TWEETS:
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter Mike Shanahan said S Brandon Meriweather sprained his MCL and PCL during practice and will miss two to four weeks.
Sheldon Mickles @SheldonMickles #Redskins will be without both starting safeties against Drew Brees as FS Tanard Jackson was suspended by the NFL last week. #Saints
New Orleans Saints @Saints Today’s Saints injury report: Did Not Practice-> Colston(foot); Limited: Greer(groin), Hawthorne(knee), Lofton(ankle); Full: Arrington(knee)
New Orleans Saints @Saints Kromer said all the guys listed on the injury report should be fine for Sunday.
Jeff Duncan @JeffDuncanTP Brees said the #Saints are highly motivated for Sunday's opener b/c of #Isaac & bountygate, "to make sure people know that we're unfazed."
Mike Triplett @TripTP #Saints Brees: Im not gonna pretend I know what its like to get flooded out or lose a house ..but I understand mindset of trying to overcome
Jermon Bushrod @j_bushrod7475 I didn't forget about today's message http://pic.twitter.com/4by8wKLM
New Orleans Saints @Saints Brees (Austin, TX native) on RGIII "His talent & athletic ability are phenomenal. I like him because he is a Texas QB"
Jeff Duncan @JeffDuncanTP Kromer said Marques Colston's left foot was sore and that he should be fine for Sunday's game.
WWL-TV Sports @wwltvsports #Saints Kromer: Says Ben Grubbs has done a good job fitting in, learning the nuances of the Saints offense.
New Orleans Saints @Saints Kromer on how many touches he expects Sproles to get this season: "We will get Darren Sproles the ball as many times as we can"
New Orleans Saints @Saints Kromer on his 1st game in his new role this Sunday: I am excited. It’s a huge opportunity for our team to show the resiliency that they have
New Orleans Saints @Saints Kromer on RGIII: when one guy can change the face of their program, which he did in college, there is a good chance he can in the NFL
Grandmaster Wang @moosedenied Here are a few things I've just pulled out of my ass. Please feel free to do with them what you will: http://wp.me/pe2Nq-1oV
New Orleans Saints @Saints RGIII said it will be special to play in New Orleans for his 1st reg. season game. Calls NOLA his family’s hometown
New Orleans Saints @Saints RGIII on playing in the @MBSuperdome on Sunday "It’s definitely going to be loud. (The fans) are going to be pumped and ready to go"
New Orleans Saints @Saints Robert Griffin III on a conference call with NOLA media "both of my parents were born in NOLA. I know what it’s like to be a Saints fan"
Dave Birkett @davebirkett Just finished conf call w/Rams coach Jeff Fisher. Asked if he expects Gregg Williams to coach next year. Said "we'll discuss that next year"
New Orleans Saints @Saints 4 days till we are back in the @MBSuperdome, 4 days till the 1st Who Dat pregame chant of the reg. season: who's ready?
Garrett Hartley @GHartley5 Game week.. Can't wait to see the best fans in the dome Sunday! Bring the noise. Our journey starts now. #WHODATNATION #BeatTheRedskins
Jedidiah Collins @JedCollins45 S-aints A-re I-nching N-earer T-he S-uperbowl Start Season right #WHODAT #BeatTheRedskins
Lance Moore @LanceMoore16 Work day!!! Getting right for our regular season opener Sunday in the dome. Have a great day everybody!
Drew Brees @drewbrees RT @lex2323: .@drewbrees tweeted about working with @onedirection on the commercial then deleted it.. Wonder if it's a "secret"
Scott Shanle @scottshanle "@scottfujita99: Not watching DNC right now, but always interesting to read completely different reactions 2 the exact same speech." so true
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
SAINTS LOOK TO BE AT FULL FORCE FOR REDSKINS:
Saints LB Curtis Lofton returns to practice, WR Marques Colston sits out | wwltv.com New Orleans
New Orleans Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton returned to practice Wednesday, his first time on the field since injuring his left ankle in the Aug. 17 preseason game against Jacksonville.
New Orleans Saints WR Marques Colston misses Wednesday's practice with left foot injury - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston missed Wednesday's practice with a left foot injury, but interim coach Aaron Kromer said every player on Wednesday's injury report should play Sunday in the season opener against the Washington Redskins in the Mercedes Benz-Superdome.
Redskins QB Robert Griffin III looking to make new memories in New Orleans | wwltv.com New Orleans
Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III knows New Orleans. Both his parents were born and raised in Louisiana’s internationally renowned city.
Redskins’ Shanahan, Griffin III Talk About Opening the Season Against the Saints
Redskins Executive Vice President/Head Coach and QB held conference calls with New Orleans media members on Wednesday to preview Sunday's game
NFL Week 1 Picks, Point Spreads and TV Schedule
Redskins-Saints Pick: This game features debuts, as the Redskins will feature Robert Griffin III at quarterback, while the Saints will begin their season without Sean Payton as head coach. Even without Payton, the Saints are too talented to drop this game at home, and I also see them easily covering this spread. Redskins-Saints Pick: Saints -9
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
COACH PAYTON SPEAKS/THE LATEST ON BOUNTYFARCE:
NFL Videos: Sean Payton's coded message?
