Road-weary Saints ready for a boost at home
At their first training camp home, the New Orleans Saints rode scooters around the Millsaps College campus. At their second, they took buses around Indianapolis.
It’s only fitting because the Saints are doing something different this year. They’re focusing on offense, defense, special teams and travel. After being the only team to hold two training camps, the Saints, with help from Mother Nature and the powers that make the NFL schedule, drew 10 road trips.
When the Saints send their captains to midfield before Sunday’s game with Tampa Bay, they should send James Nagaoka along. He’s the director of football operations, which puts him in charge of planning out what’s shaping up to be one of the most logistically strange seasons in history.
Nagaoka is the one who has planned the Oct. 26 game against San Diego in London. He’s also the guy who planned this week’s previously unplanned trip to Indianapolis on very short notice.
With Hurricane Gustav headed toward Louisiana, the Saints made a quick decision to pack up their players, coaches and equipment and evacuate to Indianapolis. That’s where they’ve spent the week, practicing at Lucas Oil Field and staying in a hotel.
“It almost feels like training camp,” quarterback Drew Brees said.
The hurricane didn’t hit New Orleans as hard as first feared. The Superdome didn’t suffer any major damage and local officials declared it safe to host the game. Residents are flocking back to the city and the Saints will join them tonight.
Reade more: EPSN
