White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. – Understandably, defensive end Cam Jordan was a healthy scratch for the New Orleans Saints' preseason opener against New England, a 34-22 loss at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
He'd just rejoined the team the day before the game was played last Thursday, after a few days away to attend to a more pressing matter.
As in, Jordan left the Saints in order to be present for the birth of his second child, a daughter, Noel Glory Jordan.
"I call her 'Young Glory,' " he said.
Mom and daughter are healthy and well. Dad? All good, other than the fact that he didn't get to play against the Patriots.
Still, he saw some good that came from him standing on the sideline and watching, rather than participating.
"There's not ever a time where the Saints are playing that I don't want to be a part of it," he said. "(But) it was a chance to see the young guys go, help critique a couple of the guys that needed some help in the run play area. Luckily, I have more things to help with (regarding) the younger guys, and they're very open to learning."
One of them, defensive end Kasim Edebali, immediately jumped off the page. Coach Sean Payton singled out Edebali as one of the bright spots for New Orleans after Edebali's two-sack performance (three tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries).
"Two sacks in all of, what, eight plays?" Jordan said. "It was fast, it was quick, that's something you like to see, especially when you're coming off against a guy like (New England left tackle) Nate Solder, who has clearly established himself as a full-time starter for the Patriots."
The Saints No. 1 defense had its moments, forcing three-and-outs on New England's first two possessions, and another punt to end the Patriots' third possession.
"I think they flashed a lot of good things," Jordan said. "As the game went on, there are some things that we clearly have to work on. With that being said, I know we're going to get on them. We focused on them today."
It'll help that Jordan is back to mentor and lead a defensive line that, he says, is as talented as any he has played with in New Orleans.
"There are a lot of things that are going on in this camp that are so bright," he said. "You have so many different guys running to the ball, you have so much depth in our D-line – this is probably the deepest D-line that I've seen. Guys are coming here competing on every play, on every level. I'm excited to see where our defense can be."
