Shockey one of several starters held out

• By LES EAST
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Aug 29, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:32 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — Tight end Jeremy Shockey was a late scratch for the second consecutive game as the Saints rested half of their offensive and defensive starters in a 14-10 loss to Miami in the preseason finale Thursday night in the Superdome.

Shockey, who is working his way back from a broken leg suffered last season, missed the first two preseason games and was held out of the last two in last-minute, precautionary decisions by coach Sean Payton. Mark Campbell started at tight end.

Elsewhere on offense, Mark Brunell started in place of Drew Brees at quarterback, and Devery Henderson and Terrance Copper started in place of Marques Colston and David Patten at wide receiver.

On defense, Josh Savage and Bobby McCray started in place of Charles Grant at end, Marvin Mitchell, William Kershaw, and Jo-Lonn Dunbar started in place of Jonathan Vilma, Scott Fujita, and Scott Shanle at linebacker, and Josh Bullocks and Chris Reis started in place of Kevin Kaesviharn and Roman Harper at safety.

Saints place-kickers Martin Gramatica and Taylor Mehlhaff had virtually identical preseasons entering Thursday’s game. Gramatica made his only field-goal attempt, from 40 yards. Mehlhaff missed his only field goal attempt from 40 yards and his kickoffs went to the 2-yard line, the goal line, and the 10-yard line.

Former Saints running back Ricky Williams started for the Dolphins and carried twice for 2 yards. Miami’s roster also features former Lee High School linebacker Reggie Torbor who earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants last season, and former Saints defensive end Rob Ninkovich.

Former New Orleans special teams coach John Bonamego holds the same position with the Dolphins, and former Saints assistant strength and conditioning coach Evan Marcus is Miami’s head strength and conditioning coach.

Saints CB Jason David, who was beaten several times in the last home game, made a tackle on a second-quarter punt return and was booed when his name was announced. After making two more plays on punt coverage he turned some of the boos into cheers, then he was cheered more loudly after making a third-quarter interception.

The Saints will have a regular day-after-game schedule today as the players will run, lift weights, and watch the tape of Thursday’s game. The team will be off Saturday and Sunday before returning to practice Monday to begin preparations for the season opener. The team must remove 22 players from its active roster by Saturday afternoon to get to the regular-season limit of 53.