Fleur-de-Links: Saints Camp Ends, Team Rests Before Tomorrow's Game vs. the Texans

Not much new information to report today as the Saints wind down training camp. Players received a much needed day off before their 2nd preseason matchup against the Houston Texans tomorrow night. Game time is at 7:00 CST and, for those like myself who aren't able to watch it live, it will be rebroadcast on NFL Network at 12:00 AM CST Sunday morning.

There may be little new news today, but that hasn't stopped me from accumulating a Superdome load of links, tweets and video for ya. Much more after the....well, you know the routine by now.

TWEETS:

JonVilma51 preseason or not, i know only 1 way to play football...100 mph and give it everything i got

bobbymccray Enjoying this off time Coach gave us to get off our legs..lord knows we need it.

T_Porter22 Lmmmmmmaaaaaooooooooooo (@bighapp) RT @tpwife: Maaan the corner of the car door hit the side of my head. Omg! I thought I was shot!

alexbrown96 Final walk through done, next up the Texans. Who Dat Nation I wanna see if what I'm hearing is tru, is this the loudest place in the NFL?

alexbrown96 Good morning tweets!!! Last day of camp and we are headed to get this last walk through in before we play the Texans. Who Dat!!

SAINTS vs. TEXANS:

Saints Linkage: Better defense key for repeat; fighting to defend the title | New Orleans News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
It's Friday. You're ready to go home from work, or at least mentally escape from your job for a little while. Thank goodness for Saints Linkage, back later in the morning thanks to the team not practicing today.

The Hand Off: Worrying about the Saints' offense, defense | New Orleans News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
The overriding theme from this week’s queries seemed to revolve around worry.

Saints and Texans Connections

Saints and Texans Ready for 2010 Superdome Kickoff

Saints' Evans likes what he sees in Texans, his old team | Houston Texans Football | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
Saints linebacker Troy Evans always marks his calendar for the week in the middle of August when he gets to practice with his former team, the Texans.

Texans want to test rookie with live game action
Jackson, the first-round pick from Alabama, was eager to practice against quarterback Drew Brees and his receivers from the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

Jim Mashek: Saints’ physical style will be under scrutiny on Saturday - New Orleans Saints - SunHerald.com
Once Brett Favre made it official, that he was coming back for a 20th NFL season, the questions started to surface.

Former New Orleans Saints QB John Fourcade will be at the Hall of Fame on Saturday | NOLA.com
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback John Fourcade will appear at the Saints Hall of Fame Museum before Saturday's preseason game against the Houston Texans. Fourcade, a native New Orleanian who prepped at Archbishop Shaw and played his college ball at Ole Miss before becoming a quarterback for his hometown New Orleans Saints from 1987-1990, will sign autographs and take pictures from 5-6:15 p.m....

Fourcade to appear at Saints Hall of Fame Museum
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback John Fourcade will appear at the Saints Hall of Fame Museum prior to Saturday's preseason opener with the Houston Texans.

NFL Preseason Preview - Houston (0-1) at New Orleans (0-1) - Football Wires - MiamiHerald.com
The defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints make their triumphant return to the Louisiana Superdome on Saturday night, when they play host to the Houston Texans in the second preseason game for both clubs.

Saints camp report: Better D key to repeat hopes - NFL - CBSSports.com Football
It attacked QBs, forced turnovers and got the ball to the offense as quickly as possible. The Saints' defense wasn't great last season, but it was good enough to win it all and will have to come through again if New Orleans is to repeat, Pete Prisco says.

New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans more intense at final joint practice | NOLA.com
Teams have history of preseason scuffles

MISCELLANEOUS:

New Orleans Saints won't give up title without a fight | NOLA.com
Super Bowl champions know they are targets every week this season

New Orleans Saints camp confidential: Spotlight on right defensive ends | NOLA.com
Who's hot, quote of the day, injury report

Joe Vitt is consigliere to New Orleans Saints, his 'newest family' | NOLA.com
Assistant head coach one of Sean Payton's trusted advisers

Saints' Thomas does not know how to play carefully | shreveporttimes.com | Shreveport Times
Perhaps the worst thing that could happen to the New Orleans Saints at the moment would be another running back going down with an injury. But the Saints' Pierre Thomas doesn't worry about that. He goes all out every play.

Saints: Love and hate - NFL - CBSSports.com Football
Love and hate impressions from Saints camp.

New Orleans Saints training camp postcard - Andrew Lawrence - SI.com
SI.com has dispatched writers to report on the 32 NFL training camps across the country. Here's what Andrew Lawrence had to say about the Saints camp in Metairie, La. For an archive of all camp postcards, click here.

Sporting News: Falcons are 5th in NFC | Blogging Dirty | An Atlanta Falcons Blog
In the Brett Favre-centric updated power rankings, Sporting News updates the NFC pecking order. They love gun-slinging quarterbacks and agree that the NFC

QB Brett Favre’s Arrival At Vikings Camp Heats Up New Orleans Saints Rivalry | Who Dat Dish | A New Orleans Saints Blog
Famously once again Brett Favre toyed with the idea of retiring from the NFL this off-season, an issue that has been ongoing for nearly four years and a move

Brees keeps working hard | thenewsstar.com | The News Star
The scene is a familiar one at New Orleans Saints workouts.

Saints Get Preview of Life as the Hunted -- NFL FanHouse

2theadvocate.com | Saints | Versatile Saints TE Thomas quick learner — Baton Rouge, LA
Make any mention about the New Orleans Saints tight ends and the one word that invariably — and quickly — comes into the conversation is versatility.

Kristian: Sharper Not Shaking Right Now - WWL - AM870 | FM105.3 | News | Talk | Sports
The New Orleans Saints are rolling right along. Entering their second pre-season game safety Darren Sharper has yet to join his teammates on the practice field. After having micro surgery on his left knee during the off season Sharper started training camp on the PUP list. At the start of camp, the All Pro said he would like to be on the field in time to play in the Saints final two pre season contests.

Saints See Chance For More Titles - WWL - AM870 | FM105.3 | News | Talk | Sports
When New England hosted the Saints for joint practices in mid-August, Patriots players referred to New Orleans as the new standard for NFL success.

2theadvocate.com | Saints | Proving he's worthy — Baton Rouge, LA
"It’s been a long year, but a fun year," Bushrod said about going into his second season as a starter. "It’s been an interesting year, a year where I learned a lot. I just have to continue to learn and try to get better."

History on Saints' side in opener - NFC South Blog - ESPN
For those New Orleans fans who are counting down the seconds until the Sept. 9 season opener with Minnesota in the Superdome, I’ve got a statist

Bobby Hebert Answers Fans Questions
Q: During your playing career, what was your favorite offseason activity besides spending time with family? ( From Susan Janel ) BH: "Scuba diving. Initially, how I got interested in it was the ‘The Adventures of Jonny Quest’ cartoons. Then, the James Bond movie ‘Thunderball’ that got me even more interested. I would go spear fishing in high school with friends who weren’t divers. That was a non-competitive sport that I really enjoyed."

Fantasy football preview: Breaking down the kickers and defenses/special teams | NOLA.com
Savin' em for last -- the kickers and defenses

VIDEO: