From staff reports

The Saints on Tuesday released their training camp schedule for their practices in Jackson, Miss. The team’s first practice will be Friday, July 27 and the saints will break camp Aug. 19.

All practices are free and open to the public.

July 27 (Friday)
Morning 8:50 am - 11 am Upper Fields
Afternoon 4:20 pm - 6 pm Lower Field

July 28 (Saturday)
Morning 8:50 am - 11 am Stadium
Afternoon 4:20 pm - 6 pm Lower Field

July 29 (Sunday)
Morning 8:50 am - 11 am Upper Fields
Afternoon 4:20 pm - 6 pm Lower Field

July 30 (Monday)
Morning (Walk-Thru) 8:50 am - 10:30 am Stadium
Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6 pm Upper Fields

July 31 (Tuesday)
Morning 8:50 am - 11 am Lower Field
Afternoon 4:20 pm - 6 pm Upper Fields

August 1 (Wednesday)
Morning (Walk-Thru) 8:50 am - 10:30 am Stadium
Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6 pm Lower Field

August 2 (Thursday)
Morning 8:50 am - 11 am Upper Fields
Afternoon 4:20 pm - 6 pm Lower Field

August 3 (Friday)
Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6 pm Upper Fields

August 4 (Saturday)
Team Travels to Canton, Ohio

August 5 (Sunday)
Hall of Fame Game vs. Pittsburgh - Canton, Ohio - Fawcett Stadium (7 pm CT)

August 6 (Monday)
Players Off

August 7 (Tuesday)
Morning (Walk-Thru) 8:50 am - 10:30 am Stadium
Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6 pm Lower Field

August 8 (Wednesday)
Morning 8:50 am - 11 am Upper Fields
Afternoon 4:20 pm - 6 pm Lower Field

August 9 (Thursday)
Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6 pm Upper Fields

August 10 (Friday)
Saints vs. Buffalo - New Orleans, Louisiana - Superdome (7:00 pm CT)

August 11 (Saturday)
Players Off

August 12 (Sunday)
Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6 pm Upper Fields

August 13 (Monday)
Morning 8:50 am - 11 am Upper Fields
Afternoon 4:20 pm - 6 pm Lower Field

August 14 (Tuesday)
Morning (Walk-Thru) 8:50 am - 10:30 am Stadium
Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6 pm Upper Fields

August 15 (Wednesday)
Morning 8:50 am - 11 am Upper Fields
Afternoon 4:20 pm - 6 pm Lower Field

August 16 (Thursday)
Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6 pm Upper Fields

August 17 (Friday)
Team Travels to Cincinnati, Ohio

August 18 (Saturday)
Saints at Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati, Ohio - Paul Brown Stadium (6:30 pm CT)

August 19 (Sunday)
BREAK CAMP

The Louisiana Legislature approved a ban on cockfighting effective August, 2008. So get down to New Orleans to see the Saints net season, and swing by the town of Sunset to take in a cock fight while you can.

The Saints have signed all but one of their seven draft picks! Talk about TCB. The Times-Picayune reports that 50 drafted rookies have been signed. The saints account for nearly 20 percent of the entire group. The only person left is the team’s first-round pick, WR Robert Meachem. This is not the same old Saints.

Also, check out this story about Drew Brees in the Purdue Journal-Courier, where he played college ball. The guy is a consummate professional and human being.

Here’s an excerpt: Since arriving in New Orleans, Brees and his wife, Brittany, have hosted 10 charitable events to help the people of the city, including a current effort to raise $2.5 million to help renovate schools, parks and athletic fields in the area.

“When we would run into people, they would come up to Drew and they wouldn’t say good game or great pass, they would say thank you for coming here, thank you for believing in us, and helping us and the city,” Brittany said. “That put everything in perspective.”

The New Orleans Saints announced today that they will be returning to Millsaps College for their 2007 training camp. The club will hold its annual summer training session on the campus of the Jackson, Miss. school for the second consecutive season, with players due to report July 25.

Check out their full schedule this season. Tough schedule this year, opening the season on the road in Indianapolis. We’re playing the AFC South outside the division.

The Saints have been efficiently securing their roster. As of June 20, they had five of their seven draft picks under contract. The lastest signed on Wednesday was signed 4th round pick, offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod to a three-year contract. Bushrod, 6-5, 315 pounds, was the Saints’ second 4th round pick. He started all four years at Towson, earning All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors as a senior in 2006.

Earlier this week, the Saints signed 7th round pick, linebacker Marvin Mitchell, to a three-year contract. At the University of Tennessee, the 6-3, 249-pound player was a team captain and starting middle linebacker, opening all 13 games in 2006. For his career, Mitchell had 154 tackles (120 solo), one sack, an interception, four pass defenses and three forced fumbles. As a senior, he led Tennessee in tackles, making 104 stops and forcing two fumbles.

Other signees are: 5th round pick, cornerback David Jones, and two third-round picks, Kent State cornerback Usama Young and Akron guard Andy Alleman. The only two that haven’t been locked down are 1st round pick, Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem, who just had knee surgery, and Jermon Bushrod, a big 6-4 offensive tackle from Towson.

I’m really excited about the upcoming season. Recent reports from Louisiana Newspapers, aggregated at www.saintsreport.com, indicate that last year’s catapault from embarrassment to contender — led by Drew Brees, R. Bush and first-year coach Sean Peyton — was legitimate. We expect more great things from the offensive prodigy in Peyton.

Coach Peyton had everyone put their trophies and accolades from last season in a box, buried it and held a jazz funeral in the locker room. Last year belongs to the dead, and it’s time to look ahead.

Some off season trades to mention. I’ll miss bud-man Michael Lewis and his lightening return speed and Joe Horn’s sticky hands. Horn is old and lately injury-prone. But Lewis, I hate to see leave. The former walkon and New Orleans-native always got positive yardage, and was paid very little. But first-round draft pick Meachum out of University of Tennessee will be good for years, and Reggie Bush is only going to get better. I hope Deuce comes back strong and that the young receiving corps of the Saints will follow Drew Brees to Hades if he asks them.

Anyway, that’s my 2 cents at the moment. There’s not a whole lot to talk about yet. My fantasy football league started up yesterday, and I’m looking forward to Madden 08 to see how fast Reggie Bush is. Good kid, that guy.

Go Saints 2008!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!