A Guide to Recognising Your Saints
by Michael E Lawrence
22/10/2008
 
Notes and titbits from the New Orleans Saints Practice and Presser 22 October
 
Your faithful Diner has been swanning about in one of Hertfordshire's swankiest hotels today (we wore tweed and everything), getting up close and personal with the likes of Sean Payton, Drew Brees, Marques Colston and, uh, Vernon Kay, not to mention watching practice as the team prepared for Sunday's showdown with the Chargers.
 

 
It was a spiffing day, with cold autumn sunshine, five star facilities (we resisted – just – the urge to play croquet between media sessions), and, most importantly, a bottomless supply of free tea and digestives. On the flipside I did hook my first tee shot on the hotel golf course, but on balance, a good day.
 
To business: if you want to check out exclusive Diner photos of the Saints in action, click here, while Sean Payton's unedited thoughts are captured on celluloid for your viewing/listening pleasure right here. We've also dedicated a separate piece to the thoughts, hopes and recipe ideas of the ever-affable Brees' right about here.
 
Notes and quotes from today:

• Marques Colston returned from a lingering hand injury last week and sounds determined to improve on a patchy week seven performance, saying: “It's an important game for the team and a game that I've got to step up in. It's a matter of getting back into the timing and rhythm of things and hopefully I'll do that this week.”

• On the prospect of playing in London, Colston was enthusiastic about the venue: “I've never played in a stadium that large before so it's an exciting time for me.”

• Asked about the importance of Sunday's matchup, Marques was unequivocal: “It's a must win game for us to get our season back on track and it's important to get the win before the bye next week too.”

• It's all very well talking about Sunday, the Diner thought to itself, but what about that fantasy football advert where Marques catches the ball behind him, above him, to the side of him, and from pretty much every crazy angle imaginable before declaring 'pick me'? Is that for real?
   
  “I can't give away my secrets on that man, I can't tip my hat either way on that!” he said before politely declining our offer to repeat the trick if we threw to him in the car park. Spoilsport.

• Elsewhere, television's own Vernon Kay was wandering about reporting for BBC Live. Two quick notes on this: a) Vernon, it transpires, used to play for the Manchester All-Stars back when Sean Payton was playing a for Britball team Leicester Panthers, b) he's really, really tall.

• The Saints are dealing with some injuries, not least CB Mike McKenzie, who is hoping to return from a knee injury but was limping noticeably throughout.

• Notable by his absence was Reggie Bush, out as we know with a knee injury. In his place RBs Deuce McAllister, Aaron Stecker and Pierre Thomas were all getting a good workout in the running back drills, but it looks like McAllister will be the back to pick up most of the slack.

• Recently signed punter Ben Graham was hoofing kicks into a nearby football (soccer) goal. Cut for one too many shanks with the Jets, the Diner nonetheless gave him the benefit of the doubt and presumes he was doing it on purpose.

Further Diner Coverage of Wembley 2008:
Drew Brees Press Conference
Sean Payton Press Conference
Saints Practise Gallery
 
Antonio Gates Interview
Legedu Naanee Interview
Antonio Cromartie Interview
Notes and titbits from Chargers Practice
Chargers Practise Gallery