Saints Expect To Capitalize On Late-Season Bye Before Facing Lions
BRETT MARTEL,AP Sports Writer
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — After the longest midseason break Drew Brees can remember since he came to New Orleans, the quarterback was pleased to see that his teammates looked rested and not rusty.
"It was a pretty spirited practice today. Obviously we're all excited to get back because we're excited for the opportunity that we have," Brees said. "Four of the next six games at home ... and this is our opportunity to try to separate ourselves and really establish our position both in our division and in the conference."
After the Saints (7-3) went into their Week 11 bye with consecutive victories over NFC South rivals Tampa Bay and Atlanta, coach Sean Payton rewarded his players by giving them eight days off before they finally returned to the team's suburban headquarters for practice on Tuesday.
"That's the most time we've had off, ever, maybe because this is the last bye week you could possibly have (in a season) and we've been grinding for 16 weeks straight," Brees said, referring to the preseason schedule that began back in late July, followed by games in Weeks 1-10 of the regular season.
"It was very appropriate because a lot of guys needed it," Brees continued. "We have enough of a veteran team now, and leadership and character, and guys just knowing the right thing to do to take care of themselves and make sure they're prepared and ready when we come back."
This season marked the first time since the arrivals of Payton and Brees in New Orleans in 2006 that the Saints' bye fell on this late in a season. For Payton, a late-season bye is always preferable, and he hopes his team will be able to capitalize on being as fresh as it has been in a while going into its final six games with a playoff berth and division title in its sights.
"It came at good time. It's helped us after that stretch to get away from it a little bit," Payton said. "It's a little bit more challenging when the bye falls in Week 4, Week 5, and all of a sudden you're off and you just got going. In our case we prefer the bye to be later in the schedule."
The Saints got what they wanted heading into what could be an intense Monday night matchup with the New York Giants (6-4), who will be the more desperate of the two teams, having lost two straight.
The Saints then play another night home game the following Sunday against another team with playoff aspirations, the Detroit Lions (7-3).
"You get a chance to measure yourself and see where you're at," Payton said of the Saints' next two home games. "It's a big challenge and our players recognize that."
The rest appears to have paid off in terms of player health as well.
Linebacker Jon Vilma, who has missed the past two games with left knee soreness, was back on the practice field Tuesday, albeit with a brace. Because the Saints were not yet required to file an injury report with the league for Monday's game, Payton declined to be specific about the defensive captain's status.
"He's doing well and his treatment's going well," Payton said. "With him it's day to day. You measure how he's moving, all those things. Thursday we'll be able to give you a better indication of where he's at."
Payton said it also appears that this week will mark the first time this season that all four of his top running backs are healthy at the same time, setting up a potentially difficult decision of whether to make rookie Mark Ingram or second-year pro Chris Ivory a healthy scratch.
Payton said all four could be active, but that depends in part on the health status of other players and who is available for special teams.
Ivory showed potential as a rookie, leading the Saints in rushing last season. However, injuries sidelined him until Week 8 of this season. He played two games before a sore hamstring sidelined him again in Week 10. Ingram, meanwhile, missed the two games in which Ivory played.
Generally, the Saints activate only three running backs in a game, and veterans Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas have been healthy all season.
"This discussion we're having is a good one. It's something we sought to start the year — that depth and that competition," said Payton, whose team was depleted at running back when it lost in the first round of the playoffs last season.
Notes: The Saints and the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation are joining with former Saints special teams standout Steve Gleason on Sunday to host "GleasonGras" in a public plaza called Champions Square, next to the Superdome. The event, featuring live music and food from local chefs, is meant to raise awareness about ALS, which Gleason was diagnosed with last earlier this year. It also will raise money for the Gleason Family Trust, set up to help offset the costs of Gleason's participation in experimental treatments and technology designed for ALS patients. Now walking with a pronounced limp and having limited use of his arms, Gleason joked that when organizers discussed ideas for a fundraiser, he quickly ruled out a golf outing. "I can't golf, never could golf, really," Gleason said, smiling. "I can still listen to music and I love music. Certainly New Orleans music has had a huge impact on me. ... Three of the things I love about the city are music, food and football and so we're going to have it all kind of in one place." ... Gleason and his wife, Michel, also decided after his diagnosis to try to have a child, which Gleason said Tuesday was "an amazingly beautiful decision." Their son, Rivers, was born a month ago. "People ask how Rivers is," Gleason said. "It's an easy response. He's perfect."
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