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Fleur-de-Links: November 15, 2012

Your daily collection of New Orleans Saints news and opinion. TODAY'S HEADLINE: Darren Sproles practices in full on Thursday. Looks likely to play against the Raiders.

By David "Satch" Kelly
Thearon W. Henderson

TWEETS:

Saints Thursday Injury Report

' Darren Sproles likely to play vs. after fully practicing Thursday

Just got off the phone w my team of & . HUGE proposals in the works. Tireless work effort pays off!

Mr. currently hosting a Google + Hangout with Saints fans

is on the line for NOLA charities! Register now to help your favorite charity win! .com

They killed Alex Smith's head and Jim Harbaugh's body just got an irregular heartbeat. You were wrong, Gregg.

Goodell says feedback from players on Thursday Night Football has been "quite positive" & that there's no data saying injuries are increased

SATCH NOTE: ^BULLS***, ROGER!^

... Goodell also said that a head coach brought up the idea of a weight limit on kickoffs. Not sure how much that one would help.

RT yes!!!! RT Vitt said Vilma will start to see more snaps "His reps are going to go up. We need him"

Goodell says the rule change on kickoffs precipitated a 40% drop in concussions on those plays last year. ...

Goodell on Smith, Cutler, Vick: "The positive is all three were taken out of the game as soon as they showed symptoms ... This is progress."

The San Francisco have released the following statement on head coach Jim Harbaugh:

QB Alex Smith practiced today, wearing a black non-contact jersey.

Goodell's general message here is that the game has been at a crossroads before, and evolved. Says that hgh needs to be next to be gone.

Goodell: "The way I look at it, football is always at a crossroads." Talking about deaths in early 1900s football now.

Galette (Ankle), Strief (Groin) & White (Knee) all did not practice today, Vitt said

Vitt said Sproles and Roby were both FULL at practice today

Goodell cites 12% growth in NFL viewership, and that college football is America's second most popular sport. "Football has a vital place."

Tony Romo is 20-3 (.870 win pct) during November. Among QBs with at least 15 November starts, only Otto Graham has a better win pct.

White jerseys, black pants RT The masses want to know: What is the uniform for Sunday @ the Raiders?

fans: Last chance to make your team's win over ATL the Moment of the Week!

stay classy, Chiefs dance as big ben lies DIEING on ground with heart injury,,league needs to take a look and come hard on KC with big fines

I will be at tonight from 5-7 on the Westbank 401 Manhattan Blvd. Harvey, LA 70058. Come check out everything. Best Buy watch out!

. has the NFL’s best net punting avg. (45.4) but he is currently 3rd in NFC Punter Pro Bowl votes. VOTE:

Brees is currently 10th in overall Pro Bowl voting with 227,106 votes

Times-Picayune: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he hasn't focused lately on New Orleans Saints bounty scanda...

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SAINTS @ RAIDERS:

Saints' Sproles full-go in practice; chances improve on playing vs. Oakland | wwltv.com New Orleans
The Saints’ injury report improved Thursday as running back Darren Sproles took full repetitions in team drills, his first complete day since prior to the Oct. 28 game at Denver.

Saints notebook: Sproles back in action, but no decision yet | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
METAIRIE — After missing the past two games with a fractured left hand that required surgery, New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sprole…

Darren Sproles practices fully once again for New Orleans Saints - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Zach Strief, Junior Galette, Corey White miss second consecutive day of practice

Thursday practice is key for several injured New Orleans Saints players
Thursday practice is key for several injured New Orleans Saints players.

Report: Raiders expected McFadden to miss 2-4 weeks | ProFootballTalk
When Raiders running back Darren McFadden suffered a sprained ankle on November 4 against the Buccaneers, the Raiders were tight lipped regarding the anticipated duration of his absence. Jay Glazer of FOX reports that the Raiders expected McFadden to miss 2-4 weeks.

Oakland coach Dennis Allen says time with Saints was key to his rise | wwltv.com New Orleans
Dennis Allen would like you to believe he hasn’t risen through the ranks quickly to become an NFL head coach.

Dennis Allen's quick rise from New Orleans Saints assistant to Raiders head coach no surprise to Saints - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Raiders Coach Dennis Allen only two years removed from being Saints secondary coach

Palmer claims Saints' defense is better than they look on paper
Palmer breaks down the Saints' defense, explains why Drew Brees is such a great quarterback, and talks about the Raiders' running back situation.

Raiders' porous defense faces Saints' Brees - Football Wires - MiamiHerald.com
ALAMEDA, Calif. - In the world of fantasy football, it's a dream matchup.

