- The first Saints' practice of 2009 Training Camp – and the team's first in full pads since October of last season – kicked off at 8:50am, with 2,303 officially in attendance. Included in that total was a couple holding a gold sign with "We drove seven hours to get here" hand-drawn across the front of it. A long line of fans wrapped around the field more than an hour before the gates opened.
- While the morning was already warm, before the end of the workout at 11am the temperature had officially risen to 91.5 degrees, with a heat index of 105.4, according to the digital gauge held by the athletic training staff on the field. There were no heat-related problems for the players, and it rained following practice. The unpredictable weather forced the team to move the afternoon practice indoors.
- Training camp always brings a number of Canadian Football League scouts to practice, who roam the sidelines to keep an eye on prospects who might not make the club's final roster.
- Early in practice, WR Robert Meachem made a twisting, over-the-shoulder grab while tangled with a defensive back that drew a lengthy cheer from the crowd.
- The one-on-one drills – quarterbacks dropping back without a rush, no safety in the middle of the field and the cornerback alone with the wide receiver – are a favorite of the fans and a difficult assignment for the defensive backs.
- CB Tracy Porter stood out by breaking up a pass near the sideline to WR Marques Colston.
- The battle at cornerback will likely be one of the most compelling of camp, with Randall Gay, Jabari Greer, Porter, Jason David and Leigh Torrence among the veterans headlining a deep group, not to mention unsigned No. 1 pick Malcolm Jenkins…In early pass-catching drills, S Chris Reis juggled the ball before dropping it, then went to the turf and did 10 quick pushups.
- WR Lance Moore, wearing a red jersey as he continues to work his way back from offseason shoulder surgery, made a fast break on an out pattern and hauled in a strike from QB Mark Brunell. "Seems like old times," said wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson. Moore participated in one-on-one and seven-on-seven drills on a limited basis.
- In team drills, David earned huge praise from defensive coordinator Gregg Williams after closing quickly on a screen pass. From deep in the secondary, David arrived just as RB Mike Bell caught the ball. While in practice a completion, it would likely have been a huge collision in a game, if not a turnover. Williams went on to the field to loudly congratulate David.
- Williams could be heard across the practice field later during the team session, when a defender lightly tapped a wideout following a reception to indicate a tackle would have been made. "I do NOT like that tap," the veteran coordinator said. "Wrap the offensive player up. I do not like the tap out here."
- A pair of photographers from Sports Illustrated were sent to cover the club's opening days of camp.
In the afternoon session, some of the highlight plays included:
- Brees to Devery Henderson for an intermediate completion before being shoved out of bounds by Roman Harper.
- Brees to Bush for a short completion despite tight coverage by Scott Shanle.
- RB Pierre Thomas picking up a nice gain on a sweep.
- TE Jeremy Shockey getting free for a long gain.
- RB Mike Bell running hard through the middle, breaking an arm tackle before S Usama Young met him.
- DE Bobby McCray stopping Jeremy Shockey/Paris Warren.aspx">Paris Warren for a big loss in the backfield.
- McCray, on the next play, beating a blocker and sacking Mark Brunell.
- LB Troy Evans meeting RB Lynell Hamilton in the backfield for a loss.
- WR Lynell Hamilton/Skyler Green.aspx">Skyler Green making a nice reception along the sideline.
- S Pierson Prioleau popping rookie RB Herb Donaldson at the line of scrimmage.
- DE Garrett Hartley/Paul Spicer.aspx">Paul Spicer "sacking" QB Anthony Hargrove/Joey Harrington.aspx">Joey Harrington.
- Harrington to TE Dan Campbell for a nice gain before being stopped by rookie LB Jonathan Casillas.
- CB Leigh Torrence perfectly timing his break on a pass and nearly intercepting the pass. Instead, he deflected the pass away from the intended receiver.
- K Garrett Hartley hammering a few mid-range field goals directly through the uprights.
- LB Anthony Waters knocking rookie receiver Garrett Hartley/Matt Simon.aspx">Matt Simon down in mid-stride during a special teams drill. The rookie from Northern Illinois, to his credit, popped right up and hustled back to the take another rep.
- DT Will Smith/Kendrick Clancy.aspx">Kendrick Clancy jumping up to swat down a Drew Brees pass.
- Torrence making another impressive play, this time jarring the ball loose from Simon after he made a reception. An alert Robert Meachem/Jo-Lonn Dunbar.aspx">Jo-Lonn Dunbar scooped the ball up and bolted down the sideline.
A lot has happened on day one, here is a brief thumbnail of what to find here at NewOrleansSaints.com
- Unpredictable weather has forced the team inside this afternoon and thus, practice is closed to the public.
- Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams had people talking.
- Quarterback Drew Brees weighed in the the competition the Saints offense and defense will wage this summer.
- Head Coach Sean Payton was pleased with the team's first day.
- RB Reggie Bush recently went to Africa. Read about what he learned.
