Football
Associated Press 17y

1st preseason game crucial to Saints backup QBs Fife, Palko

JACKSON, Miss. -- While Sunday's preseason opener against
the Steelers won't mean much to the Saints' Drew Brees and Jamie
Martin, it will be crucial for the pair of young players fighting
for New Orleans' third quarterback spot.

Coach Sean Payton said Jason Fife and Tyler Palko have turned in
up-and-down performances so far in training camp leading up to the
Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.

"I think for both of them the preseason games will be important
and we'll get a measure of where we think we're at that position,"
Payton said.

Fife, who played at Oregon, has more experience. He alternated
between the active and practice squads last season, though he was
never activated for a game as the third-string quarterback.

Palko, an undrafted free agent from Pittsburgh, has shown some
zip on the ball and made a variety of passes in practice Friday,
including a deep pass down the left sideline for a score against
the first-team defense.

"They're both looking pretty promising," wide receiver Marques
Colston said. "Fife's been in the system a little longer so he
gets the ball out pretty quickly. And Palko, he's good at keeping
plays alive and just giving us a chance to make plays."

Palko said the trick so far has been learning the complexities
of the playbook despite having few repetitions in practice.

"When you're the starter in college you get all the reps and
you get a rhythm," he said. "At this level you have to work your
way up again and you have to find a way to get into a rhythm
without the reps."

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HOMECOMING: A year ago Usama Young was bummed out when he
couldn't attend the Hall of Fame game because preseason practice
had already started at nearby Kent.

So, he watched it on television.

"I was mad," Young said.

A year later, the Saints second-round pick will be on television
Sunday when News Orleans plays Pittsburgh in Canton, Ohio.

The flip-flop of fortunes is a dream come true for the
cornerback. He'll have several family members there and some of his
former Kent teammates said they're not going to let preseason
practice keep them away from the game this year.

"You know the atmosphere is going to be great," he said.

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IN AND OUT: Defensive ends Rob Ninkovich (knee) and Anton
Palepoi (ankle), defensive lineman Brian Young (broken foot) and
wide receiver Jamal Jones (knee) are out of Sunday's game.

Payton said he is also considering holding out Roman Harper
(knee), though the second-year safety has been practicing this
week. Payton's also considering benching running back Deuce
McAllister as a precaution.

He plans to play the starters for up to 12 plays, or most of the
first quarter, then will turn the game over to the backups.

The Saints have a closed walk-through Saturday morning, then fly
to Canton.

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