able to have that linebacker's mentality," Young said. "You've got to be able to close some gaps and it happens fast."

After Young tackled DeAngelo Williams for a loss late in the fourth quarter -- a crowd-pleasing play which took Carolina out of range for a winning field goal try -- Young said he briefly thought to himself that he could get used to playing strong safety.

"But when I went home that night I started feeling my neck getting a little tight, the shoulders were hurting and I said, 'Man, being in (on run support) takes it out of you,"' Young said.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Cardinals to start rookie QB Hall vs. Saints, bench Anderson

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has put his team's struggling offense into undrafted rookie quarterback Max Hall's hands.

Whisenhunt announced after Wednesday's practice that the former BYU standout would make his first NFL start Sunday when the Cardinals play host to the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

Hall is Arizona's third starting quarterback since training camp opened, replacing the erratic Derek Anderson, who took over for Matt Leinart. That led to Leinart's release and left Hall as Anderson's backup.

The strong-armed Anderson, signed by the Cardinals as a free agent after he was released by the Cleveland Browns, was benched after throwing two first-half interceptions in last Sunday's 41-10 loss at San Diego. Hall came on to complete 8 of 14 passes for 82 yards without an interception, but he was sacked six times.

"I think Max certainly feels he's ready for it," Whisenhunt said. "I mean, he's a confident young man. He's been that way since he's been here. He's made progress. He believes in himself and carries himself with that confidence. I know that he wanted to play. I don't think that's ever been a question."

The Cardinals are tied for the NFC West lead at 2-2, but they have been outscored 82-17 in their two losses.

"Hopefully we'll make some more plays, be a little more efficient offensively," Whisenhunt said. "I think that one of the areas we need to improve in is just making the plays that are there. That's what we've missed on."

Hall said he's not looking at this as a one-week audition for the job.

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"I'm just going forward like it's mine," he said. "That's the mindset that you have to have. They're putting everything into me. The game plan and everything is going toward my strengths, so I'm moving forward like it's mine."

The 6-foot-1 Hall is a hometown favorite, having grown up in nearby Mesa. He initially enrolled at Arizona State, but he never played for the Sun Devils.

After two years on a Mormon mission, Hall started all 39 games in his three seasons with BYU. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 11,365 yards and 82 touchdowns while with the Cougars. In the process, he broke Ty Detmer's school record for victories as a quarterback with 32.

"We do feel good about his ability to get in there and run our offense, and that's because of the way he's handled himself since the day he got here," Whisenhunt said. "That's a little bit unusual for rookies, to have that confidence, to have that ability to handle the huddle, make some plays. Once again, it doesn't really mean anything until you see it on game day, and we're certainly expecting to have some success with that."

Hall wasn't among the 15 quarterbacks chosen by NFL teams in the April draft, but he quickly found a home with the Cardinals.

"You don't get drafted, you wonder what's going to happen," he said. "I was excited to be part of this organization. Coach Whisenhunt was always good and fair with me in everything that we did. We have a good relationship. It's an exciting thing for me to have the opportunity that's ahead of me to start for this team. I'm just going to give it my best."

Anderson was dogged by the same accuracy issues that plagued him with the Browns. He has completed 52 percent of his passes (58 for 112) for three touchdowns with five interceptions this season. His passer rating of 59.5 ranks 30th in the NFL, and his 644 passing yards are 23rd.

Whisenhunt said Anderson labored to escape the formidable shadow left by Kurt Warner, who retired after last season.

"I think what happened with Derek is he was pressing. He was trying to be perfect," Whisenhunt said. "A lot of that is because of the standard that's been set at that position around here, and I understand that. I think that's a tough way to try to play that position. That was part of the reasoning as to why we made this switch."

Anderson wasn't in the locker room after practice, but Whisenhunt said the quarterback handled the demotion "like a professional and with a lot of class."

While Cardinals players praised Hall's enthusiasm and ability to lead the team, running back Tim Hightower offered a reality check.

"He has his hands full. He's got a plate full in front of him, I'm not going to lie," Hightower said. "They kind of threw him in there, but it comes back to us making his transition a lot easier. We've got to establish the running game. We've got to be physical. We've got to make plays, and we've got to take the pressure off him."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Saints sneak past Panthers, thanks to three FGs from 46-year-old Carney

NEW ORLEANS -- It's been only a week since 46-year-old John Carney was chasing his kids, coaching flag football, attending school events with his daughter and doing "all the fun stuff you get to do when you're home."

"But it doesn't pay very well," he added.

He's getting paid now, and earning every cent so far.

Only days after joining the Saints for his 23rd season as an NFL kicker, Carney drilled three crucial field goals to help New Orleans edge the Carolina Panthers 16-14 on Sunday.

Fantasy: Avoid Panthers wideouts Steve Smith already had his production take a major dip with Jimmy Clausen at QB and that was before he was carted off with an ankle injury. None of his fill-ins are viable, either. More ...

