Fleur-de-Links: How's Tuesday Treatin' You?

Tuesday evening's edition of everyone's favorite Daily Links Post is finally here!!  

There is much to be read, seen and processed below.  

Everything from mindful and mindless tweets to injury updates to post practice "coach speak" to the running back dealie-o to a new coffee table book about the Saints Super Bowl, and everything in between.  

To see just what is "everything in between", you must make the jump, and then read everything for yourself.  

Please comment with reactions and responses to what you read and view.  I've only read some of these, so I'll rely on your comments to guide me to what should be read.

Twitter

LanceMoore16 Thank goodness for that carwash. Now I feel better about my self lol

alexbrown96 I need a barber shop somewhere close to Kenner or the Saints facility any suggestions

JonVilma51 Had one of our best practices of camp today! Liking the way our team is shaping up this year!

HeathEvans Quote of the day: It's easy to judge a mans character by how he treats people that can do nothing for him & have nothing to offer him. #fb

alexbrown96 So the NFL fines Chad Ochocinco 25k for tweeting during the game They have to have him on video doing it right? Maybe it wasn't him tweeting

Adam_Schefter Set your DVRs. RT @SI_PeterKing: Saw a dvd of the Gruden/Saints show on ESPN (airing tonight), and it's really good. Very insightful.

Pierre_Thomas back to work, another day in #grindmode

LanceMoore16 Let's all have a great day today!!!#blessed.......tweeting while driving lol

JonVilma51 Going to be a good day today, I can feel it...its a day closer to the season that's always a good thing lol..

bobbymccray Morning Tweets..after a goodnight of sleep its time to get better today in every aspect.

Links Galore

New Orleans Saints backup running backs hurt Pierre Thomas' chances of getting paid | NOLA.com
Lynell Hamilton isn't Pierre Thomas. Take it from JD, he's NOT!

New Orleans Saints moved quickly with the signing of DeShawn Wynn | NOLA.com
After PJ Hill's injury, the team brought in Wynn to fill the spot.

New Orleans Saints need for healthy running back Ladell Betts increases with P.J. Hill injury | neworleans.com
B A-W discusses the backfield.

Payton: Ramsey Still in Backup QB Mix | espn.com 

Pat Y. says the battle isn't over by a longshot.

Patrick Ramsey to receive extended playing time against San Diego Chargers | NOLA.com
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said reserve quarterback Patrick Ramsey would take over the offense after starter Drew Brees leaves.

Saints’ Ramsey to get opportunity to show his mettle against Chargers | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
Patrick Ramsey hasn’t worked with a first-team offense in more than four seasons.

New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins ready to start if needed in Week 1 | NOLA.com
Chances of him starting ahead of injured veteran Darren Sharper appear strong. I forget...will this get Triplett on the A. I. or not?

Saints’ Porter misses Tuesday’s practice | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
Starting right cornerback Tracy Porter sat out Tuesday’s practice with "soreness in his knee" after going through Monday’s session.

New Orleans Saints CB Tracy Porter says knee nick is minor; injury update | NOLA.com
He didn't practice on Tuesday.

No timetable yet on New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper, linebacker Clint Ingram | NOLA.com
Neither player will be ready to play this week against San Diego Chargers, though.

Kristian: Saints Ready To Try To Repeat As World Champs - WWL - AM
Kristian Garic reporting from Saints HQ.

Quiet preseason works perfectly for New Orleans Saints | neworleans.com
Les East talks about perfection. We aren't even 1-0 yet, Les - ease off there, Pocahantas!

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees will receive 'Good Guy' award from national media Friday | NOLA.com
Award will be presented by Times-Picayune columnist Peter Finney before the game.

ESPN's Mark Schlereth visits New Orleans Saints | NOLA.com
And, some key players are still out with injury, and there are some San Diego-N.O. connections that will be workin' hard for tickets this week.

New Orleans Saints Mailbag: Could the Saints trade a receiver? | NOLA.com
Jeff Duncan answers your Saints questions. Stu, does he answer your question this time?

Taylor Swift-Dave Matthews pre-game concert ticket plan announced by NFL | NOLA.com
Starting today, fans who wish to be in Jackson Square during the show may register to have a chance to be a part of the casted audience or the general public audience.

Korte to appear at Saints Hall of Fame Friday | neworleans.com
Hey! If anyone goes to this, be sure to tell him how well he did in the All-Time CSC Saints team vote (...opens another tab in his browser and goes to CSC to check how Korte did...). Er, nevermind. 

World Champion New Orleans Saints Announce Publication of Behind The Scenes Book | neworleanssaints.com
Official Release: more SWAG from the Super Bowl. This one's for your coffee table!

