Behind the Black and Gold for Sunday, July 28

Get the most updated information about the team plus behind-the-scenes happenings

Jul 28, 2019 at 08:01 AM

TODAY: The New Orleans Saints will take the practice field at Ochsner Sports Performance Center for their first padded workout of Training Camp presented by Verizon. It is scheduled to last about two and a half hours, starting at 8:50 a.m.

KEEPING COOL: With the intense Gulf South heat, Saints training camp becomes a challenge for players to handle conditions. For the second consecutive year, a cooling trailer is available for players. Saints players can walk in for a quick refresher or sit down to drop their body temperature. If needed, a whole position group can go inside the trailer, which is cooled to 30 degrees, especially effective for big men.

HYDRATION: Keeping hydrated for training camp practices in the Louisiana heat is another crucial part of a player having an opportunity to be productive and impress the Saints coaches and player personnel staff. Saints nutritionist Jamie Meeks tells players that drinking fluids when thirsty is not enough, but more important is to hydrate throughout the day to withstand outdoor practices where the temperature often exceeds 85 degrees and the heat index gets much higher. Pre-hydration prior to practice is an important aspect where the suggestion is to consume at least 16-20 ounces of water three to four hours prior to practice with another 8-12 ounces 10-15 minutes prior to practice. Following every training camp practice players weigh themselves and the suggestion is to drink a 16-24 ounce bottle of water for every pound in water weight lost.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Today, former Saints defensive end Jeff Charleston (2008-11) will sign autographs for fans near the entrance to the practice fields from 8-9 a.m. Former Saints safety Roman Harper will visit with suite holders and VIP guests. On Saturday, LSU Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda and Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Joseph Brady, who served on the Saints staff from 2017-18, attended practice as guests of Coach Sean Payton.

DEEP THREAT: Almost immediately after the team was forced to move indoors for Saturday's practice due to impending rain and lightning, quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Cyril Grayson Jr. created their own electricity when they connected on a long completion. Grayson, who grew up in Metairie and played football as a senior at Rummel High School, but is better known for his storied track career at LSU, is making a charge to compete for a roster spot after practice squad stints with four teams the past two seasons.

IN THE GRASS: While several types of grasses are grown in lawns and fields throughout South Louisiana, the surface of choice on the football practice fields at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center is Bermuda grass. This is a wise choice for the area's hot climate, while requiring limited water maintenance. Bermuda is a low-to-the-ground growing, extra-tough variant of grass, offering wonderful cover for the ground, as well as withstanding high levels of foot traffic, including the presence of football cleats. Saints Director of Facilities Terry Ashburn and his staff will mow the practice fields virtually every day following an outdoor Saints practice.

SUCCESSFUL SITDOWN: Payton taped a sit-down interview following practice Friday with former Black and Gold Coach Jim Mora for a segment on WDSU-6 that will air this summer. Payton and Mora are easily the two most successful head coaches in franchise history. In the two interview chairs of Payton and Mora, sat 219 of the franchise's 371 total victories.

I'M AN AMERICAN: Former New Orleans kicker and 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Morten Andersen was officially inducted as a United States citizen on Friday at a group ceremony. Andersen, who held the National Football League's all-time scoring record until 2018, originally came to the United States from Denmark as an exchange student as a teenager to Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.

AT BAT: While rookie long snapper Nick Moore is in his first year in the NFL, he is no stranger to the rigors of professional sports. In 2011, Moore was selected in the 30th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox and played in their minor league system for four years for the Gulf Coast Red Sox, Lowell Spinners, Greenville Drive and Salem Red Sox. In 2015, Moore enrolled at Georgia where he handled long-snapping duties, but still remains close to several core members of the 2018 World Series Champions, including 2018 American League Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts.

TOMORROW: On Monday, the Saints will again take to the Ochsner Sports Performance Center fields at 8:50 a.m. for their second padded workout of 2019 Training Camp presented by Verizon.