Saints ready to pack up for Indy

• Published: Aug 29, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:30 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — If the Saints are forced to evacuate because of Tropical Storm Gustav, which was expected to intensify into a hurricane, they will head to Indianapolis.

The Saints are prepared, if need be, to pack up this weekend and move to Indianapolis to prepare for their season opener against Tampa Bay on Sept. 7 in the Superdome.

The decision on whether to leave is contingent on the projected path of Gustav, which could threaten the Louisiana coast as a Category 2 or 3 hurricane early next week.

New Orleans, which concluded the preseason with a 14-10 loss to Miami on Thursday night in the Superdome, is scheduled to return to practice Monday.

The Saints chose Indianapolis as its potential destination over other options, including San Antonio, Atlanta, and St. Louis.

“Indianapolis gives us everything we need,” coach Sean Payton after Thursday night’s game. “We have a great hotel setup and meeting room space. We got a great facility that’s brand new that’s not being used at all next week.”

Payton said the team will lift, run and meet briefly this morning and be dismissed by 9 a.m.

“I want them at home taking care of their wives, their families, their girlfriends, their loved ones,” he said. “That’s a priority so (if and) when the relocation takes place, they feel comfortable that those closest to them are taken care of.”

New Orleans also has to make 22 roster moves to get to the regular-season limit of 53 players by the 3 p.m. CDT Saturday deadline, though it’s likely the moves will be made today.

The players will be off Saturday and Sunday before beginning game-week preparations Monday.

“Essentially our players will fly there,” Payton said. “Some of our players are going to be out of town and will fly from where they’re at to Indianapolis and we’ll have a team meeting there on Sunday, if Sunday becomes the day we’re leaving.

“The dynamics for right now are going to be a little complex in that the next 24 to 48 hours in regard to the roster is important and with everything that’s going on with the potential problem, the storm coming. We’ve got to do our best to have a real good plan and possibly put it into place sooner rather than later.”

General Manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement that if the Saints relocate, they will practice at Lucas Oil Stadium and return to New Orleans next Friday.