Story Created:
Aug 10, 2008 at 12:22 PM CST
Story Updated:
Aug 11, 2008 at 9:13 AM CST
We're coming with the wrap up a little early today because we just found out that the Saints afternoon practice has been canceled. The team went full pads this morning for about two hours and Coach Payton is going to give them the afternoon off.
The most important thing we saw this morning was Reggie Bush practicing. Bush missed sat out practice yesterday afternoon because of swelling in his left knee. He said that it was nothing serious and apparently he was correct. Bush went full speed all morning and even participated in the live drills with full tackling.
Yes we saw full tackling for the first time all camp. Coach Payton was looking to test his players a little bit and really see how they execute in live situations. No new injuries occurred during these drills, which is always the big concern, so a good workout overall this morning.
The two guys with the same initials again didn't practice, Adrian Arrington and Andy Alleman. Arrington has a grade-2 turf toe, which Payton says is pretty significant and will keep him out at least a week. Alleman has a hip contusion but should be back tomorrow.
Jeremy Shockey did not practice today but coach says he is doing fine. Shockey could miss the next pre-season game but Payton believes they'll have him available for the final two pre-season games with no limits on what he can do.
Shockey's backup has been receiving plenty of praise after his four catch performance on Thursday. Mark Campbell looked solid in his first live action in more than a year and Payton was really encouraged by his play against Arizona.
So again, no practice this afternoon, the Saints will wrap up their time in Jackson on Monday with a workout at 8:50 a.m. and then the final one at 3 p.m., weather permitting.
9:02 a.m. As Reggie Bush told us yesterday it doesn't look like there is anything to worry about with his knee. Bush missed his first practice of camp Saturday afternoon because his left knee swelled up after the morning workout. He rested the knee and iced it just as a precaution. Bush is out here right now in full pads and doesn't look to be wearing the brace on that knee that he was yesterday.
9:13 a.m. Deuce McAllister has stepped off to the side while the team stretching to get worked on by the trainer. It looks like he's had to take his football pants off so he can get a new wrap or tape job on that knee, I can't exactly tell because he's on the other side of the field.
9:17 a.m. Deuce has his pants back on and has returned to the field.
9:21 a.m. Coach Payton said yesterday that Jeremy Shockey would likely remain on a one-a-day practice schedule and this morning session will be the one he sits out.
9:40 a.m. The only other injury news is that offensive lineman Andy Alleman is still out of practice because of a right hip bruise. Also Adrian Arrington is not going to workout because of turf toe. We haven't even seen Arrington on the sideline since the team returned from Arizona.
9:44 a.m. Devery Henderson just made a sharp double move on Mike McKenzie and then reached up to make a grab in the endzone over him.
9:46 a.m. Now for the good stuff: live full team drills in full pads. First play Bush is stopped for a short gain and comes up frustrated, throwing the ball down the field.
9:48 a.m. This is the first time we've seen tackling to the ground all camp long. While Bush and Deuce didn't do much for the first team offense, Aaron Stecker and Pierre Thomas just ripped off back-to-back 20-plus yard runs.
10:10 a.m. Although special teams drills aren't the most exciting, special teams coach Greg McMahon is usually entertaining to watch. He takes the award for loudest coach, with Coach Orgeron coming in a close second.
10:16 a.m. Back to offense vs. defense work, no tackling this time though. Drew Brees is looks sharp, hitting three straight passes. One to Billy Miller, one to Deuce and then one to Marques Colston.
10:19 a.m. If Brees was sharp, Mark Brunell right now is the opposite. He just threw one of the ugliest passes, a floater over the middle that was intercepted by Jonathan Vilma.
10: 35 a.m. We're back to tackling, now in red-zone offensive work. Bush just made one of those ridiculous jump stop moves where he goes one way and on a dime stops and goes the other way. He only gained about 3 yards but it was an impressive 3 yards.
10:38 a.m. Now Bush finds a little room to maneuver, catching a pass over the middle and sprinting to the corner of the endzone.
10:45 a.m. This practice has come to an end.
