<span style="">The New Orleans Saints concluded their 2009 entire team mini-camp early Sunday afternoon with a practice in their indoor practice facility in Metairie. The final practice mirrored the team's other four practice sessions this weekend, as the practice sessions were spirited and crisp and left Head Coach Sean Payton generally pleased with the progress the team has made on the field thus far this off-season.</span>  

"I have been very pleased with where we are at this time of year in the different facets, whether it be overall fitness of the team or the way they are picking up what we are giving them," Payton said. "I'm very encouraged."


The one downside the team experienced over the mini-camp weekend were some short-term injuries to a few players such as reserve tight ends Dan Campbell (knee) and Darnell Dinkins (ankle), that could limit or stunt their work tabs in the final two weeks of organized team activities the team will hold beginning on selected days this week and end during the second to last week of June. The majority of the coaching staff and most of the veteran players will have roughly a month off before reporting to training camp late in July. "I think with one or two exceptions we should be ready to roll with everyone by the start of training camp. (WR) Lance Moore might be monitored about it, but off the top of my head, that's about it." 


Some notable plays that were turned in today in the final practice included:


-QB Drew Brees connecting on a timing route to Devery Henderson over the middle of the field for a nice gain.

-Reggie Bush bursting through a hole on the left side of the offensive line for a nice gain.

-CB Jabari Greer making a highlight film interception deep down the middle of the field on a pass intended for WR Robert Meachem.

-DE Bobby McCray applying heavy pressure on QB Mark Brunell.

-MLB Marvin Mitchell knocking down a pass intended for rookie RB Herb Donaldson.

-DE Jeff Charleston flying off the edge to "sack" Anthony Hargrove/Joey Harrington.aspx">Joey Harrington.

-Bush taking a pass from Brees out of the backfield and racing up field for a long gain.

-LB Jonathan Vilma and S Roman Harper meeting RB Mike Bell at the line of scrimmage.

-DE Charles Grant displaying a strong pass rush move during one of the team periods.

-Brees to Bush over the middle of the field, DT Sedrick Ellis quickly spun away from the line of scrimmage and doggedly pursued the speedy running back.

-WR Marques Colston making a nice one-handed grab of a Brees offering across the middle of the field.

-TE Jason Kyle/Billy Miller.aspx">Billy Miller made a diving reception for a 12-yard gain.

-DT DeMario Pressley knocking a ball loose from Brunell as the quarterback backpedaled.

-TE Jeremy Shockey made two nice receptions during the second portion of the team drills.

--DT Lynell Hamilton/Rod Coleman.aspx">Rod Coleman spitting a double-team and getting to the quarterback.

-S Usama Young recorded a pass defensed with a strong play on the ball.

-Henderson making a double move to shake free from DB Pierson Prioleau for a 20-yard gain.

-Colston making a hard catch look easy in front of speedy cornerback Leigh Torrence.

-Bush teaming up with RT Jon Stinchcomb to perfectly pick up a blitz and giving Brees time to find WR Robert Meachem for a nice gain.

-DE Garrett Hartley/Paul Spicer.aspx">Paul Spicer knocking down a pass at the line of scrimmage.

-WR Jeremy Shockey/Paris Warren.aspx">Paris Warren making a nice reception from Harrington, who released a pass a split second before a blitzing Chris Reis could get to the quarterback.

-LB Robert Meachem/Jo-Lonn Dunbar.aspx">Remi Ayodele/Jo-Lonn Dunbar.aspx">Jo-Lonn Dunbar running stride for stride with FB Olaniyi Sobomehin, causing a pass to fall incomplete.

-WR Garrett Hartley/Matt Simon.aspx">Matt Simon making a nice grab on a pass from QB Mark Brunell.

-Charleston beating his man and getting to Brunell for a would-be sack.

-DT Remi Ayodele getting into the backfield for a would-be sack.

-CB Tracy Porter applying blanket coverage on Meachem and forcing an incompletion.

-Brees to Colston for a nine-yard third down conversion.

DE Will Smith reading a play and knocking down a pass at the line of scrimmage.

Notes:

-The players, in accordance with NFL rules and regulations, wear just their helmets during the off-season practice sessions, and are not permitted to wear shells (a thin shoulder pad model) or any other sort of extra padding.