TWEETS:
DougTatum @DougTatum ESPN report: #Saints submitted revised contract proposal to Drew Brees on Thursday http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/06/espn_report_new_orleans_saints.html
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet Sources: The NFL has been at the #Saints facility poring over film of OTAs & mini-camps following yesterday's fight. Looking into "contact"
New Orleans Saints @Saints The 2012 Saints Training Camp will be held at the Saints Training Facility on Airline Drive starting on July 27th.
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter Former Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco is not subject to waivers. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Lance Moore @LanceMoore16 Wheels up to Phoenix!!!
Johnny Patrick @JohnnyPatrick32 #Whodatnation swag all day everyday.... http://pic.twitter.com/yBUCCeGp
skooks @skooks NFL is just going to harass the Saints all season long, aren't they? Retweeted by Grandmaster Wang
Chase Daniel @ChaseDaniel We love the #WHODatNation RT: @Saints: Thanks to all our fans who attended mini-camp! http://twitpic.com/9tulfb
Drew Brees @drewbrees Jimmy Johns is coming to Maple St, New Orleans!!! Just got approval from the City Council. Shooting for opening beginning of school year.
Saints Nation Blog @SaintsNationBlg I guess this is a bad time to say I think Jimmy John's subs sorta suck? #trytheveal cc: @hakimdropsball
Gordon Russell @GordonRussell1 Uptown New Orleans generally hates chains -- and change -- but maybe it's different when No. 9 is the pitchman? http://bit.ly/KRHV0N
Andrew Tiller @BigTill66 Just finished up with practice for the week, time too see whats good for the day, who yall got in the game tonight?
Greg Romeus @GregRomeus91 Damn I missed football.. Blessed to be back out there for mini camp
Jimmy Graham @TheJimmyGraham RIP Dr. Fox.. A great doctor but an even better husband father and friend! He was full of life and will be dearly missed!
Chase Daniel @ChaseDaniel Great week of Mini-Camp. Thanks to all the fans for coming out! I’m excited to get to Lake Ozark, MO 4 another Menards appearance tom night!
Malcolm Jenkins @MalcolmJenkins "@blackngeauxld: #bandofbrothers @MalcolmJenkins <-- this guy...LOL #WHODAT #SAINTS #MiniCamp http://twitpic.com/9tjfsu" had to get him back!!
JUNIOR GALETTE @JuniorG93 Appreciate all The Fans That Were Out There 4 Mini Camp This Week #whodatnation Has The Best Fans in The World! #WHODAT
Remi Ayodele @RemiAyo "@gschmill: @RemiAyo please sign autographs after training camp!!!" (aww just seeing this sorry had a Lil meeting after)
JAHRI EVANS @J_7TRE_E S/O to the whole WHO DAT nation... Looking forward to another great season. It starts NOW..
New Orleans Saints @Saints More photos from today's @Saints Mini-Camp practice! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.381525801894991.78232.121195131261394&type=1
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SAINTS MINICAMP:
NFL officials looked at film of possible Saints OTA violation - NFL.com
NFL officials have been carefully studying footage of the New Orleans Saints OTAs on Thursday after reports of a live contact violation occurring during practice, which could result in the loss of further practices.
New Orleans Saints wide receivers coach Henry Ellard looks for a replacement for the departed Robert Meachem - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Henry Ellard is learning while he coaches
Saints Sign QB Luke McCown and Rookie RB Joe Banyard
New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley trying to recapture spot - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
"We're going to put both of those guys out there and let them compete in practice and certainly in the preseason games and we'll come to a consensus," said special teams coordinator Greg McMahon. "We really believe this is a really good problem to have because you've got two quality kickers. ... Both would be a good pick."
Agent: Saints sign QB McCown after minicamp | wwltv.com New Orleans
The agent for quarterback Luke McCown tweeted that his client signed a contract with the Saints following his tryout with the team.
New Orleans Saints secondary coach Ken Flajole easing defensive transition - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
He spent last three years in St. Louis with new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo
Reports: New Orleans Saints have signed quarterback Luke McCown - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Joe Vitt was impressed with how he picked up the playobook
Uh oh, Saints coach Joe Vitt isn’t happy: "Yeah, I understand the (minicamp) rules" - NFL.com
"You need to read them then," said Vitt, his voice rising again. "If you’re going to report on our business, you need to know the rules. I’m not here to teach them to you. I’m here to teach football, not teach you the rules."
It's business as usual for Saints - NFC South Blog - ESPN
METAIRIE, La. -- I’ve walked out to the practice field twice a day each of the past two days, looking for any signs that suggest the New Orleans Saints are a different team than they’ve been the last few years. Other than a message for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that can’t be printed here, I saw no signs.
