First real day of my vacation - woke up after sleeping well past the usual time I have to get up for work, had a leisurely breakfast, cut the grass, then cleaned up and had lunch, finished reading The Help, reviewed a grant proposal my wife is writing, and got started reading news and collecting links for this post. Nice. (Just imagine that this is a tweet from a Saints player and that you care about this information). @#grindmode
I hope this afternoon/evening finds everyone well and fired up and ready to go this week. College football starts this weekend, and soon after, the Saints and Wikes collide in the opening game of the NFL season. I'm pretty stoked.
Today we have some roster talk/commentary/movement, more details on the America's Game: The 2009 New Orleans Saints broadcast, report of an impending Vilma injury update (how sad that I link to a report that reports there is to be an injury update later today - too many layers), an NFL Camp Tour retrospective, and a closer look at Payton's response to questions about the illegal snaps in Friday's game.
Jump on in...the water's fine!
GregBensel Sean Payton and Drew Brees' good friend BRAD PITT is the narrator of the incredibly awesome Saints Super Bowl America's Game. NFLN 9/8 8 ct
usama_young28 Jus finished watchin Takers.... Hmmmm... I don't kno. I'll let y'all b the judge
usama_young28 It was a GQ magazine cops n robbers. The ladies loved the cast. Don't get me wrong, it had it's parts. It was just decent to me
usama_young28 Done with bein a movie critic. Time to watch this broncs steelers game, then get on this film for next week
HeathEvans Takers......I dont know what grade to give that movie? All I know is I have a huge headache! The camera never stopped shaking! #fb
Pierre_Thomas Enjoying my sunday off watching football w some friends...back to work in the morning #grindmode
jgoody76 RT @miketripletttp: Saints re-sign defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy. Always thought he was solid and underrated (cont) http://tl.gd/3d6q3c
BillyMiller83 Congrats to K Clancy for getting signed back to N.O
LanceMoore16 In bed early tonight. Right back to work tomorrow morning. Gotta get better this last week of preseason. #improvement
T_Porter22 Another #blessed day..He allowed me to wake up and perform...now I have to honor Him by #improving from yesterday. #thankulord
LanceMoore16 Happy monday everyone. Let's do all we can to get better today and this whole week! #lego
alexbrown96 Just finished a great workout this morning. Headed to meeting and then practice later today. Hope everyone have a productive and blessed day
sharper42 Proud to call this resilient city of New Orleans home! Five yrs later, recovery has come a long way..the spirit and energy is alive.
dmpressley "Red Beans Monday," just ate a big ol bowl... This week is going to be a great week!!!!
T_Porter22 Lunch @ the #saints facility...Red Bean Monday!
drewbrees Had a great weekend with the family after the Chargers game. Rained the whole time but thats OK - lots of playtime with my son
JonVilma51 roger clemens pleads not guilty to lying to congress today...does anybody even care anymore?!?
Player News
Report: Saints bring back DT Kendrick Clancy | neworleans.com
The New Orleans Saints have re-signed defensive lineman Kendrick Clancy to a one-year deal, per his agent, Ron Del Duca. **viper4dx scooped this first yesterday, and Dave did a story on it, too.
Saints To Update Vilma Injury - WWL - AM870 | Saints
But will it be an update, or a non-update update?
Outlook good for New Orleans Saints LB Jonathan Vilma; S Pierson Prioleau | NOLA.com
Mickey Loomis gives an injury report at the TD Club Luncheon. Boy, is Payton gonna give him the business for leaking all this info...Further, is this the Vilma injury update WWL radio was referring to?
Saints defenders Darren Sharper, Clint Ingram out for preseason finale at Titans | neworleans.com
B A-W. Injured free safety Darren Sharper and linebacker Clint Ingram are not expected to play in the New Orleans Saints' exhibition finale Thursday night at Tennessee, leaving their roster status in doubt going into the final week of the preseason, according to league sources.
Roster Talk
New Orleans Saints' predicted roster: who's in, out and on the bubble | NOLA.com
Final roster cuts due by week's end.
NFL.com news: It's complicated: How to get to the final 53-man roster
Michael Lombardi (former NFL executive, and son of the trophy). "With such a short week of practice ahead, and the fourth preseason game not offering a fully competitive environment, there is little time for any players on the bubble to change the organization's mind." Lombardi offers his perspective on the mindset of teams in this final week of preseason. He ends the article with observations/conclusions from Week 3.
New Orleans Saints GM has an answer for who will be team's backup QB | NOLA.com
Varney has a nugget from Mickey's speech at the Touchdown Club's luncheon today.
America's Game Update
(**SaintsChick initially reported on this Saturday, and Mobile Saint posted about this earlier today)
America's Game: 2009 New Orleans Saints to Air Sept 8; Narrated By Brad Pitt | neworleanssaints.com
This preview includes quotes and details about the program.
Brad Pitt narrates one more look at the New Orleans Saints' championship season | NOLA.com
'America's Game: 2009 New Orleans Saints' to premiere September 8 at 8 p.m.
Lagniappe
Payton says NFL change hurts Saints offensive rhythm | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
"I hate that tempo can be controlled or dictated or taken away from Drew Brees," Payton said. "It happened (Thursday) night in the Colts game. I don’t know mechanically if we were ready for all of this."
Ranking the NFC South defensive ends - NFC South Blog - ESPN
Will's # 1!! Will's #1!!
What I learned at NFL summer camps - NFL - CBSSports.com Football
After 14 teams, travel issues, some surprisingly good players and finding other personnel and teams that aren't so hot, here are Pete Prisco's camp tour observations. Use them in good health, which also is addressed. The Saints pop up a few times throughout this article.
Saints enter final week of preseason | neworleanssaints.com
The team's official site breaks down the current status of each phase of the team, offense, defense, special teams.
Send in your New Orleans Saints questions | NOLA.com
Jeff Duncan's looking for queries to answer for another mailbag installment.