Camp woes ignored by adoring fans
By "JaQuan Reed"

Pre-Season 2160 (New Orleans) - New Orleans might be the only city in the Republic where a 'Fan Week' ends up lasting for the better part of a month. The 17-day event was the brainchild of long-time franchise veterans Glenn Downs and Craig Long.

'The front office was looking for a way to show the fans here how much we appreciate their support,' said Long. 'We had just come out of a meeting with the owners, who had pretty much let us know that if there was anything they could do to help us open up interaction [with the fans], the sky was the limit. Maybe they shouldn't have said that,' he added. The cost of providing over a million fans- per day- free access to everything from morning drills to exhibition games could only be described as 'astronomical'.

'But it was worth it,' stated Downs. 'The guys really fed off the fans' energy, and it really helped us bond with our new home. It's strange to think that a place like this [the new 514,000 seat Louisiana Superdome] could feel like you're playing in front of a small community at a high-school game, but that's what it's like for us now.'

The franchise-wide effort featured daily autograph sessions, on-field access, concession stand vouchers, free transport from locations throughout the city to the event, and even 'flag football'-styled activities where youngsters mixed with the pros in enthusiastic contests. Regional businesses and sponsors pitched in, as well, hosting daily events in the massive, tethered skyboxes suspended along the upper ring of the dome; the luxury suites, known collectively as 'The Halo', feature ClearSteel floors to allow spectators a bird's-eye view of the field (as well as the occasional case of vertigo). Each was packed to capacity daily by fans ranging from lucky contest winners to sponsored kindergarten classes to a centenarians' club (many of whose members claimed to have seen the last games played here by the Saints).

The popular event was, unfortunately, one of the few highlights of the Saints' first camp since relocating in the off-season.

THE GOOD

The team's second-round selection, DB Pete Joyner, was considered by many to be an overrated risk; the former Ivy-League standout had faced sub-par competition and was thought to be unprepared for the rigors of a professional athletic career. His visible improvement in nearly every facet of the game over the course of training camp was sufficient to quell some of the doubt regarding this season's front office draft strategy. (Of course, the franchise's pursuit of defensive backfielders in the second round is nothing new- the team has looked to boost its secondary in the same round for each of the last eight drafts.)

The strange preseason saga of fellow defensive back Tommy McClure proved to be one of the more compelling- if perhaps controversial- storylines over the past few weeks. A locker room favorite since his arrival as a rookie, McClure had blossomed as a team leader. His outgoing nature and rugged good looks made him something of a fan favorite as well. It was widely held that his contract talks going into this season would go smoothly- but few were prepared for what would follow.

As McClure stooped over a young fan to sign an autograph during an event at a local hospital, the excited youngster accidentally jabbed his stylus into the safety's left eye. McClure gave no sign of being injured, instead laughing over the incident, and (rather famously, at this point) preceded to sign the mortified fan's offering as 'Tommy 'The Patch' McClure'. When it was revealed that he would miss the remaining preseason games due to subsequent surgical repairs to the eye, thousands of fans wore fleur-de-lis-adorned eyepatches to the team's next contest; McClure himself sported one during the second half of the game. What was scheduled as a brief halftime interview in the broadcasting booth turned into a stint as commentator; a clear hit, McClure, patch included, would be a featured announcer in the last preseason tilt the following week. While defensive backs rarely receive franchise designation (or dollars), the Saints' front office was quick to offer McClure just that. While pundits point to the obvious timing alongside his sudden rise to celebrity status, team officials cite the leadership (both on-field and off-) of 'The Patch' as their primary motivation. Time will tell whether their choice was a wise one on the field, but it was definitely well received by the teams' fans.

THE BAD

The first indicator that this camp might be a rough one came the day before camp. Veteran fullback and prankster Dave Brochet, (who, along with halfback Charles Gentry, was born and raised on the city's outskirts) offered quarterback Joe Brady and his cousin, rookie wideout James, a quick tour of the city. Brochet brought them to an long-abandoned building to the rear of a wooded lot, claiming it was haunted; a rigged noisemaker was activated when the cousins entered the front door. The elder Brady, expecting mischief, didn't react; however, the younger James was startled and toppled from the building's sagging front porch, fracturing two vertebrae in his lower back. While resulting treatments were considered a success, the fourth-round pick experienced significant difficulties during camp and is unlikely to contribute this season.