Pete Carmichael At Saints Minicamp Q&A (June 6, 2012)
More with Morstead: Saints Punter Recaps Day 2 of Mini-Camp
New Orleans Saints minicamp day 3, updates - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
From the Saints facility on Airline Drive
Move to defensive end suits Saints DE Wilson | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
METAIRIE — The Martez Wilson experiment, a.k.a. the conversion of New Orleans Saints’ second-year pro from linebacker to defensive end this…
Saints scuffle in minicamp; say it's a good sign | New Orleans Saints | The Sun Herald
METAIRIE -- As a brief scuffle petered out in the middle of the second day of Saints minicamp, safety Malcolm Jenkins trotted to the edge of the practice field and said to no one in particular, "If we're like this in June, no one's going to want to see us in September."
New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham continues to get better and better - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
TE is talented, passionate and driven to succeed on the field and in life
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DREW BREES, PLEASE COME HOME:
New Orleans Saints make new contract proposal to Drew Brees, source says - ESPN
It is not known how much Loomis improved the team's previous offer or whether it will prove to be acceptable to Brees and his representatives, who are believed to be evaluating it.
New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees has grievance hearing later this month - ESPN
Jeffrey Kessler said Thursday that he expects a grievance hearing to be scheduled in late June with arbitrator Stephen Burbank to determine the designation of Saints quarterback Drew Brees' franchise tag.
New Orleans Saints interim coach Joe Vitt talks Drew Brees' contract and key players - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Vitt hasn't heard anything about Brees, is happy with progress of cornerback Corey White, tight end David Thomas and defensive lineman Cameron Jordan
NFL QB Brees sells home for $2.4 million | UTSanDiego.com
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has sold his home near Carmel Valley for $2.4 million
Report: Brees, Saints have closed contract gap rapidly | wwltv.com New Orleans
WWL Saints sideline reporter Kristian Garic is reporting that the New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees are very close to getting a long-term deal done, one that would pay him $20 million annually.
Despite some local reports, no sign that Drew Brees-New Orleans Saints deal is imminent - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Sources dispute the idea that a deal could be done by Friday or Monday
The Brees deal guessing game begins | ProFootballTalk
Whenever an presumably inevitable transaction begins to move closer to its inevitability, members of the media who possibly are trying to enhance their stature inevitably begin reporting that the transaction is "very close.
Brees seeks ruling from Burbank on 2013 franchise tender | ProFootballTalk
Contrary to popular belief, Monday's ruling in Bounty Grievance No. 2 has yet to release Stephen Burbank from currently active service to the NFL and NFLPA.
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MORE ON BOUNTYFARCE:
Players will get evidence three days before bounty hearing | ProFootballTalk
Given that the league plans to conduct all four appeal hearings on the same day, it’s unlikely that the NFL will use a lengthy, complex presentation of evidence. Few if any trials can be completed in one day; the idea that four hearings involving hotly disputed allegations can be conducted on June 18 suggests that the procedures are more perfunctory than meaningful.
Saints Nation: More Player Suspensions Coming for Saints? | June
Daily Special, June 7, 2012 - Who Dat Social Club
It’s going to be interesting to see if this new "smoking gun" prompts Goodell to add Dunbar and Harper to the list of suspended players—something like doubling down on a very bad bluff.
Gregg Williams announces cash rewards to New Orleans Saints players on a tape recording - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Report says it's unlikely either player will be punished by NFL
49ers' Gore says he has no beef with Vilma, Saints - 49ers - The Sacramento Bee
Told that Williams said he wanted Gore's "head sideways," the running back said, "When you hear another team call your name, that means respect. That's a lot of respect, and you're doing something right for your team. So it don't bother me at all."
Latest bounty report exposes another flaw in bounty evidencce | ProFootballTalk
On Wednesday, Sean Pamphilon handed another bounty baton to Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports, and Silver in turn reported that a pair of Saints defenders received payment for "whacks" in the wild-card playoff win over the Lions.
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NFL LAWSUITS:
NFL Concussions Mega-Lawsuit Claims League Hid Brain Injury Links From Players
Plaintiffs hope to hold the NFL responsible for the care of players suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions. Other former players remain asymptomatic, but worry about the future and want medical monitoring. The helmet-maker Riddell, Inc. also is named as a defendant.
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LAGNIAPPE:
Saints training camp set for New Orleans beginning July 27 | wwltv.com New Orleans
The Saints will open their 2012 training camp on July 27 in Metairie, the fourth consecutive season they’ll train at their headquarters.
Open Casting Call - Who Dat Social Club
This is an open casting call for both on-screen and off-screen roles in the WhoDat Pictures production of Oliver Stone’s "Goodell."
