In today’s Three and Out: Mark Sanchez has a supporter; the Saints want to run it more and Miles Austin was to get stronger.

Drew Brees denounced Commissioner Roger Goodell’s reaffirmation of the bounty punishments, but isn’t making excuses for the New Orleans Saints’ 1-4 start.

Well, this motivation poster clearly isn’t doing its job in New Orleans. You almost expect a new poster this week, maybe Sean Payton hanging from a branch with the inscription, “Hang in there, baby!”

Former Saint Heath Evans says Aaron Kromer will continue the program Sean Payton put in place.

NFL AM’s Steve Wyche and Mark Kriegel discuss how the Saints will start the season without head coach Sean Payton.

The Saints begin minicamp today, three days of practices that are open to fans. I’ll be over there to check things out tomorrow after also making a cameo last week. But before I do, there was one thought I wanted to share from my trip to New Orleans, a not-so-shocking revelation that was still a bit shocking. The Saints still think of themselves as a team that can win the Super Bowl. With the bounty suspensions and a truck full of drama, they have an us-against-the-world feel. And with QB Drew Brees unsigned, they face more uncertainty than most teams. But still… Through all this, the Saints are the same confident — maybe cocky — group they’ve always been. The […]

The Saints held OTAs today, and it was open to the media. For the first time, everyone watched a Saints practice without coach Sean Payton or QB Drew Brees. Payton is suspended along with some others, and Brees is staying away because of contract issues. I surmised recently that the suspensions would actually help Brees, and no doubt the scene of little Chase Daniel running the team must’ve been jarring. Couldn’t have been pretty. Brees’ stance is noted by all. Reading the transcripts of the interviews of several Saints players and coaches, though, I can’t help but take one thing away from it: They think Brees will come back soon.  Sounds like they are optimistic or convinced it’ll happen. That […]

Contract negotiations for Saints QB Drew Brees aren’t going to progress well if the team clings to its silly assertion it should receive a discount for taking a medical risk for him in 2006.

Former NFL head coach Brian Billick isn’t sold on the idea of Bill Parcells coming out of retirement to coach the New Orleans Saints during Sean Payton‘s one-year suspension.

Saints coach Sean Payton spoke with Bill Parcells on Tuesday about a possible role for the retired coach during Payton’s upcoming one-year suspension, but nothing is imminent, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The Saints and head coach Sean Payton are considering several options with their coaching staff for the 2012 season, according to league source, including hiring Bill Parcells on an interim basis.

The Saints said Monday that head coach Sean Payton is on his way to the NFL Annual Meeting.

League officials will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in discussion to determine the appropriate penalties for the New Orleans Saints in connection with the “pay for performance” system, according to league sources.

His individual numbers won’t stand out (with just 4 carries for 4 yards and 11 catches for 50), but Jed Collins has been a critical part of a Saints’ run game that resembles more of the 2009 Super Bowl champion squad than a 2010 team that veered heavily toward the pass game.

Saints coach Sean Payton says he has no intentions of taking his foot off the gas this week against the Panthers, providing a huge help to fantasy owners.