Saints going about business in Indy

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Sep 4, 2008 - UPDATED: 10:30 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Despite being displaced by Hurricane Gustav, the New Orleans Saints went about their business of preparing for Sunday’s season-opening game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday.

The Saints actually started prepping for the Bucs on Monday, which was a bonus day for coach Sean Payton because the team had the weekend off following their preseason finale last Thursday night.

As they did Monday, the Saints worked in Lucas Oil Stadium, the new home of the Indianapolis Colts. The Saints will also work there today and Friday before returning to New Orleans on Friday evening.

Payton was pleased that the Saints were able to focus on the task at hand after watching from afar Monday as Gustav threatened the city.

“We had a good practice on Monday, (Tuesday) was the players’ day off, and today we had another good, spirited practice,” Payton said. “The focus is certainly on this game and we’ve tried to keep it that way. I thought we had good work. It was crisp and guys are healthy.”

Payton said he was also happy with the way the Saints made the move from their Metairie training facility last Saturday to Indianapolis. The team set up shop there that night and held a team meeting on Sunday night.

“Overall, I think we’ve had good attention to detail, the plan that we put in place was relatively smooth,” he said.

“Everyone here has been great for us, starting with the hotel and then Bill Polian and the Irsays with the Colts allowing us to use this facility. It’s been real smooth.”

Payton said about two-thirds of the 53-man roster were on the team charter flight and the rest arrived Sunday after getting their families out of New Orleans and safely situated at points all across the country.

“We had a meeting Sunday night and we went to work Monday,” he said. “Overall, it has been very smooth.”

Saints players, coaches and team officials were able to go about their business Monday even though they had one eye on Gustav as it ripped through Louisiana.