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TRANSCRIPT:
New Orleans Saints Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers joe Vitt
Media Availability
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Opening Statement
"In an overview of this week at practice, I thought we got a lot done. Again (today), it was a review of first and second down. We then went into the red zone today and had extensive work. We had our nickel work yesterday. We’ll continue when we come back again on Monday to build our package. The guys are moving great, they’re moving quick. They’re intense but outstanding. I think that everyone understands here with the CBA, some of the things that we do are slower now. I think that we need to understand the rules. We couldn’t be more happy with where we are right now."
What are your thoughts on 
?
"He came in last year with a tremendous amount of athleticism and want to and sometimes you can get a little bit of a sophomore jinx. He hasn’t shown any of that. He’s wide-eyed, this is a new system for him so he has to pay attention. I think the new system fits him perfectly. I think we’ll see a little more of his pass rush skills this year. We’ve been happy with him, really happy."
Is it harder with the new contact-related rules this year to evaluate where you are based on years past?
"I think it is harder like I’ve said earlier with the offensive and defensive linemen. Everyone in the league is going through that right now. I like where we are right now. We like where we are right now and we’re just going to have to wait and see."
Does this give a younger player less of an opportunity?
"I don’t think so because we are still going to judge them right now on what they can do. And that would be athleticism, footwork, balance, knee bend, that’s what they are being evaluated on."
Could you pick out three guys that you are excited to see put pads on?
"I think is one of them. He is a big. We can all see his athleticism, change of direction and movement skills. I think that has been great. Again, he’s got balance, twitch, fluid hips and second gear but for a corner he’s got power too. I think what we all know what we have in , but this kid, , makes plays in the red zone everyday. Those guys I’m excited to see put the pads on.
Everyone knows that giveaway and takeaway ratio are the number one statistics in football, how much stress in the offseason have you put into those?
"Not anymore pressure or stress than we have before. It’s the number one stat that we show our football team every single week. I’ll give you a stat, did you know that we’re undefeated if we don’t turn the ball over, since we’ve been together in 2006. If we forced at least one turnover on defense, I think we are 60 and 27 or something like that. We stress it but as we are stressing it we still have to play the game quick and confident and if something bad happens you have to go on to the next play. I think that we are only one of two teams in 2006 that went to the NFC Championship, that were in the minus that year. But when we won a World Championship we were plus. It is very important to us. We talk about it all the time."
Do you plan on bringing Luke McCown to training camp?
"I think so. Number one, I think that he is a heck of an athlete. He’s got a live arm. I thought he really did a good job getting the offense in and out of the huddle. The ball was on the ground one time in the three days he’s been here. I think he is someone that we need to take a look at. He’s done a good job here."
Have you guys put anymore thought into bringing training camp on the road?
"Yes, we have. I think that we will be ready to announce that sometime next week."
Was shifting Brian Young to assist you with the linebackers to help you out with your wider responsibilities?
"That transition took place before any of this stuff happened. Brian is a defensive lineman, played in the league nine years and was working with the defensive line when we lost Blake Williams. Brian wanted to come to linebacker to learn more back coverage and he’s done a fantastic job. He’s a smart guy. He is learning the back coverage (concepts) right now but he understands run fits and the alignment of linebackers based on backfield sets."
when we was dealing with his concussions last season? Can you comment on his experience?
"I don’t think that anybody can comment on something that anybody else went through. I was there with him when he went through it last year and it very concerning. You are talking about life after football. He’s got a wife and two boys. He loves the game, but he loves his family more. He went and received all of the proper medical opinions that he had to receive, they wrote off on it and we feel good about it right now. It is something that we are conscious of and it’s something that he is conscious of. It’s serious.
The team values his presence because he is a versatile player?
"Probably the most versatile offensive player that we have. He can play three positions, the wide, the F and the H. He understands pass protections. When Heath Evans went down in the Super Bowl year. He came right in to handle all of the protections. I’m not so sure that he is on the verge of brilliant when it comes to being a football player. He loves the game. It was a huge setback for us as a team last year when down but I will say that his health comes first. Right now everything is going great. He is making plays, running around, he feels great, he’s got no headaches and he’s not dizzy. Everything is going great right now."
Do the young kids pay attention to him?
"We’ll if they’re not then they are stupid. They shouldn’t be here. He is the epitome of a professional."
If is signed before training camp, does Luke McCown still have a chance going to training camp.?
"Once nine comes in here, we evaluate our roster and see where we are numberswise. We are always going to bring the best players to camp."
There has been reports that he is close to signing a long term deal, can you share anything?
"I haven’t read that either, but I’ve said all along that he’s going to be here so I’m not surprised."
__________________________________________________________________________________________ VIDEO: RB Pierre Thomas Interview 6/6/12 Pete Carmichael's Press Conference 6/6/12