BlueSky Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 So off we went to Jackson, MS last weekend to see the Saints' training camp. We watched most of Sunday afternoon's practice and most of Monday morning's as well. It's not a fan-friendly experience between the heat, the small fan area with no seating, and the kind of seedy area the college is in, but we had a good time. Though it was a 'grabshot' - didn't have my camera ready and had to scramble, so the autofocus locked on the nearest tree instead of the player - this first one might just be my favorite because it's so weird. Through a wood I saw a Saint... To get to the practice field, the players have to walk up this slope through the woods. Between the setting and the way he has his helmet, pretty funny looking all in all.New arrival Jeremy Shockey:QBs warming up. Note that both backups, Mark Brunell (#11) and Tyler Palko (#3) are lefties:CB Mike McKenzie was technically on the PUP list but that didn't stop him from shadowing last year's #1 pick Robert Meacham on this play:I don't recall Reggie wearing this type helmet in the past:Husker + Sooner = lots o' beef...Carl Nicks (#77, 6-5, 343) and Jammal Brown (#70, 6-6, 313). On some plays these two lined up with Brown at LT and Nicks at LG. That's some blocking power:What looks stranger in this pic, Brees "blessing" the kneeling assistants or Shockey running routes with gloves hanging from his facemask?More to come... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSky Posted July 30, 2008 Author Share Posted July 30, 2008 Great to see Deuce back on the field. Any Saints fan knows what a class act and a warrior this man is. I hope he makes it back again.Reggie makes a catch despite tight coverage by Usama Young. Insert obligatory comment here about the annoyance of mismatched golds. Free agent addition CB Aaron Glenn takes on Marques Colston:Shockey hauls in a pass:This is a punt coverage drill where the gunner is trying to down the ball near the goal line. Reggie sprinted up to the gunner and yelled "Boo!":The gunner drills are fun to watch. Here a gunner is taken on by DBs Aaron Glenn (#31) and Kevin Kaesviharn (#43):New MLB Jonathan Vilma:More... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSky Posted July 30, 2008 Author Share Posted July 30, 2008 Robert Meacham runs the mechanical gauntlet:Veteran David Patten makes a catch in front of Usama Young:Did I mention that 7th rounder Adrian Arrington was impressive? Here's a series of him coming off the line, getting separation from DB Aaron Glenn, and making a great diving grab:And finally I present undrafted free agent OL Brian Stamper out of Vanderbilt. Why? Because he has at least one fan, and that's me. The setup at Millsaps College is really kind of crappy for the fans. There's no seating at the lower field and the fan area is very small and only runs from one end zone to the opposite 40-yard line or so, and you're sitting on a grassy area atop about an 8-foot retaining wall. They run all their goal-line stuff at the far end so you can't see much. After practice, there's no set area for players to sign autographs and it's tough for them to sign anything at the field because of that wall, though some do. Any others have to leave the direct path to the locker room (orange pylons in the background of the pic) and cross about a hundred yards of open field to where the fans are kept behind a rope along a gravel path. After sitting in 100-degree heat for 3 hours, some die-hard fans - among them my 5-year-old grandson - were waiting patiently in the hopes some players would come over. Drew Brees signed stuff at the field, but we missed him, having been told that the best chance to get an autograph was along the gravel path. One player - one - took the trouble to cross the big field in the heat and sign some autographs, and that was #62. I had to check the roster to figure out it was Brian Stamper. Now I understand that it's got to be a rush for an undrafted free agent to stand in front of an excited crowd in an NFL uni and sign autographs. And I also understand that it was mofo'n hot and the players were exhausted and wanted nothing more than a shower and some fresh clothes. Still, for the money they make, is it too much to ask for a few minutes? So Brian Stamper was the guy who saved me from having to explain to my grandson why none of his heroes could be bothered to spend some time with their fans.It's almost certain that "the Turk" is coming for Brian Stamper. I hope not. I hope he somehow defies the odds. But whatever his future holds, he has one fan who sincerely appreciates the fact that he made the effort to spend some time with kids who otherwise would have left very disappointed. They at least got one signature and got to be up close to a Saint.So thanks, Brian Stamper. Hats off to you: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJTank Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 So off we went to Jackson, MS last weekend to see the Saints' training camp. We watched most of Sunday afternoon's practice and most of Monday morning's as well. It's not a fan-friendly experience between the heat, the small fan area with no seating, and the kind of seedy area the college is in, but we had a good time. Though it was a 'grabshot' - didn't have my camera ready and had to scramble, so the autofocus locked on the nearest tree instead of the player - this first one might just be my favorite because it's so weird. Through a wood I saw a Saint... To get to the practice field, the players have to walk up this slope through the woods. Between the setting and the way he has his helmet, pretty funny looking all in all.This picture sums up most of the Saints history of wandering the forest www.sportsecyclopedia.com For the best in sports history go to the Sports E-Cyclopedia at http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Veteran David Patten makes a catch in front of Usama YoungAhh, David Patten. Another Patriot who left for a bigger paycheck and was never heard from again.... On 4/10/2017 at 3:05 PM, Rollins Man said: what the hell is ccslc? Â Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njmeadowlanders Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Some good stuff...I'm surprised to see Aaron Glenn still playing...I remember when the Jets drafted him out of Texas A&M in '94 and he was deemed too small to be successful in the NFL as a CB......well 14 years later and he's still going at it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSky Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 Veteran David Patten makes a catch in front of Usama YoungAhh, David Patten. Another Patriot who left for a bigger paycheck and was never heard from again....Guess it depends on your definition of 'never heard from again'. He made some great plays for the Saints last year and has been invaluable in mentoring the younger WRs. Just because somebody doesn't play for the Patriots doesn't mean they're not having success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitedawg22 Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Some good stuff...I'm surprised to see Aaron Glenn still playing...I remember when the Jets drafted him out of Texas A&M in '94 and he was deemed too small to be successful in the NFL as a CB......well 14 years later and he's still going at it...Deemed by who? The first 11 teams to draft?Seriously, it's pretty tough to talk about a guy drafted in the top half of the first round overcoming the doubts of everyone in the NFL... oh ,my god ,i strong recommend you to have a visit on the website ,or if i'm the president ,i would have an barceque with the anthor of the articel . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShinyHubCaps Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Somehow reminded me of this:Anyway, did you take these pics? Some of them are really good. It's cool that you got to go to camp and get that close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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