Betting Poll - Sports News - NFL - New Orleans Saints

Saints TE Campbell thriving in comeback (AP)

Coming back from a bad back is tough enough in pro football. So when Saints veteran tight end Mark Campbell finally returned in good health after missing all of 2007, only to see New Orleans trade for four-time Pro Bowl selection Jeremy Shockey, it had to feel like a kick in the back side, right? Not necessarily.

Saints Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Saints played their preseason home opener Saturday night against the Houston Texans in the Superdome, and 70,000 fans found out that they looked very much like the 2007 team.

Of course, that's good news and bad news for the Saints after a disappointing 7-9 finish a year ago.

The first-team offense, which ranked fourth in the NFL in total yards a year ago, was sharp in scoring on four of five first-half possessions and leading the Saints to a 20-17 halftime lead.

On the flip side, the defense struggled, giving up 289 passing yards and two touchdown passes in a 31-27 loss. Last season the Saints ranked 30th in passing defense.

The starting defense gave up scores on successive drives of 80, 74 and 50 yards in the first half.

Shockey practices for second day in a row (Yahoo! Sports)

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey practiced on Tuesday — at least the portion of the workout...

Porter getting chances with Saints (AP)

Tracy Porter is trying to be realistic. Like any pro, he'd like to start as soon as possible. It's not all that common, however, for rookies to start at cornerback, even for relatively high draft choices like Porter, who was taken near the top of the second round, 40th overall. "I'm definitely a young guy with a lot of experience I have to get under my belt, but I'm up to the challenge," Porter said...

Shockey hopes to play Saturday (AP)

Jeremy Shockey ran some plays with the first team offense in practice on Monday and appears on track to make his first appearance in a Saints uniform when New Orleans plays its third preseason game on Saturday night in Cincinnati. "Today was certainly more (action) than he's gotten and the plan is to get him in Saturday," coach Sean Payton said.

Saints sign S Schulters (AP)

The New Orleans Saints signed former Pro Bowl safety Lance Schulters on Monday. The 33-year-old Schulters joined the squad on Monday, making New Orleans the latest stop in a career that has included stints with San Francisco, Tennessee, Atlanta and Miami. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1999 while playing for San Francisco.

McAllister promising, but Texans triumph 31-27 (AP)

Deuce McAllister launched his comeback from a second knee reconstruction in three seasons, running into the heart of the Texans' defensive line. It was a brief but promising return for the Saints' all-time leading rusher, but not enough to keep Houston from staying perfect in the preseason. Matt Schaub was 14-of-16 passing for 187 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Texans (2-0) take a 31-27...

Saints, Texans scuffle in joint practice (AP)

Offensive guard Jahri Evans joined the Saints as a fourth-round draft pick out of Division II Bloomsburg and impressively won a starting job by opening day of his rookie season. Now in his third year as a pro, he could afford to laugh off a scuffle with Texans defensive end Earl Chochran during a joint practice with Houston on Thursday.

Defensive tackle Hollis Thomas out 2 months (AP)

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas could be out two months with a right triceps injury, all but ensuring that top draft pick Sedrick Ellis will be thrust into a major role on the interior of the defensive line this season. Saints coach Sean Payton disclosed Thomas' injury on Thursday after the 12-year veteran had surgery to repair an injury that occurred during pass-blocking drills...

Saints DT Thomas out two months (PA SportsTicker)

The career of New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas could be jeopardy after he tore his right triceps during a recent pass rushing drill, the Times-Picayune reported Thursday.

A tale of 2 kickers, and Payton's tough choice (AP)

When the New Orleans Saints made Taylor Mehlhaff the first place kicker taken in last spring's NFL draft, coach Sean Payton knew he'd have a tough choice to make this summer. With the goal of contending for a Super Bowl now, Payton must decide whether to stick with a proven veteran like Martin Gramatica or bank on the future of Mehlhaff, an untested rookie with a big leg and a lot of potential.

