Q: Can you discuss your first impressions of this camp?
A: "I've been in this game 11 years now, so it was camp. The first day of
camp is usually like that. We ran a little bit this morning, so it was kind
of hard, the evening practice. It's football; it's all a part of training
camp."
Q: What was the first practice like under Coach Payton as opposed to
Coach Haslett?
A: "It was fun. I was more happy for Coach Payton, because in his first year
as a head coach he gets to show the world what he can do as a head coach. I
was more happy for him. It was too hot and I wasn't thinking about Coach
Haslett. He's doing his thing in St. Louis."
A: "Sure, he's getting more reps and obviously his arm is strong enough to
throw the passes that people didn't think he'd be able to throw right now.
He got through today throwing the ball very well and I'm sure they'll be
highlighting that a lot tonight on ESPN."
Q: What does he bring to this team that Aaron Brooks couldn't bring?
A: "Next question."
Q: How is this team offensively different aside from the addition of
Drew Brees?
A: "Obviously we added some talent in terms of drafting
Reggie Bush and some
other guys we got on the roster. We'll see. You can always talk about guys
you got on your team, but until that first snap on Sunday when the bullets
start flying, you really can't tell, but we definitely have some talented
guys that we drafted and some free agents that we brought in here."
Q: What do you think of Reggie Bush not being here?
A: "He has to do what he has to do. Every guy is blessed to get drafted,
they have to take their time and weight out their options. Reggie Bush is
not the first one who sat out training camp being the second pick in the
first round. I understand. Reggie was here in the off-season and OTAs and
the mini-camps, so he showed New Orleans, Mississippi and the whole world
that he wanted to be with the
New Orleans Saints. I'm sure he'll be here
soon."
Q: How important is it that he be here sooner rather than later?
A: "I think it's more important for him because he wants to show the world
what he can do. He wants to get in here and learn the plays. He wants to
show everybody that he's ready to go. We definitely want Reggie here, but he
has to take his time and sort out his options and get the best deal for him
and his family."
Q: What kind of impact has Drew Brees had on this team?
A: "Big-time leadership from day one when I met Drew, he was 150 percent
downhill ready to go. Then when he got on the football field, knowing he
couldn't throw the ball, he was still involved. He was still trying to be
the general, still trying to be the leader and I like that. I expected that
out of Drew and he showed it once he started throwing the ball. He basically
told the guys what he expected as the leader of this football team and
that's what he stated. He wanted everyone to know that he was the captain;
he was the leader of this football team. We didn't have to vote on who the
captain of this football team would be, because we all knew Drew would come
in here and made that a fact."
Q: Did that happen yesterday?
A: "Yes."
Q: What do you think of holding the camp in Jackson as opposed to
Metairie?
A: "I think the fans there in New Orleans, they've had us there so many
years, and after Katrina, the people in Mississippi and New Orleans, a lot
of people suffered and I think for us to be here, you should tip your hat
off to the fans in New Orleans. We're here in Mississippi. We're giving the
Mississippians a chance to come out and see us practice and be a part of the
New Orleans Saints. Some of them couldn't go down to Airline Drive to see us
after they get out of work for us on Friday and Saturday. It's good for us
to be here and Mr. (Tom) Benson is definitely showing his love here to the
fans in the Mississippi area. They should be grateful and I'm sure that they
are."