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Show Wednesday, September 7, 2005 DAILY nce HERALD NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Saints in San Antonio:A logistical quandary Tim Price | Associated Press SAN ANTONIO — Signs posted throughout the New Orleans Saints’ hotel direct playersto the place where they can get their ankles taped. Other signs guide them on a quarter-mile path to a foot bridge, over the Riverwalk andacross a busy street to the building where team meetingsare held. In the makeshift headquarters, right past a uniformed San Antonio police officer who serves as a security guard, players cometo a handwritten board that points them in different directions — the offense going one way, the defense another. And when meetings end — sometimes interrupted by a ringing telephone because the rooms double as coaches’ offices — the team piles onto buses for a 10-minutedrive to the high schoolfields: that have turnedinto their practicefacility. "Suchis the newlife for the Saints as they try getting ready for the NFL seasonafter being driven from their home by Hurricane Katrina. The team moved into San Antonio last weekend and began practicing Mondayforthe regular-season opener Sunday at Carolina. Coach Jim Haslett has reminded his players and staff that, considering whatis going on in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast, any complaining about their temporary homewill ring hollow. “I think when youfeel sorry for yourselves, you go upstairs and watch TV andthat kind of goes away,” Haslett said. “We're kind of crammed into some quarters — we'reshort a copying machineandI've got a couple of coachessleeping at the Alamodome — but we're notbehindatall in our prepara- tions.It’s not going to hurt us one or another being here at all.” Eventhe Saints’ media relations office is making do. Daily newsreleases are copied onto plain paper — the team letterhead was left behind, so moreis being printed. With each day,things are increasingly returning to normal — orat least whatever normal is, considering the circumstances. Quarterback Aaron Brooks and his wife were among many families spending Tuesday's day off trying to rent a home in San Antonio. Receiver Joe Horn said he’s considering buying a place. “Unfortunately,it’s our new home, temporarily,” Brooks BAHRAM MARKSOBHANI/Associated Press said. “We're going to have to accept that andbe as comfortable as possible and getinto a normal schedule for the regular New Orleans Saints players arrive for practice Mondayat the San Antonio ISD’s Spring Sports Complex. TheSaints beganpractice season.” In a way, temporary living arrangements aresimilar to city’s Alamodome. whatplayers face when they switch teams curing the season. “The players want an automobile and placetolive,” Haslett said. “Once they get that, they havea place where you can drive over to work and go homeandlay down.That's all you really needin this business.” General manager Mickey Loomis said the team is planningto practice in San Antonio for the remainderof the season. They may even end up playing oneor more home gamesin the Monday,after moving their operations from NewOrleans. TheSaints’first choice is moving to LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., and the league is still exploring all op- tions,including having them playall 16 games on the road. The team's practicefacility in Metairie, La., is dry. Butit has been used by the Federal Emergency Management Administration to help in the disaster relief, “It doesn’t seem like we'll be able to return to New Orleans in the near future,” Loomis said. “We'vegot(players and staff) that have kids that need to go to. schoolanda lotof otherissues with families. Wethink it's fair to them that weestablish a base here,” Saints part-owner/executive Rita Benson LeBlanc,the granddaughter of owner Tom Ben- son,said childrenofplayers, coachesand staff membersthat are making the trip to Texas with their fathers are being en- rolled in local schools. Offensive lineman Jermane Mayberry, who grew up in nearby Floresville, said many players have approached him and askedif he knowsabout good placesto live. On thefootball side, players have wondered whereother necessities will be located. The team is operating without a weight room, though Haslett said the equipmentsoonwill be in place. to have their homes. They'd loveto see their