Saints WR Arrington sidelined by sprained toe (AP)

Saints rookie Adrian Arrington missed his second straight practice with a sprained toe Sunday and coach Sean Payton said the injury may be serious enough to sideline the former Michigan wide receiver for more than a week. The 6-foot-3, 192-pound Arrington had been making a strong case for a roster spot since his selection in the seventh round of the draft.

Brees, Leinart sharp in preseason opener (AP)

Robert Meachem finally looked like the first-round draft pick he is, even if it was a preseason game. The second-year wide receiver, inactive for all 16 games last season, caught four passes for 129 yards and a touchdown Thursday night as the New Orleans Saints opened their preseason with a 24-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Bucs GM says no offer was made for Favre (AP)

No more rumors, no more speculation about Brett Favre. With Tampa Bay no longer a potential destination for the iconic quarterback coming out of retirement, a sense of normalcy returned to Buccaneers training camp Thursday. There was even a denial that the team was ever a serious player in trade talks with the Green Bay Packers.

League-wide intrigue over Harvey's status (Yahoo! Sports)

Outsiders are tuned in to how much Jacksonville will have to spend to end rookie Derrick Harvey's holdout.

Vilma pleased with new start in New Orleans (AP)

Any lingering aggravation from Jonathan Vilma's difficult final season in New York is confined to the intermittent soreness in his surgically repaired right knee. There's no hint of bitterness when the former Pro Bowl linebacker and two-time defensive captain discusses how and why his value to the Jets plummeted after Eric Mangini took over as head coach two years ago.

McCray sees Saints defense as 'dominant' (AP)

Bobby McCray knows little about what went wrong with the New Orleans Saints' defense last season. He's not very interested, either. "We don't talk about it," McCray said after a recent practice at Saints training camp. "This is a new start, a new defense." Not entirely new, but certainly different, in part because of the arrival of McCray, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end who started nine games...

Saints RB McAllister, TE Shockey out for preseason opener (PA SportsTicker)

New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister and tight end Jeremy Shockey will not play in Thursday's preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, coach Sean Payton announced Monday.

Saints sign DTs Reed, McGill (PA SportsTicker)

The New Orleans Saints on Monday signed defensive tackles James Reed and Tim McGill.

McAllister, Shockey sitting out vs. Cardinals (AP)

Deuce McAllister and Jeremy Shockey are among several projected regulars that Saints coach Sean Payton has decided to keep out of the lineup when New Orleans plays its first preseason game at Arizona on Thursday. Cornerbacks Mike McKenzie and Tracy Porter, as well as wide receiver Devery Henderson, will sit out as well, Payton said Monday.

Pierre Thomas emerging in Saints backfield (AP)

Pierre Thomas joined the Saints as an undrafted rookie and a long shot to make a roster loaded with running backs. He not only beat out fourth-round draft choice Antonio Pittman to make the team, but later ended the season by earning a mention in the franchise record books, becoming the first player in the Saints' four-decade history to have more than 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in...

Saints' top pick joins training camp (AP)

New Orleans Saints first-round pick Sedrick Ellis took a healthy amount of ribbing from his teammates on the defensive line as he arrived Wednesday at Millsaps College for training camp. Ellis gave it right back to them as he practiced for the first time since signing his five-year contract earlier in the day.

Saints sign DT Ellis to five-year deal (PA SportsTicker)

JACKSON, Mississippi (Ticker) - The New Orleans Saints on Tuesday signed defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis to a five-year contract.

After lost rookie season, Saints WR shows promise (AP)

The highlight of Robert Meachem's rookie season was a foot race against his older brother in a parking lot during Super Bowl week. That's not exactly what the New Orleans Saints had in mind when they selected the former Tennessee wide receiver in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft, but Meachem saw the way he ran that day in Scottsdale, Ariz., as a good sign.

McKenzie returns to Saints practice (AP)

Without Mike McKenzie on the field, the New Orleans Saints' defense takes on a different look. Forget the long dreadlocks flopping from the back of his helmet. It's his ability to cover receivers 1-on-1, which frees up teammates for other assignments and gives defensive coaches a little less to worry about.