QB Brunell sharp in scrimmage

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 9, 2009

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METAIRIE — After finding out that he was going to work with the first-team offense in Saturday’s Black & Gold Scrimmage, New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Mark Brunell got a good night’s sleep Friday.

“Actually, I slept really well. I knew I needed my rest,” said a smiling Brunell, who knew he would be facing a new-look defense directed by Gregg Williams.

But being a 17-year NFL veteran, Brunell knew what to do.

He teamed up with wide receiver Marques Colston six times in the first two drives for 58 yards — the last one for a 1-yard touchdown in a scrimmage that was moved to the indoor practice facility by midday showers.

When asked if throwing to Colston was by design, Brunell grinned and said, “I’m smart. I throw to the big guy that can catch. In the progression, he was the guy that we needed to go to based on the coverages that we saw. It just happened to work out that way.”

Brunell had to step in when Drew Brees missed the scrimmage to attend to what team officials called a “family matter.” Late Saturday afternoon, the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman reported on its Web site that Brees’ mother, Mina, had died Friday in Colorado.

Brunell looked sharp in subbing for Brees. He connected on his first six pass attempts and was 8-of-9 for 78 yards in his first two series against the Saints’ second-team defense.

Colston had catches of 22 and 18 yards on the No. 1 offense’s second series to set up his touchdown, the first of three offensive scores for the Saints, after running back Mike Bell fumbled to end the first series.

Bell was hit in the backfield by middle linebacker Mark Simoneau, who popped the ball from Bell’s grasp and then fell on it for the recovery.

It was the first of four turnovers by the Saints on the day, but the only one that came from the first unit.

“I’m glad we did some good things,” said Brunell, who was 13-of-19 for 134 yards with one TD and one interception. “We’ll have to look at the film. There were some mistakes in there, but we’ll correct those.”

With Brees out, Brunell and third-string quarterback Joey Harrington both played with the first-, second-, and third-team offenses during the 87-play scrimmage.

Harrington completed 16 of 26 passes for 126 yards with one TD and one interception. Colston led all receivers with seven catches for 63 yards, while tight end Jeremy Shockey caught four balls for 35 yards — cluding a 26-yarder.