little brother walk through the door. What the New Orleans Saints are going through right nowis a The Suints have rented hy- draulic lifts to record overhead viewsofpractice. To watch the video,they're using meeting rooms equipped with largescreen, video displays inside the city’s convention center. Creature comforts that players normally have mustwait. “I would love to getin the hottub right now andgetin the cold tub and get mylegs back,” Hornsaid. “But I'm sure there’s a lot of people that would love cakewalk.” Players know they must fo- cus on whatthey have, rather than worry about what's miss- ing. “I don't expect on Sunday for the Carolina Panthersto feel sorry for us,” Hornsaid. “In their heart, I’m sure theywill. But oncethatclock starts,I'm notgoing to run around and catch a ball and not expect Julius Peppers to knock my head .” Saints ownerformally backs Baton Rouge option THE ASSOCIATEDPRESS SAN ANTONIO — Saints owner Tom Benson, who drew criticism forhis silence concerning wherethe team should play homegames in the wakeof Hurricane Katrina,prefers to call Baton Rouge home. Ina statement issued Tuesday, Benson echoed players and coaches who'vesaid they prefer to play in Tiger Stadium on the LSU campus. Benson said he told the NFL he wouldlike the Saints to play there“to the ex- tent circumstances allow.” NFL spokesman Joe Browne said the league has beenin con- tact with LSU andBaton Rouge officials and hopes the Saints eventually will be able to play homegamesthere. Therearelogistical issues potentially blocking the Saints from playing some early-sea- son homedatesat 92,000-seat Tiger Stadium about 80 miles northwest of their longtime home, the storm-damaged Louisiana Superdome. The LSU campus currently is home to relief efforts that even forced the Tigers to postponetheir first home game and move their second onethis Saturday to ArizonaState. Bensonalso assured season ticket holders they will be re- funded if they are unable to attend games, wherever they maybe played. Hesaid the team wasstill finishing the de- tails of its refundpolicy. Despite distractions, Eagles determined to win it all Rob Maaddi THE ASSOCIATED PRESS roundpick and 2003 Pro Bowl selectioh. Simon's departure came a PHILADELPHIA — The franchise quarterback and star wide week before former Pro Bowl defensive end Hugh Douglas receiver aren't speaking, the Pro Bowlrunningbackisn’t happy withhis contract and the team’s best defensive tackle was let go was amongthefinal rostercuts. The move wasa surprise considering the affable Douglas was a team leader and Jerome McDou- a week ago. Wait, there’s more. Oneprojected starter was shot the night before training camp opened, the most popular playerin the locker room was Just released and two key contributors already went down with season-endinginjuries. Ready ornot, the Philadelphia Eagles haveto put aside a tumultuous offseason and defend their NECchampionship. After three straight losses in the conference title game and falling three points short against New Englandin the Super Bow! seven months ago, the Eagles won'tbe satisfied with less than winning it all. The soap opera atmosphere surrounding the Eagles started soon afterthe loss to the Patriots. Someplayers said Donovan McNabb was so sick in the final minutes that he needed help calling playsin the huddle. McNabb has repeatedly denied he was ill or tired. All-Pro wideout Terrell Owens intensified the drama when he hired a new agent andstarted a public campaign for a new contract just one season into a seven-year, $48.97 million deal he si when he cameto Philadelphia in March 2004. The Eagles refused to redo the contract, and the enigmatic Owens managed to annoy management,alienate fans and anger teammates with his antics, Owens instigated a verbal war wealMcNabb by taking a shot at formance the ROB saying he “wasn't gle, who was expected to start at one end spot, still is recovering from a gunshot wound. “| think thatis a tough thing on everybody. They were two of my favorite guys on the team,” Reid said ofreleasing Douglas and formerstarting fullback Jon Ritchie.