No word yet on how John Carney's and Kris Brown's placekicking tryouts went today. They were both reportedly coming in for a visit. (UPDATE: Both worked out but neither have yet been signed). I still think Hartley will be Payton's guy this week despite his recent struggles. If he struggles again against the Panthers, we might see a change after that. I'm still holding out hope that his "shank 'em to the left" issue can be corrected and he can once again reliably put up three points when we need him to.
Not much else happening until the team starts practicing for the Panthers tomorrow. The usual buffet of info follows after the jump.
TWEETS:
JonVilma51 lights out everybody...remember, its a new week!!
jeffduncantp I didn't realize the season ended 2nite. Who's your pick, genius? RT @kvranson: how.about your Packer pick now? They look like Saints now?
jeffduncantp Uh, no. I'm a journalist. Are you just realizing that? @yelpinwienerdog: are you even a saints fan?
usama_young28 Good morning. Time to get rollin. Gotta love life
ltorrence24 Time to watch some film, work don't stop, gotta get back in the Win column this week!
Official_Saints We would like to wish the @Hornets & first-year head coach Monty Williams good luck as they open training camp today! #NOLAPride
reggie_bush No matter what happens in your day today...You need you to survive! Have a blessed day!
jgoody76 Gossta do betta RT @Cpowell15: @jgoody76 Oct 5 "FLOCKAVELI u shall see...hahaha
alexbrown96 Just finished a great workout and some film study now headed to lunch with my lovely wife @karimarbrown
Official_Saints The Panthers returned some tickets for Sunday's game & they are now available to the public through Ticketmaster! - http://bit.ly/bahUFv
LanceMoore16 O twitter, how I missed u yesterday. Hope everyone is having a great day. Its nice outside and I'm feeling extremely blessed. #thankful
T_Porter22 Talked to my boy @bobbymccray yesterday...and he is n dying need of a haircut...smh..he said it's "naturally curly" kmsl. #myhomietho
MalcolmJenkins Headed to another school to spread some inspiration and encouragement to the kids
usama_young28 Headed to the 7th ward to visit AP Tureaud elementary wit my boys @T_Porter22 and @MalcolmJenkins. Gotta spend prt of the off day givin back
CARNEY/BROWN WORKOUTS:
New Orleans Saints work out kickers but haven't signed one yet | NOLA.com
The Saints have completed their workouts with veteran kickers John Carney and Kris Brown, but neither player has signed with the team yet, Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said.
MORE POSTGAME ANALYSIS OF FALCONS @ SAINTS:
New Orleans Saints didn't play well in several areas against Atlanta: Jeff Duncan's film study | NOLA.com
Saints did not play well in 27-24 defeat
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger preparing for return - Peter King - SI.com
THE FALCONS DESERVE CREDIT. "All we hear is how bad the Saints kicker is. How come it is so hard to say the Falcons took a step forward and beat the Saints in the Superdome?'' -- Andrew, Reston, Va.
Peter King: "The Falcons should be justifiably proud, very proud, for going to New Orleans and beating the defending Super Bowl champs. The point, obviously, is that Garrett Hartley missed an absolute gimme field goal that would have, should have, won the game."
Henderson: Better team won; Hartley should stay & more | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
Jim says the Saints should stay with Hartley, but bring in Carney and more thoughts on the team's first loss.
Commentary: What to do about Hartley | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
Jim Henderson talks about the delicate nature of kicking and kickers and how the wrong decision by a head coach can send a team and its kicker reeling.
Loss to Falcons sends reality check to Saints | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
Many of the 70,000-plus fans who sat in the Superdome on Sunday likely left the building shaking their heads, wondering what team was playing in white jerseys and black pants. They weren’t alone.
Turner believes Falcons on cusp of something good
I guess everybody's been waiting a long time for us to click like that in one game," Turner said Monday. "It felt good. We've just got to keep it going.
Examining another potential Saints kicker carousel in New Orleans
Essentially, Carney, 46, is auditioning Tuesday morning for a job now held by a kicker/friend nearly half his age, Garrett Hartley, who missed a 29-yard field goal attempt with 8:57 remaining in overtime Sunday at the Superdome that would have beaten the Atlanta Falcons.
New Orleans Saints say there is no lack of confidence, even in the loss | NOLA.com
Atlanta is the national darlings after Sunday's win
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said a decision on Garrett Hartley's future hasn't been made | NOLA.com
The team will bring in other kickers for tryouts, though.
New Orleans Saints have no reason to panic after Sunday's loss to Atlanta | NOLA.com
It was just a hard-fought game, one in a long season
New Orleans Saints Mailbag: What's wrong with the defense? | NOLA.com
T-P's Jeff Duncan tackles your Saints questions
Where the New Orleans Saints rank in key statistical categories | NOLA.com
Here's where the Saints rank in some key NFL stats: Total offense: 14th (331.0 yards) Rushing offense: 32nd (57.3 yards) Passing offense: 6th (237.3) Total defense: Tied for 22nd (362.3) Rushing defense: 30th (145.0) Passing defense: tied for 15th (217.3)
Monday's Practice Report
THIRD DOWN DEFENSE IN FOCUS: Defensive captain Jonathan Vilma said Monday that their third-down defense is the squad’s No. 1 area to improve. No. 51 said it the issue comes down execution.
WEEKLY (meaningless) RANKINGS:
Looking at NFC South Power Rankings - NFC South Blog - ESPN
This week’s Power Rankings came out just a little bit ago and the New Orleans Saints no longer are No. 1. But their fall after a 27-24 overtime loss to Atlanta was a short one. The Saints are No. 2 with Pittsburgh taking over the No. 1 spot. Mike Sando still gave the Saints a No. 1 vote and Paul Kuharsky and James Walker each voted the Saints No. 2.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 4: Steel City Takes Over on Top -- NFL FanHouse
4. Saints (2-1) | Last Week: 1 The Saints deserved to lose Sunday, as a shaky defense and shakier kicking game finally did them in. Garrett Hartley might not get replaced right away, but he has to understand his leash is not going to get longer anytime soon ... no matter how many big kicks he makes.
NFL Power Rankings Week 3 - Saints tumble | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
WWLTV.com has ranked the top 10 teams in the NFL through three weeks.
Pittsburgh Steelers are new No. 1 in Power Rankings; New Orleans Saints fall to No. 7 | NOLA.com
The Times-Picayune's weekly rankings
LAGNIAPPE:
Saints-Panthers Preview
The New Orleans Saints (2-1) will host the Carolina Panthers (0-3) for the back end of the first of a pair of two-game homestands in the 2010 season, as they seek to remain in at least a tie for first place in the NFC South. Kickoff at the Louisiana Superdome is set for Noon on Sunday.
Saints players to appear in PSAs regarding video game ratings
With the NFL season underway and the Holiday shopping season fast approaching, New Orleans Saints receivers Marques Colston (#12) and Devery Henderson (#19) have teamed up with the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) – which assigns the official age and content ratings for computer and video games – for a new PSA campaign explaining the ESRB rating system and encouraging parents to use it when buying games for their families.
VIDEO:
Saints Vlog: September 27 - Saints kicking situation update
Site won't give an embed code, so you'll have to watch it there.
Fan chat: Time to press panic button regarding Hartley?
Fan chat: Previews of Panthers matchup
Fan Chat: Saints missing Fujita?