Cardinals get some attention

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 6, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:35 a.m.

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JACKSON, Miss. — For the first time since training camp began on July 24, the New Orleans Saints worked Tuesday on an opponent’s plays instead of their own playbook.

With the preseason opener at the Arizona Cardinals two days away, the Saints devoted their afternoon practice to plays they might see from the Cardinals in Thursday night’s game.

The first exhibition game is always a big one for younger players since most of the starters will likely play no more than a quarter — some less — before the coaches make wholesale changes.

“It’s the first exposure for them to play in a game and you never really know how guys are going to react until they get on that field and it’s live and it’s a different opponent and things aren’t scripted or rehearsed,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “It’s full speed, and at times they’re having to make adjustments on their own.”

Payton said quarterback Drew Brees will likely play the first quarter, but could take a seat a little earlier depending on how many plays he gets.

“We’ll see where Drew is at whether it’s 14 snaps, 12 snaps or 20 snaps,” Payton said. “It’s easier to say plays because the offense may have 21 plays in the first quarter or the defense might have a certain amount of plays in the first quarter. More important than how much time are they getting is how many snaps are they getting.”

The second rotation should play sometime after that first quarter, he said, with third-teamers taking over during the third period. Backup quarterback Mark Brunell may play into the third quarter before Tyler Palko finishes up.

Payton said he expects to hold nine players out of Thursday’s game. They are RB Deuce McAllister (knee), WR Marques Colston (knee), WR Devery Henderson (hamstring), TE Jeremy Shockey (leg), DT Brian Young (knee), CB Mike McKenzie (knee), LB Jonathan Vilma (knee), FS Josh Bullocks (knee) and CB Tracy Porter (hamstring). Of that group, only McAllister, McKenzie and Bullocks participated in Tuesday’s practice.

Palko had a tough day at the office during Tuesday’s practice. The second-year pro from Pittsburgh was intercepted four times as he ran the scout squad against the Saints’ first- and second-team defenses.

Cornerback Randall Gay got the first one when he wrestled the ball away from wide receiver Todd Blythe after catching a wobbly pass near the right sideline. Strongside linebacker Scott Fujita, cornerback Jason Craft and safety David Roach then got into the act.