More secondary woes for Oakland Raiders with Brees up next - Inside Bay Area
Missing from Wednesdays practice as warm-ups and drills came to a close were free safety Matt Giordano (concussion) and strong safety Tyvon Branch (neck).

Drew Brees and Carson Palmer likely to light up scoreboard - Inside Bay Area
Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints meet Sunday in what could be a high-scoring affair

Raiders' health in a black hole - SFGate
Defensive tackle Richard Seymour (hamstring) and starting safeties Tyvon Branch (neck) and Matt Giordano (concussion) were also out Wednesday. Right tackle Khalif Barnes (back from a groin injury) took most of the first-team reps and Allen said he "looked good." The Raiders signed linebacker Omar Gaither and placed Travis Goethel (knee) on injured reserve.

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CHRIS IVORY & THE RUNNING GAME:

Ivory diplomatic about lack of playing time | New Orleans Saints | The Sun Herald
METAIRIE, La. -- Chris Ivory addressed his playing time during the first six weeks of the season with public restraint, saying little about his five weeks as a gameday inactive and another game without any carries.

Saints RB Chris Ivory uses opportunity to shine | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
METAIRIE — Chris Ivory had to sit through seven games and a bye week before getting his first carry of the season with the New Orleans Sain…

Chris Ivory: New Orleans Saints shouldn't bench me - NFL.com
The New Orleans Saints' running game has taken off the last two weeks, but with Darren Sproles' return to practice, a backfield controversy has busted out in The Big Easy.

New Orleans Saints' running game vital to offensive success - NFL.com
Drew Brees is one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, but Bucky Brooks says Chris Ivory and Co. provide the true foundation of the New Orleans Saints' offensive game plan: a potent ground attack.

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BOUNTYFARCE:

Goodell: New deal for Payton up to Saints and head coach | wwltv.com New Orleans
A new deal between Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints is in the hand of those two parties, not the National Football League, Roger Goodell, the league’s commissioner, said in an interview on ESPN’s "Mike and Mike" Thursday morning.

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LAGNIAPPE:

Saints' Brees aware of rash of concussions to QB's this past weekend | wwltv.com New Orleans
For much of the past six seasons, Saints quarterback Drew Brees has settled in near the top of the NFL in passing yards, pushing New Orleans high in the league’s total offense rankings for much of that period.

Forecast: Will 9 wins get Saints a playoff spot? | wwltv.com New Orleans
Since the Saints have won four of five after their 0-4 start the question I've gotten the most this week is, "How many wins do you think the Saints need to make the playoffs?"

Jim Harbaugh has procedure to deal with irregular heartbeat | ProFootballTalk
Coaches usually give the injury updates at practices, but the 49ers were giving one about coach Jim Harbaugh instead this Thursday. The team issued a statement explaining that Harbaugh was not at practice because he needed to have a procedure done to deal with an irregular heartbeat.

Wade Phillips: Difference in fines evidence of unfair system | ProFootballTalk
"I just don’t see the fairness in all of it. It’s only defensive players basically. If a linebacker gets put out for the season, it’s 10,000 dollars, but it’s 30,000 if the quarterback gets hit."

Former Texans punter sues over Reliant Stadium turf | ProFootballTalk
The NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement protects the league and its teams from a wide variety of player lawsuits; indeed, the concussion litigation eventually may fail because of the terms of the CBA. But the CBA doesn't provide protections to folks who fall outside the employment relationship.

Goodell sees London franchise as a possibility "down the road" | ProFootballTalk
Patriots owner Robert Kraft says that now is the time for London to have an NFL franchise. Commissioner Roger Goodell isn't quite as enthusiastic, for now.

New Orleans Saints, Red Cross Team Up for Holiday Mail for Heros Program
Participating schools can win a Saints Junior Training Camp or Saints Player Appearance

New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl fan voting sluggish thus far - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
No Saints player sits higher than third in their respective position group

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VIDEO:

Mark Ingram Interview 11/14/12
RB Mark Ingram speaks with reporters after practice on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

Pierre Thomas Interview 11/14/12
RB Pierre Thomas speaks with reporters after practice on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

Jahri Evans Interview 11/14/12
G Jahri Evans speaks with reporters after practice on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

Roman Harper Interview 11/14/12
S Roman Harper speaks with reporters after practice on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

Preview: New Orleans Saints vs. Oakland Raiders - NFL Videos
NFL Films previews the Week 11 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Oakland Raiders.

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