Exceedingly Mundane

Well, surprisingly enough, a few of you guys commented that you wanted to see pictures from the training camp practices we attended over the weekend. I was pretty surprised! But, since you asked (and even if you hadn’t, hehehe), I thought I would post some pictures.

Let me just state this for the record – it’s hot here in July and August. I feel for these guys. The sun was broiling, it was humid, those are really big guys, and they are decked out in a lot of black apparel and shoulder pads. I know they are past hot. But, it’s good conditioning for them. Saturday was tolerable (morning, some clouds) and Sunday was downright unbearable (96º, high humidity, not a cloud in the sky). The sun was beating down Sunday afternoon, no clouds to cover the sun and it was beyond humid. We didn’t stay the entire time. That should tell you something. Tim is a die-hard fan and for him to leave before practice is over speaks volumes. It was sooo hot.

OK, recap. We went Saturday to the morning practice on the “upper field”, which is just a practice field at the local college where they are holding training camp. There’s also a small stadium at the college where they hold the other practices (including the one we went to Sunday PM). This practice field doesn’t have bleachers, so they had thrown up some temporary bleachers at the end of the practice area, so we were not on a sideline view. I didn’t get great pictures because there was always players, trainers, assistants, coaches, etc, standing around blocking my view.

If I had been with this official camera guy, I might have gotten good pictures:

Then again, I am scared of heights, so I wouldn’t want to be up there with him:

I got scared just watching them lift him up with that huge hydraulic machine. 😯

Sunday, we went to the afternoon practice at the stadium. I was hoping this was going to be better for taking pictures, since it was a regular field with bleachers, and a sideline view. I could not have been more wrong. It was so hot, I just wanted to drink water and Powerade (2 dollars a bottle, you can’t bring in your own drinks) and fan myself with the program. So, I didn’t get nearly as many pictures. We didn’t stay as long because it was so hot, and the main attraction, number one draft pick Reggie Bush, was not there. Bush was the second overall draft pick, behind Mario Williams, but had held out for a couple of days on his contract negotiations. The local paper had said he was supposed to be there on Sunday, so we were excited. Of course, he didn’t show up, and is supposed to be here today. I don’t think we’ll make it today though. Too hot!

OK, lots more pictures, with explanations, on the extended page. Check them out if you would like!

Saturday AM pictures:

Deuce on the sidelines, watching:

Our first look at Drew Brees, our new quarterback we acquired from the Chargers. We’re hoping his shoulder has rehabbed, he looked good when we saw him, but he took limited snaps:

Here’s Deuce (McAllister, our running back) hustling:

And then Deuce watching, talking to an assistant, I love this picture. Deuce seems like a really great guy, he does a lot for the community and is very philanthropic:

My favorite Saints fan, who was very hot and not enthused about me taking his picture. Still, I think Tim looks pretty cute! 🙂

We stayed for the whole thing on Saturday morning, including the autograph signing session afterwards. The crowd was small, and you could get fairly close to the players. I got some people pictures 🙂

Here’s Deuce and Drew Brees signing autographs:

Donte Stallworth stopped to take a drink while signing autographs:

Joe Horn, our number one wide receiver, signing autographs:

One of my favorite players, Mike McKenzie, formerly of Green Bay. I spoke to him last year at the scrimmage and he seemed like a really nice guy. He’s always smiling and happy and always staying to sign autographs. I really like McKenzie!

Sunday Pictures:

Sunday, it was blazingly hot. I didn’t take as many pictures, but still got some good ones. Here’s the quarterbacks practicing snaps, including our new starter, Drew Brees, number 9:

And then, they all got out and did a lot of stretching. I was VERY impressed with how flexible Drew Brees is. I told Tim, I think the guy does some Yoga or Pilates. It doesn’t show in these pictures, I had my jaw hanging open some and wasn’t snapping pictures. He is in very good shape, and we’re just hoping that shoulder has healed. Here’s some of the team, and Drew Brees stretching:

Here’s our new head coach, Sean Payton, talking to Drew Brees:

And finally, a couple of some of the plays they were running, standard football practice stuff!

Drew Brees handing off to Deuce McAllister (very right of picture):