Orgeron focused on upcoming game

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Dec 4, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:48 a.m.

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METAIRIE — New Orleans Saints defensive line coach Ed Orgeron said Wednesday that he has not been contacted about any college coaching jobs and his focus is on Sunday’s game with the Atlanta Falcons and helping the Saints finish strong in their final four games.

Orgeron’s name has been mentioned in connection with possible job openings at the University of Tennessee, where his friend Lane Kiffin was named head coach on Monday, and LSU.

But Orgeron, the former Ole Miss coach who is in his first year as a pro coach, reiterated what he told The Advocate on Monday — that no one has contacted him about either job. But he again said he wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to talk to LSU coach Les Miles if he called.

“I work with the Saints. I love working for Coach (Sean) Payton and it’s a privilege to be with the Saints,” he said. “After every season in a coach’s life, there is an evaluation and there’s always going to be options.

“I love being in the NFL, and obviously, there’s speculation out there because Lane Kiffin and I are good friends,” Orgeron added. “That’s the only thing about it. I have not been contacted by anybody about a job.”

Orgeron said he would always consider talking to Tennessee and LSU because of the possibility of winning a national championship.

“That’s the only consideration,” he said. “I like being with the Saints and I can be here awhile.”

He admitted, however, that recruiting and coaching college players still appeals to him. Before he served three years as the head coach at Ole Miss, Orgeron was the recruiting coordinator at USC.

“I love coaching in the NFL, but the chase and the hunt at this time of year in going get the best players to commit to your team is something I enjoy,” he said. “I really enjoy going against the best coaches in the country and winning. So yeah, that’s always there.”

The Saints signed two players to take the roster spots of running back Deuce McAllister and defensive end Will Smith, who were suspended Tuesday for violating the NFL policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

Signed were defensive end Rob Ninkovich, a fifth-round draft pick of the Saints in 2006 who had been on the Miami Dolphins’ practice roster, and free safety Terrence Holt, the younger brother of St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt.

Ninkovich, who tore the ACL in his right knee in the third game of 2006 and injured the MCL in his left knee in training camp in 2007 and was cut before the season opener, will join a rotation that includes starters Bobby McCray and Jeff Charleston and backup Josh Savage.