Like Joyner, Brady was a somewhat controversial draft choice. Hailing from a campus better known for producing poets and activists than professional football players (Brady was the first to reach that level), it was openly debated whether his selection was done to appease his cousin. However, the team's coaching staff seemed pleased with his performance during pre-camp training sessions and activities, in particular applauding his ability to read return coverages and pick up the nuances of the offensive playbook. On the other hand, it's hard to get past the nickname his teammates have imposed upon him; while the 'official' explanation is that his moniker of 'The Count of Monty Crisco' alludes primarily to his degree in literature, the younger Brady himself has commented on the difficulty he experiences in catching the high-velocity passes hurled by his cousin- which have a disturbing tendency to slip through his hands and ricochet off his chest. Hopefully he can improve on his pseudonym while taking the time to recover from his injury.

The eight-year stretch of largely fruitful second-round DB selections seems to be somewhat painfully countered by equally consistent trouble in making successful attempts to bolster the teams' thin linebacker ranks. Alabama product Jim Fryer struggled throughout camp, struggled to keep his weight down, and will likely struggle through most of this season dressed in street clothes on the bench.

To add to the Saints' woes, several of the younger members of the team's offensive line struggled with conditioning issues. While the apparently continuing apathy of Jonathon Hood towards continuing his career as a professional player was hardly a surprise, the conditioning and injury issues plaguing guard Joel Lewis are causing a great deal of concern. Lewis is projected to start this year in place of recently retired veteran John Brewer. The supposed linchpin between aging stalwarts Downs and Kelvin Berkley may prove to be a weak link in an offense that relies heavily on superior play along the line to open lanes for its running game.

THE UGLY

When a supposed chest cold suffered by your first round draft pick ends with the young man having a large part of a lung removed- with subsequent grafting deemed an impossibility, no less- you know camp isn't going the way anyone hoped. Andrew Johnson, the Saints' heralded choice as a possible eventual successor to Charles Gentry, was diagnosed with chylothorax shortly after camp began. While the condition was rapidly treated- if left alone, it is usually fatal- the speedy Washington State product has been severely handicapped in his bid to become a full-time starter in the USAFL. While the team has been strongly supportive of Johnson, fan support is what counts; if the young charger is ultimately unable to produce, the front office may have little recourse.

Meanwhile, the team's oft-maligned defensive line was offered little succor during the off-season. Adjustments throughout camp and the preseason have done little to improve the increasingly difficult situation. While last year's crop of hopefuls remain just that, they won't be able to bring immediate help to one of the weaker lines in the league. Fans betting on an aggressive or dominating front three might be in for a long season.

The most frustrating situation, however, flared up between the team's two most senior receivers. When Kevin Harvey and Chip Stradford were brought on board, their eventual roles seemed clear; Harvey was considered a talent-in-waiting, a diamond-in-the-rough and future franchise blue-chipper. Stradford was brought in to push his way to first-down markers and make difficult catches in the flat in order to move the chains. Over the years, while the numbers suggest that Harvey may in fact have outplayed Stradford, the coaching staff seems to disagree. Stradford is heading into the season as the sure-handed starting split end; Harvey, and his evidently unrealized potential, will spend most of the season splitting time with fellow 'blue-chip hopeful' Bruce Matthews out of the slot. Harvey has since made multiple comments protesting his demotion to the media, and has frequently been observed arguing with coaches on the sidelines.

It would also seem the vocal receiver might be wearing out his welcome in the locker room. While several members of the team's offense have been openly supportive of Stradford's appointment, none seem to condemn the choice. It may well be that Harvey is on his way out.


While the Saints clearly have strong support from their new city, fans, and ownership, and will likely keep it for a season or two, the sheen will eventually wear off if the front office can't- or won't- find the personnel they need to push the franchise to a more competitive level.

But until then, it's hard to imagine a better place to be a football fan than New Orleans.