Saints want to make 'Louisiana look good'
Wednesday, 9:40 p.m.
By Mike Triplett
Staff writer
FREMONT, CALIF. – Life has been surreal for the Saints these past few days. They go about business as usual in a place mostly unaffected by Hurricane Katrina, then return to the team hotel and see their home being destroyed on television.
But tonight’s game will go on – the preseason finale against the Oakland Raiders at 8 p.m. – and the Saints say they will play it proudly.
“We’ve got to be ready. This is our job, this is something we’ve got to do, something we get paid to do,” defensive end Charles Grant said following a brief pregame walkthrough Wednesday. “Us going out and winning and playing hard would probably uplift the people who can see the game, make them feel a little bit better, let them know we’re rooting behind them.
“And I think our overall situation, we’ve got to dedicate this whole season to people that’s back home, that’s struggling or people that were able to get out of there. We’ve got to show them that we’re still willing to make Louisiana look good.”
Center LeCharles Bentley echoed those sentiments.
“Honestly, we should kind of feel proud to be able to be out here and really represent the city,” Bentley said. “Honestly, I think that we’re the last true representation of what New Orleans is and what it stands for.”
Tight end Shad Meier said that earlier in the week, players discussed whether or not it was right to be playing this game. And the prevailing sentiment was that they were safe, their families were safe and they were able to do their jobs and maybe do some good.
Meier said a few players got up and spoke, and the most moving words came from veteran offensive tackle Wayne Gandy, who reminded them that they got a police escort on the way to the airport and were given the chance to make arrangements for their family and loved ones.
“He said, ‘Look at the respect the Saints get. We are very fortunate,’” Meier said. “‘So try to make this season a dedication and maybe be a ray of light for the people.’
“And it would be such an awesome, awesome story, as (coach Jim) Haslett put it, to weather the storm and come out champions. That would be one of the best turnarounds – it would be the best turnaround in history.”
Players said the first practice was a bit sluggish with everything going on. But it has gotten crisper and more business-like with each passing day.
Receiver/return specialist Michael Lewis said he struggled, in particular, during those early practices, because he had not heard from all of his family members, some of whom stayed in New Orleans.
But Lewis, who was born and raised in New Orleans, finally received word Tuesday afternoon that his grandparents were OK at home in River Ridge. His father is the only person he has not heard from, he said.
Lewis said receiver Talman Gardner, who is also from New Orleans, had not heard news about all of his family members as of Wednesday morning.
“In the beginning, things weren’t working for me. I couldn’t say my practice was going too well. I had too much on my mind,” Lewis said. “But after I heard from my grandparents and stuff, I got a little bit better. I started to feel a little bit happier.
“There is a fog hanging over everyone’s heads. Some of the guys aren’t from there, but they’ve still got things there, or they don’t know what they’re going to go back to, if they’ve got a home to go to or what’s going to go on as far as the team goes. So there’s a lot of stuff up in the air right now.
“I can’t really sit down and say about everyone else. But this is my job and I have to go out and do it. Sometimes you’ve got to separate the two. When you’re on the field, you’re going to play ball because if not, you can be thinking about something else and you can wind up getting yourself hurt or something.”
Players have been gathering for a team breakfast at their hotel, followed by meetings at the hotel and a bus ride to practice at San Jose State University. After practice, around 3 p.m., players have been on their own, free to get dinner or go shopping or whatever else they choose.
“It’s brought us closer together,” Bentley said. “Guys are hanging out together a lot.”
Many of them have been glued to the TV sets.
Lewis, who said he only slept for one hour Sunday night, said he has been sleeping a little more since, but not much.
“I’m resting. I’m laying down or whatever, but my TV stays on, on the Weather Channel,” he said. “And I still hear a lot of things. All through the night, I’m popping up and watching TV. So it’s still hard right now, not knowing what’s going on.”
They're getting 6....I figured what the heck?!!
sb
Wednesday, 9:40 p.m.
By Mike Triplett
Staff writer
FREMONT, CALIF. – Life has been surreal for the Saints these past few days. They go about business as usual in a place mostly unaffected by Hurricane Katrina, then return to the team hotel and see their home being destroyed on television.
But tonight’s game will go on – the preseason finale against the Oakland Raiders at 8 p.m. – and the Saints say they will play it proudly.
“We’ve got to be ready. This is our job, this is something we’ve got to do, something we get paid to do,” defensive end Charles Grant said following a brief pregame walkthrough Wednesday. “Us going out and winning and playing hard would probably uplift the people who can see the game, make them feel a little bit better, let them know we’re rooting behind them.
“And I think our overall situation, we’ve got to dedicate this whole season to people that’s back home, that’s struggling or people that were able to get out of there. We’ve got to show them that we’re still willing to make Louisiana look good.”
Center LeCharles Bentley echoed those sentiments.
“Honestly, we should kind of feel proud to be able to be out here and really represent the city,” Bentley said. “Honestly, I think that we’re the last true representation of what New Orleans is and what it stands for.”
Tight end Shad Meier said that earlier in the week, players discussed whether or not it was right to be playing this game. And the prevailing sentiment was that they were safe, their families were safe and they were able to do their jobs and maybe do some good.
Meier said a few players got up and spoke, and the most moving words came from veteran offensive tackle Wayne Gandy, who reminded them that they got a police escort on the way to the airport and were given the chance to make arrangements for their family and loved ones.
“He said, ‘Look at the respect the Saints get. We are very fortunate,’” Meier said. “‘So try to make this season a dedication and maybe be a ray of light for the people.’
“And it would be such an awesome, awesome story, as (coach Jim) Haslett put it, to weather the storm and come out champions. That would be one of the best turnarounds – it would be the best turnaround in history.”
Players said the first practice was a bit sluggish with everything going on. But it has gotten crisper and more business-like with each passing day.
Receiver/return specialist Michael Lewis said he struggled, in particular, during those early practices, because he had not heard from all of his family members, some of whom stayed in New Orleans.
But Lewis, who was born and raised in New Orleans, finally received word Tuesday afternoon that his grandparents were OK at home in River Ridge. His father is the only person he has not heard from, he said.
Lewis said receiver Talman Gardner, who is also from New Orleans, had not heard news about all of his family members as of Wednesday morning.
“In the beginning, things weren’t working for me. I couldn’t say my practice was going too well. I had too much on my mind,” Lewis said. “But after I heard from my grandparents and stuff, I got a little bit better. I started to feel a little bit happier.
“There is a fog hanging over everyone’s heads. Some of the guys aren’t from there, but they’ve still got things there, or they don’t know what they’re going to go back to, if they’ve got a home to go to or what’s going to go on as far as the team goes. So there’s a lot of stuff up in the air right now.
“I can’t really sit down and say about everyone else. But this is my job and I have to go out and do it. Sometimes you’ve got to separate the two. When you’re on the field, you’re going to play ball because if not, you can be thinking about something else and you can wind up getting yourself hurt or something.”
Players have been gathering for a team breakfast at their hotel, followed by meetings at the hotel and a bus ride to practice at San Jose State University. After practice, around 3 p.m., players have been on their own, free to get dinner or go shopping or whatever else they choose.
“It’s brought us closer together,” Bentley said. “Guys are hanging out together a lot.”
Many of them have been glued to the TV sets.
Lewis, who said he only slept for one hour Sunday night, said he has been sleeping a little more since, but not much.
“I’m resting. I’m laying down or whatever, but my TV stays on, on the Weather Channel,” he said. “And I still hear a lot of things. All through the night, I’m popping up and watching TV. So it’s still hard right now, not knowing what’s going on.”
They're getting 6....I figured what the heck?!!
sb
