2008-08-05 (Tues) Afternoon

>>>>For more pictures from today, click here: 2008-08-05 Afternoon

Well I’m afraid this report is going to be light on football and heavy on (good) pictures. I’ll explain.

The team was back on the upper fields in shorts and shoulder pads. Colston was not in pads. I arrived just in time for some 11-on-11. The way the upper fields are configured is two full fields side-by-side, with the bleachers stretching the length of one side's two end zones. For this particular period, not only were the plays going away from the stands, but also the rest of the team was standing behind the action. If you think Doug Flutie had hard time seeing over lineman, try doing it from 40 yards away. Even at an angle, all anybody could really make out were long pass plays.

Lynell Hamilton caught a 30-yarder down the left sideline. I was able to determine that Brunell had thrown it, simply based on the fact that Brees and Palko were components of the jerseyed parapet at the time. I was also able to see that Palko made a similarly lengthed pass down the left side to Arrington.

After a while longer of who-knows-what, the horn blew, the team huddled, and that was it. Payton called practice at 5:30. Oh well. I figured they might be easing up with the first pre-season game a mere 48 hours away. They only have a walk-though tomorrow, anyway.

But, the short practice time made for a fan-appreciated autograph time. Yesterday was tough to top, as far as star power. But today the players were working a volume business. Roughly 25 players signed today – many LdL firsts. Among them were, Colston, (new Center) Jonathan Goodwin, Pierre, Skyler, Campbell, Mehlhaff (a little politicing, maybe?), Drew, Arrington, Stinchcomb, Shockey, Karney, and maybe every OL on the roster.

Autograph props: Deuuuuuuuce. Deuce has been keeping a low autograph profile this year. But today he pulled exactly what Reggie did yesterday. He signed until nobody was left. He finally went in at about 6:20. Well done, sir. Lena smiles. And now so do dozens of future life-long Saints fans. Who Deuce!