Cox Communications And NFL Network Renew Carriage Deal | neworleanssaints.com
Ooooooooh! The Red Zone Channel is pretty good to have, especially if you don't have Sunday Ticket.

Transcripts (from neworleans.com)

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton's Post-Practice Press Conference 8/24/2010

Opening Statement:

"Our work this afternoon was a little bit more third down and nickel. We're still installing defensively and offensively both. Today we were back in pads and had some good work.

Why did Tracy Porter sit out today?

"He has some soreness in his knee, nothing serious. We just backed off of it from the game."

Do you see giving a backup quarterback extended playing time in a preseason game as lighting a fire under him?

"I think more than anything else it's trying to give those guys a good portion of the game rather than just a quarter. It's harder to evaluate that position when they're just in for one quarter of play. Sometimes in the preseason you get so regimented with how you want to roll guys in, but I think with that position it can be a little different. That was one of the reasons we gave so much work to Chase (Daniel) last week. This week when Drew (Brees) finishes, we'll give the majority - if not all - of the reps to Patrick (Ramsey). It's just trying to give them enough series to give them the opportunity to get comfortable with what they're doing and the operations of a game. Sometimes if it's just a quarter or a quarter-and-a-half, it's harder to do that at that position."

Keeping a third quarterback is not something you've traditionally done here. Could you foresee doing that this season?

"We'll be flexible. We haven't decided what and how many. You just try to evaluate these games and practices closely and make your decisions off that. We'll be flexible to do either or."

Are you getting closer to crunch time on a decision with Darren Sharper, getting him to play or open the season on the PUP list?

"Not yet. We're still going through the process, just as we are with Clint (Ingram). We're just evaluating the progress and the treatments."

Were you hoping to have those guys dressing out by now?

"Certainly we were hoping that we were closer to getting them on the field and yet you still have to pay attention to the injury and the extent of it."

Are you optimistic that they'll be ready by next week?

"We'll see. We just take it each day and keep seeing how the rehab goes."

Do you think teams put too much emphasis on a quarterback's height considering what you have here with Drew Brees and Chase Daniel?

"I think all of us have certain measureables that you look for at the position and yet there are certain characteristics that are important. My experience with that position is that good ones have come in pretty much all shapes and sizes. It's a lot like other positions in football. Those guys - when you look specifically at those two, those guys have had success in college playing the position. Our target has really been guys that can move the team and get the team into the end zone."

Is there a genuine competition for the #2 QB spot or is Ramsey ahead in your opinion?

"I think there's a competition."

When you will make that call?

"We'll see. We'll see just like we will with the rest of these positions that are competing for spots."

Did what Chase did last week elevate him and make it more of a competition?

"I think what he did in that game certainly gave us more information as to what he can and can't do, but the competition has been ongoing and those guys have handled it well."

How is Malcolm Jenkins progressing at free safety?

"He's doing well. The more reps he gets at that position, the better off he is. He's a quick study; he knows the defense, and he's smart."

Has Sharper being sidelined accelerated his progress?

"It has given him more reps; it has given all those guys at that safety position more repetitions."

Do you allow Chase and Patrick to do the same amount of work at the line that you do Drew? Is that part of your system?

"Part of the system exists, and yet when you're calling plays you try to do certain things that you feel are strengths of theirs. One of the things Chase can do is move and create plays with nakeds and play-actions. So you can modify a little bit of what you're doing and yet certainly they're responsible for the package and the offense that is installed. But like any other player, you try to put them in the best position where you think they have the best chance to be successful."

Is that part of your evaluation of a quarterback - the ability to do that?

"You have to take into account the strengths of each player so you have to look at each one differently and recognize what they do well and what their weaknesses are."

How much is the special teams situation keeping you up at night now?

"The evaluation more so than overall. We have a lot of guys going in and out of the game so more importantly, it's who's going to play in those core units. A lot of the decisions we make with the final roster are predicated on how guys play in the kicking game."

New Orleans QB Drew Brees Post-Practice Media Availability 8/24/2010

What does playing for an aggressive coach like Sean Payton do for you guys?

"It gives you a lot of confidence because you know you are going to take some risks and take some chances. He is calling those plays, like the onside kick, the deep balls or whatever it might be because he has confidence in you to make to play and he will put you in a great position to succeed. What that does is it breeds confidence. We practice all those things and we talk about them so we know it's coming. It is no surprise or shock when stuff like that gets dialed up. It may be a shock to everyone else but not to us." 

After winning a Super Bowl, can a coach like Payton be more aggressive?