“I really think highly of them as people and football players.It came downto situation where we made decision not to go with them.” Also gonefromlast year’s DON HEUPEL /AssociatedPress | Detroit Lions quarterback Jeff Garcia grimaces in pain after he was taken down by Buffalo Bills’ Terrence McGeeduring the first half of a preseason game at Ralph Wilson Stadiumin OrchardPark, N.Y., on Sept. 2.2. Leaguefines Ravens’ cornerback Rolle HE ASSOCIATED PRESS OWINGSMILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle was fined one gamecheckby the NFL for violatingits personal conduct policy, Rolle initially was expected to receive a one-game-suspen- sion after accepting a plea bargain from the season Sunday against Green Bay with starter Joey Harrington and backup Dan Orlovsky, a rookie out of Connecticut. Widereceiver Kevin John- sonwill serve as the emer- gency quarterbaci.. Johnson, whostarted his college career as Donovan McNabb's backupat Syracuse, fever quarterback four ir snaps tors in April to settle NOTEBOOK wth the Cleveland team are defensive end Derrick | adomestic violence Browns in 2000. chargeinvolvinghis Burgess,special teams standwife. He was arrested and out/linebackerIke Reese, guard D Coronersays Herrion died charged with domestic assault ofheart disease: At Denver, Jermane Mayberry,tight end in February. ChadLewis and wide receiver San Francisco 49ers lineman Freddie Mitchell. Starting wideRolle agreed to 11 months ThomasHerrion died from and 29 days ofprobationin out Todd Pinkston went down heart disease whenhecolfor the season in the first week addition to mandatory anger lapsed after a preseason game RUSTY KENNEDY/Associated Press of camp; running back Correll managementsessions and in Denveron Aug. 20, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (5) and receiver Buckhalter (knee) will sit out his counseling with his wife. His Denver County coronersaid fine amountsto $62,500. Terrell Owens (81) wait for play to resumeagainst the Cincinnati third seasonin four years; anda Tuesday, Bengalsin thefirst quarter Aug. 26in Philadelphia. Owens and freak injury has put promising Rolle, who's recovering Herrion hadischemic heart McNabbwereplaying togetherforthefirst time since their from a mild knee sprain,will disease, with significant blocksafety/returnerJ.R. Reed's cabe available for Sunday's seapublic feud began. reerin jeopardy. agein his right coronary arson opener against quartertery that caused the death of The Eagles added receiver back Peyton Manningand the Reggie Brown and Ryan Moats heart muscle, the city health commotion at some point. in the draft, signed wideout Indianapolis Colts. departmentsaid in a news the guy who got tired in the The Eagles are more conrelease. Herrion’s heart was Darnerien McCants and runSuper Bowl.” Owens later called cerned with other contract isD Lions QB Garcia will not need slightly enlarged. ning back Lamar Gordon over McNabba hypocrite. sues. Brian Westbrook, coming the weekend, and guard Shawn surgery on brokenleg: At AlDrug screens on Herrion’s McNabb responded harshly len Park,Mich., Detroit Lions blood andurine found only and the twoaren't talking. How- off a breakout year in which he Andrewsis back from an injury backup quarterback Jeff ¢ atrophine, a drug administhat kept him outlast year. ever,in their lone preseason ap- combined for 1,515 yards rushcia won't need surgery on nis tered when medical personnel With McNabbleadingthe ofpearance together, McNabb and ing and receiving, wants a longtried to revive him. brokenleft leg. Owens connected five times for term deal. The team hopes to get fense and solid core of players The decision was made Herrion,23, was proon defense — Dawkins, defen131 yards,including a 64-yard it done. Tuesdayafter a leg and ankle nounced dead early on the sive end Jevon Kearse, Pro Bowl Philadelphia solved one contouchdownpass on the first play specialist confirmed the initial morning of Aug.21. The 6linebackerJeremiah Trotter, Pro tract problem byletting Corey from scrimmage. diagnosis. Garcia is expected Bowlsafety MichaelLewis, AllSimon walk away for nothing. foot-3, 310-pound guard was Owens has ed his act to be outsix to eight weeks, Pro corner! Lito Sheppar on the field for San Francissince he was exild from camp and the Lions have no imand cornerback Sheldon Brown. co's 14-play, 91-yard drive that following a heated dispute with mediateplans to sign another — the Eagles remain the class of whenthe Eagles chose to part ended with a touchdown with coach Andy Reid,but it’s unquarterback. They will open the NFCEast. wayswith the formerfirst2 seconds left. likely he won't cause another ft Tennessee prosecu- |