Inside Slant

The first six games of the Saints' season have taught a lot of people a lot of things — particularly about what happens when you assume something.
When the Saints reported for training camp in late July, it was assumed that the offensive line was going to be one of the biggest question marks on a team that was coming off a 3-13 season.

Yet, a patchwork offensive line that had to be put together early in training camp because of injuries to two projected starters has really been the biggest surprise — not the weakest link — during the team's magical 5-1 start. And they have done it with new starters at all five positions.

Not only have tackles Jammal Brown and Jon Stinchcomb, guards Jamar Nesbit and Jahri Evans, and center Jeff Faine played well together overall, they've been among the best in the league at protecting the quarterback in allowing just six sacks in six games.

In their most recent game on October 15, the unheralded line kept the Philadelphia Eagles, who had recorded an NFL-high 23 sacks going into that game, from getting to quarterback Drew Brees in the Saints' 27-24 victory.

That extended their string of not allowing a sack to 10 full quarters, with the last coming in the middle of the second quarter to Carolina Panthers All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers on October 1.

"They've been detail-oriented," said Saints running back Deuce McAllister, who has rushed for 444 yards and a 4.9 average with four touchdowns. "They have been able to basically go out there and compete on every play. They're not going to be perfect — but nobody is. They're trying to go out and make plays, and you have confidence in them."

Nesbit said the Saints didn't take it personally when the experts were talking about how bad the offensive line was going to be back in training camp. If anything, he said, it motivated them.

"You hear stuff like that, but any time you don't have five Pro Bowlers or two Pro Bowlers — or one for that matter— you are going to be a question mark," said Nesbit. "It was just one of those things where the guys took it upon themselves to not be the weak link."

NOTES, QUOTES

—The Saints announced Monday the signing of tight end Billy Miller, a seven-year veteran, to the active roster.

Miller, a 6-foot-3, 252-pounder from Southern California, went to training camp with the Saints this season but was waived on the final cut in early September. He was re-signed to help fill in with starter Ernie Conwell expected to miss 2-to-4 weeks after having his knee scoped.

Miller has played in 73 NFL career games with 22 starts. He previously played for Denver, Houston and Cleveland and has 114 receptions for 1,212 yards and seven touchdowns.

Third-string quarterback Jason Fife, who was waived last week to open up a roster spot, was re-signed to the team's practice squad.

—Saints coach Sean Payton said a decision should come this week on veteran wide receiver/kick returner Michael Lewis, who's eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list.

Lewis, an All-Pro kick returner in 2002, has been on the PUP list since the start of training camp. He had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee last September and underwent arthroscopic surgery in June after having trouble with the knee.

A player on PUP can be activated after the sixth game and the club then has 21 days to decide if it wants to put him on the roster, release him or put him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

"I think he's feeling well, he's moving well," Payton said. "He's worked extremely hard and (trainer) Scottie (Patton) has done a great job with him."

—After starting the season with a 5-1 record, Payton and quarterback Drew Brees were popular national TV guests last week.

Before the team began a four-day for its bye week, Payton did interviews for ESPN News, Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith, Jim Rome is Burning, the NFL Network and Fox Sports Net Southwest.

Pardon the Interruption had Brees on as its guest for a segment called "Five Good Minutes."

—Regional cable network CST (Cox Sports Television) and the Saints have reached an agreement to carry year-round programming of the team through the 2010 season, it was announced recently.

The four-year extension calls for the continuation of Saints produced programming — including the weekly half-hour show Outside the Huddle, the re-airing of the weekly highlight show Saints Game Plan as well as a 30-minute post-game show called Saints Tonight.

CST will also continue to air Payton's weekly regular-season news conferences live.

Read more at the USA Today

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