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The Saints signed Carney last Tuesday, two days after Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime in a 27-24 loss to Atlanta.

While the Saints were able to manage only one touchdown on a screen pass to Lance Moore, Carney hit twice from 32 yards and again from 25 with 3:55 to go to put New Orleans (3-1) ahead to stay.

"He's just a pro. That's all you can say," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "It's just ingrained in him. He's one of these very focused, very regimented guys."

Wearing a knee brace in a game for the first time since high school, Brees was 33 of 48 for 275 yards passing and the TD to Moore.

Brees' knee had bothered him since he was hit by Falcons defensive end John Abraham last week, but the quarterback said the brace had nothing to do with low point production in an otherwise solid performance that produced 383 yards and 38:22 in time of possession.

Rather, fumbles by Moore and rookie running back Chris Ivory -- both deep in Carolina territory -- along with several dropped passes and missed blocks, slowed the Saints.

"This was a 30-point day we turned into 16 points with turnovers and a lack of execution," Brees said.

"We're going to save all the scoring and everything else until the end of the season I guess, which isn't so bad," Brees added. "We haven't scored like we're used to scoring and yet we're 3-1 and a field goal away from being 4-0."

Carolina rookie Jimmy Clausen completed 11 of 20 passes for 146 yards, highlighted by his 55-yard scoring strike to Jonathan Stewart. DeAngelo Williams' 39-yard TD run gave Carolina (0-4) a 14-10 lead in the third quarter before Carney made his last two field goals.

Clausen came close to pulling off what would have been his first game-winning drive as a pro. He converted a fourth-and-4 play on a rollout pass to David Gettis along the sideline at the New Orleans 38 with 1:46 to go.

"For Clausen to make that fourth-down play late in the game, that speaks volumes for what I think is inside of him," offensive tackle Jordan Gross said.

A few more yards could have gotten Carolina in range for a field goal to win it, but after Williams gained 2 yards on the next play, he was dropped by Usama Young for a 4-yard loss.

Malcolm Jenkins then sacked Clausen.

"They were blitzing and I just couldn't get it out quick enough," Clausen said. "I can't take a sack in that situation."

On fourth down from the New Orleans 44, Clausen tried to hit Dwyane Jarrett along the sideline, but cornerback Jabari Greer broke up the play with 8 seconds left, allowing the Saints to avoid an upset by a winless team that came in as a 13-point underdog.

Playing without running back Pierre Thomas, who hurt his left ankle in the loss to Atlanta, the Saints relied on Ivory and veteran Ladell Betts, who was signed less than two weeks ago after Reggie Bush fractured a bone in his lower right leg.

Ivory finished with 67 yards on 12 carries while Betts rushed 13 times for 47 yards. Betts also had four catches for 23 yards. Devery Henderson had 59 yards receiving on six catches, while Jeremy Shockey had 58 yards, also on six catches.

Williams rushed for 86 yards for Carolina, which had 118 yards rushing.

The Saints struggled to move the ball in the third quarter, but long-snapper Jason Kyle made a big hit on punt coverage to force a fumble by Captain Munnerlyn, which Courtney Roby recovered. That set up Carney's second field goal to make it 14-13. While Carney connected on clutch kicks, Hartley, who remains on the roster, watched from the sideline.

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Carney said he believes Hartley, a playoff hero a season ago, will be a great kicker in the NFL and was glad to have the chance to work with him again. Last season, the Saints carried both kickers for 11 games before making Carney a kicking coach.

"It's a great situation," Carney said. "I feel blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to come back here and help the Saints, whether in a playing capacity or coaching capacity."

Notes: Carolina WR Steve Smith left in the second half with a left ankle injury. "I'm just going to try to walk to the plane without too much pain and see how it feels in the morning," he said. ... Brees moved past Aaron Brooks on the Saints' career passing list behind only Archie Manning. Brees has 19,427 yards passing in 67 games with the Saints. ... The Saints played without starting safety Roman Harper, then lost safeties Pierson Prioleau (chest injury) and Chris Reis (right shoulder).

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Carney's three field goals lift Saints past Panthers

NEW ORLEANS -- Just days after rejoining the Saints at age 46, John Carney hit three field goals to help the team edge the Carolina Panthers 16-14 on Sunday.

The Saints signed Carney on Tuesday, two days after Garrett Hartley had missed a 29-yard field-goal attempt in overtime of a 27-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

While the Saints were able to manage only one touchdown on a screen pass to Lance Moore, Carney hit twice from 32 yards and again from 25 with 3:55 to go, putting New Orleans (3-1) ahead over Carolina (0-4) to stay.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees had 275 passing yards and the TD to Moore.

Carolina rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen had a 55-yard TD pass to Jonathan Stewart, and DeAngelo Williams had a 39-yard TD run that gave the Panthers a 14-10 lead in the third quarter.

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