Aaron Stecker

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - A visit from the Atlanta Falcons stirs emotions with the New Orleans Saints even when both teams struggle.  

FLOWERY BRANCH -- Falcons running back Aaron Stecker will try to give the team a boost against his old team, the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.  

Former New Orleans Saints player Michael Lewis, right, talks to Lowery Elementary School third- and fourth-graders Oct. 8 as Ryan Murphy, Saints youth department assistant, and Mark Peters, Hope Youth Development director, look on. Lewis' presentation was part of a 'good behavior bash' for students who exhibited positive behavior, Peters said. Peters visits the school every Wednesday 'to give kids hope and encourage them to do their...  

Sean Payton brought fullback Heath Evans to the Saints with the aim of gaining versatility on the field and leadership in the locker room. The Saints will have to settle for the latter for the rest of this season. The Saints placed Evans on injured reserve, Payton said Thursday, because of a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear that occurred in last Sunday's comeback victory in Miami.  

The schedule has done zero favors for the one-win St. Louis Rams, the first team in NFL history to draw unbeaten opponents in three straight home games. Good luck parlaying fresh legs off the bye week and a two-week buzz from their lone victory now that the prolific New Orleans Saints are coming to town.  

Taped to one side of Anthony Hargrove's locker, next to photos of his two young children, is a letter with the NFL's trademark shield at the top and commissioner Roger Goodell's signature at the bottom. Hargrove pushes aside his hanging gold New Orleans Saints uniform pants to fully reveal the text, then begins reading.  

Robert Meachem promised during New Orleans' training camp that he would remind the Saints why they made him their first-round draft choice in 2007. Half way into his third season, Meachem has advanced far beyond the frustration of his rookie season, when he arrived at rookie camp out of shape, hurt his knee, and wound up spending all 16 regular season games on the inactive list and watching...  

Jake Delhomme has several reasons to love the Saints. They were the team of his south Louisiana childhood, the first NFL team to put him on a roster, and ever since he left, he's been able to beat them with regularity. The quarterback is 8-2 against New Orleans since joining the Panthers in 2003. When asked about the last time he'd lost a game in the Superdome, Delhomme responded, "I...  

Drew Brees sounds like a man who's embarrassed, and not because of all the compliments he's getting over the New Orleans Saints' perfect record through seven games. The Saints' past two victories have been riddled with errors, starting with eight turnovers, six of which were committed by the quarterback with four interceptions and a pair of fumbles.  

The Saints deactiviated starting linebacker Scott Fujita for a second straight game as New Orleans prepared to host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. Fujita strained his left calf during a victory over the New York Giants in Week 6 and has not practiced since. Troy Evans was slated to start in his place.  

Darren Sharper takes some good-natured ribbing from teammates about his age and his supposed declining ability. When asked about Sharper's three touchdowns on interception returns this season, Saints strong safety Roman Harper deadpanned, "It's taken a lot of blocking to get him there." Humor comes easily for unbeaten teams, and there's no question that the 33-year-old...  

Mardi Gras doesn't start until early February. It only seemed like a Carnival parade when the unbeaten New Orleans Saints returned to Louis Armstrong International Airport after their latest victory. "That was crazy, absolutely crazy," quarterback Drew Brees said, recalling the hundreds of fans who partied along the roadside and cheered Saints players when they returned from a 46-34...  

Hokie and Mike Detillier are both questioning the team this week. "This is THE trap game." both men called it. ???TRAP GAME???We are the New Orleans Saints. We have supported a losing team for generations now. A game is a game. We all understand how the slate is wiped clean. Once you shuck that oyster, suck it out. Then throw away the shell. RIGHT? Last week's oyster was tricky to shuck..... it's long gone now.....7 - 0?In 1988, when I...  

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints have placed defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy on injured reserve with a knee injury and signed defensive tackle DeMario Pressley from the practice squad to the active roster.  

PHILADELPHIA - Concerned over their depth at running back with Bran Westbrook recovering from a concussion, the Philadelphia Eagles have signed P.J. Hill off the New Orleans Saints practice squad.