Saints set to start offseason program

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Mar 16, 2008 - UPDATED: 11:07 a.m.

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After putting a disappointing 7-9 season behind them, the New Orleans Saints will take their first steps Monday to what they hope is a return to postseason play in 2008.

The Saints, who currently have 66 players under contract, will assemble at their regular-season training facility Monday for the start of their offseason program. The 12-week program will consist initially of weightlifting and conditioning drills as well as classroom work.

Later in the spring, Saints coach Sean Payton and his staff will put their team through three weeks of on-field coaching sessions, commonly referred to as Organized Team Activities, and two minicamps.

The first minicamp for rookies and first-year players will be held May 9-11, while the second minicamp for the entire squad is May 30-June 1.

The offseason program will be the first opportunity for Payton and his coaches to work with five newcomers to the team — including cornerback Randall Gay, a Brusly native and former LSU standout. Gay signed a four-year, $12 million contract with the Saints as an unrestricted free agent after spending his first four NFL seasons with the New England Patriots.

Jason David struggled with the deep ball last season when the Saints were 30th in passing yards allowed while giving up 32 touchdowns — which tied for most in the league.

Also, veteran Mike McKenzie, who had his best season with the Saints in 2007, is coming off a torn ACL in his right knee suffered in Week 16 and will probably be limited for much of the offseason work.

The other newcomers to the Saints roster are linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Dan Morgan, defensive end Bobby McCray and quarterback Mark Brunell.

Vilma came to the Saints in a trade with the New York Jets, while Morgan and Brunell were signed after being released by Carolina and Washington, respectively. McCray, who came to the Saints from Jacksonville, was an unrestricted free agent.

Running back Deuce McAllister and the Saints have agreed to push back a $1 million roster bonus that was due to be paid Saturday, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.

McAllister and the team pushed the date back to April 15, which gives the Saints more time to get a handle on his health before making any financial decisions.