Super Bowl XLIV - New Orleans Saints Daily Report (February 5, 2010)

By John Czarnecki

Super Bowl XLIV - February 7, 2010, New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl XLIV - Saints vs Colts

The Saints, who plan to conduct a final walk-through practice at Sun Life Stadium tomorrow, concluded their practice preparations at the U. of Miami with an hour and 50 minutes of work, focusing on red-zone offense and defense, plus short-yardage and goal-line situations. It was their shortest practice of the week.

"I think we had a good week of work," Saints coach Sean Payton said.

Reserve cornerback Randall Gay was absent because of stomach illness, Payton said. Reserve running back Lynell Hamilton continued to simply watch practice and not participate in any of the drills. The Saints list Hamilton as questionable for Super Bowl LXIV.

However, all of the injured Saints, who are listed on the injury report and are also game-day starters, participated fully in all team drills for the third consecutive day, although some on a limited basis. Tight end Jeremy Shockey (knee), safety Darren Sharper (knee), defensive end Will Smith (groin), defensive end Bobby McCray (ankle/back) and linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee) seemingly worked in every important drill and all of them appeared to be in good shape, not favoring any injury.

The Saints didn't conduct Friday's practice at game speed, but Shockey and Sharper didn't appear to miss a snap in most drills for the third consecutive day.

As is customary for home games, the players and coaches were going to eat charbroiled oysters from Drago's Restaurant in New Orleans after practice.

Payton said his players will have a midnight curfew tonight and an11 p.m. curfew on Saturday night. "We prepared for this game like it's a Sunday night game," Payton said, referring to the late kickoff. "At halftime, because it's longer than usual, we will want the guys to maybe eat a little and also remove their shoulder pads and get a dry T-shirt."