Suspended head coach Sean Payton did an extensive interview with The Times-Picayune. Steve Wyche and Mark Kriegel question the timing of Payton's interview and if there was an alternative motive behind it.
NFL Videos: Payton admits it's 'really tough' to stay away
Mike Triplett of the Times-Picayune joins "NFL AM" Wednesday to discuss his lengthy Q and A with suspended New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.
Suspended coach Payton opens up in interview - chicagotribune.com
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has said very little publicly since beginning his season-long suspension in April for his part in the bounty scandal.
Sean Payton: It’s frustrating to hear things that aren’t true | ProFootballTalk
Sean Payton, the Saints head coach who's suspended for the season because of the team's bounty program, says the most difficult thing he's gone through is hearing himself portrayed in a way that he says is inaccurate.
Bounty gavel could drop any minute now | ProFootballTalk
If Judge Berrigan has a flair for the dramatic, a decision will come in the next hour, just in time to steal some of the league’s thunder as a new season launches.
Judge Helen Berrigan issues two orders involving NFLPA's temporary restraining order motion - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Berrigan wrote that the court is doubtful that negotiations between the league and the union will be fruitful and the court found that "extremely disappointing" since it believes negotiations would bring relief to these three players and Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who is already serving his year-long suspension.
NFLPA asks for restraining order in bounty case | New Orleans Saints | The Sun Herald
NEW ORLEANS -- The NFL Players Association has asked a federal judge for a temporary restraining order that would allow players suspended in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation to rejoin their teams in time to play regular season openers.
NFLPA seeks TRO for Fujita, Smith, Hargrove | ProFootballTalk
When the NFLPA filed suit on behalf of Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, Saints defensive end Will Smith, and former Packers defensive end Anthony Hargrove, the NFLPA specifically chose not to seek an order lifting their bounty suspensions pending a final decision.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE REPLACEMENTS:
NFLRA responds to league’s effort to create "bench" of officials | ProFootballTalk
"If the NFL was seriously concerned about this issue why was it never raised or discussed in the 10 months of negotiations prior to July 19?" Arnold said. "The answer is obvious – it is not a serious proposal at all."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
LAGNIAPPE:
Why Grown Men Walk Around Wearing Football Jerseys
THE NFL IS BIGGER THAN THE PRESIDENCY. Deep down, the Ginger Hammer knows this. Deep down, Roger Goodell knows he could keep this game on Thursday night and CRUSH the President in one bold, swift stroke. Then he could take over the Oval Office and fine everyone $5,000 for conduct detrimental to the nation. You know he wants to do it. You know it's only a matter of time before he stages a terrifying ginger coup that leaves us all enslaved and suspended for four games apiece.
moosedenied " Blog Archive " Secrets From The Future
Oh, you know it's coming. Accusations will fly. Payton is cheating, Vitt is cheating, Loomis is cheating. It's the only logical explanation for how and why the Saints could be 4-0 after having just pimp-slapped the Mighty Packers, despite everything.
Rich Eisen of the NFL Network handicaps the New Orleans Saints' season | NOLA.com
"The offense comes back intact with the exception of Sean Payton being there. And if Sean Payton and Drew Brees share a brain, then half the brain is there, and that half of the brain is the one with his hands physically on the controls.
Updated NFC South salary-cap space - NFC South Blog - ESPN
The New Orleans Saints are $8.7 under the cap, but that’s misleading. Defensive end Will Smith's $5.1 million figure is off the books during a four-game suspension, but comes back on as soon as it’s over. Smith also could come back on the books if the NFL Players Association gets a temporary restraining order on his suspension. Jonathan Vilma's $3.3 figure isn’t counting as he serves a season-long suspension. But, like with Smith, the Saints have to keep room open for him in case he is reinstated, even if it’s only temporary.
Daily Special, September 5, 2012 - Who Dat Social Club
Freeman, in particular, is fond of asking "why would Goodell lie?" It apparently hasn’t occurred to him yet to ask, "why would so many Saints deny, under oath in federal court, the accusations against them, at the same time Goodell works frantically to keep his hand off the Bible?"
Jim Wilks To Appear At Saints Hall Of Fame Museum
The former Saints defensive lineman will appear at the Saints Hall of Fame on Sunday, September 9 prior to the regular season opener
Saints Nation Podcast: Redskins Preview and Digging in the Rams' Trash Edition | September
Saints Donate Equipment to the East St. John Football Team
Members of the New Orleans Saints Youth Programs department delivered football equipment to the players and coaches of the East St. John High School football team at Destrehan High School on Tuesday night.
NFL Rumors: New Orleans Saints WR Nick Toon May Need Surgery : New Orleans Saints
NFL Rumors: New Orleans Saints rookie WR Nick Toon will miss his entire rookie season with a foo injury. Toon's foot might require surgery.
Numbers say Matt Ryan already elite - NFC South Blog - ESPN
Ryan qualifies as elite. In four seasons, he’s won a lot of games. Ryan’s career record as a starter is 43-19. That’s a .694 winning percentage, which puts him third among active NFL quarterbacks that have made 10 regular-season starts.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
VIDEO:
Aaron Kromer's Interview 9/5/12
Curtis Lofton's Interview 9/5/12