"Here is the thing, it is calculated risk. You take chances that you feel are necessary for the situation in a game whatever it might be. You have practiced it enough and you feel like it is a big play opportunity. We work on those things and we talk about it a lot. We know that he is not afraid to call it. You know that when you have a coach like that it breeds confidence amongst the players."

The third preseason game is typically the game that the starters play the most. Are you looking forward to getting more reps?

"Definitely, this is really the final dress rehearsal before the first game of the season where the first team will get the majority of the playing time. Just like any preseason game, especially this one, we want to come out, look sharp and score some points. We want to get everybody involved. We want to continue to work on the things that we are trying to improve upon and continue to get better."

You have been in New Orleans for a while but is it still fun to play against your old team the Chargers?

"It has been a long time. This is my fifth year in New Orleans so I am far removed from there but then again I still know a lot of those guys and it makes it fun."

How did you feel at this point a year ago?

"Well, we weren't the defending world champs but I think the feeling was very much the same in regards to our approach every day. We are still very much in training camp mentality even though this week has been more of a game-week-like schedule as opposed to two-a-days. We still are grinding through the offense and still installing parts of the playbook that we hadn't gotten to yet. Slowly but surely we are going back through and analyzing what we have been good at and what we continue to work on."

Do you see a lot of focus out of your teammates?

"Absolutely. We haven't been down this road before as defending champs but the fact of the matter is we all know this is a new season and everybody has the same hopes and aspirations. There are 32 teams that believe this can be their year. Certainly, after all we have been through, especially last year, we have a lot confidence and swagger among this group. That is not to say we feel entitled and we are going to step on the field and everybody is going to be intimidated. We know that we are going to get everybody's best shot. We know we have to put our best foot forward every time we step on the field."

Knowing what you guys are capable of, is it frustrating when you aren't as sharp as you are use to being even though it is still the preseason?

"That's frustrating if that is the case. There are always times where you say ‘man, I would have hit that pass or wish I would have made a better throw there.' Whatever it might have been. That is what the preseason is for - to work out the kinks. The thing about the preseason is that everybody is playing pretty basic stuff. You are not doing anything real elaborate. The amount of time you spend game planning is so minimal compared to what you do during the season. In that case it is a lot different then preparing for the game in the season. Then again, it doesn't matter because every time you step on the field you want to look sharp and play well."

It looked like you were simulating a game with what you were doing after practice?

"Yeah, I was just visualizing some stuff. I will do that from time to time if there is something I want to work on - a situation I want to visualize or a route concept I want to think about."

You said you sometimes "penalize" yourself with running sprints on your own after practice.  Do you do that from time to time?

"I punish myself from time to time with conditioning or whatever. When you feel like you don't have something down and it needs some work and time. You spend the extra time to get it done and make sure you feel comfortable and confident with it."

How do you impose that on yourself?

"I usually pick a number and it means something. If I throw a pick, I might say ‘for every pick I throw, I will run two extra gassers or for every incompletion or bad decision I am going to do this.' If I ran a two-minute drill that I am not happy with, I might go back through it again and visualize the defense I saw and run the through the routes that I wish I would have done or the throws I wish I would have made."

How long have you been doing that?

"Since about 2004. I will do it from time to time if I feel like I need it. I am constantly visualizing whether it is out on the field or in the film room. I can sit there and pause the tape and think for 10 or 15 minutes. I might stand up and go through the motions of a pass play. I might draw something on the board. There is a lot of that goes on during the game plan process."

Some critics doubted both you and Chase Daniel's ability to be an NFL quarterback when you guys were coming out of college. Do you feel scouts put too much emphasis on height for NFL prospects?

"I feel like they do. I feel like so much about playing the quarterback position is in your head. It's head and heart. It is so much of the intangibles - things that you can't measure with a 40-time or just by watching a guy throw and looking at his arm strength or anything like that. I think in a lot of cases you look at a guy and say ‘is this guy a winner? Does he win football games?'

"You look at Chase Daniel's situation, going back to high school. I think he was 31-1 as a starter at high school. Then he goes to Missouri, where you wouldn't say Missouri was a football powerhouse before he got there, and they almost make it to a national championship. He won a lot of games for them. Now, he is making the most of his opportunity. I am happy for him. I have watched him work. He works hard and he has a lot of that ‘it' factor is what you would call it. He can step in to a huddle and demand respect, he can give you confidence that whatever play we call it is going to work and he is going to make it work."

How do you handle seeing over the tall defenders that you face?

"That is just simple physics. If a six-foot-eight guy is standing in front of me then no I would not be able to see through him but if I know my offense well enough and my defense well enough then I just can anticipate where guys are going to be or where they should be. You don't throw over guys a lot of times. You throw in-between them and you find passing lanes."    

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