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A22 SPORTS
Friday 8 November 2019
Brees-led Saints offense at its healthiest since Week 2

By BRETT MARTEL also practiced on a lim-
AP Sports Writer ited basis, and teammates
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — While sounded optimistic that
Saints quarterback Drew he looked close to being
Brees plans to again wear ready.
a plastic splint on his sur- "Hopefully we'll have every-
gically repaired thumb body back this week and
against the Atlanta Falcons just continue to build on
this Sunday, chances are what we've done up to this
he'll be on the field with an point," Brees said.
offense that is as healthy as Although backup QB Ted-
it's been since the quarter- dy Bridgewater gained
back was injured early in a folk-hero status from going
Week 2 loss to the Rams in 5-0 as a fill-in starter dur-
Los Angeles. ing what is now a six-game
Tight end Jared Cook, winning streak for the 7-1
whose injured ankle kept Saints, offensive produc-
him out of two games, in- tivity spiked consider-
cluding Brees' first game ably when Brees returned
back from thumb surgery in against Arizona in Week 8,
Week 8, fully participated going 34 of 43 for 373 yards
in practice on Wednes- and three touchdowns
day, as did No. 3 receiver without Kamara, Cook or
Tre'Quan Smith, who has Smith in the lineup.
not had a catch since injur- "It was great to be able
ing his ankle in Week 2. to come back the week
Dynamic running back before the bye and get a
Alvin Kamara, who has game under my belt," Brees
missed two games with said. "I felt like I was shaking
ankle and knee injuries, off a little bit of rust during

MLB union unhappy

with Braves GM’s

‘connecting’ comment

NEW YORK (AP) — Two by Braves GM Alex An- New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes in the first half of an NFL football game
days into the free agent thopoulos call into ques- against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019.
market, the players' as- tion the integrity of the Associated Press
sociation already is an- entire free-agent sys- the course of that game, couraged about his pros- yards from scrimmage and
gry at a club. tem," Clark said. "The honestly, but hopefully we pects for picking up where four touchdowns during
Union head Tony Clark clear description of club can just continue to build he left off. New Orleans previous two
issued a statement coordination is egre- and keep the confidence "I definitely feel like my pro- games.
Wednesday in response gious, and we have and the momentum go- duction was getting bet- The Saints also have been
to remarks attributed to launched an immediate ing." ter," Cook said. "I'm excit- heavily reliant throughout
Atlanta Braves general investigation looking into In his two full games, Brees ed. I only missed one game the season on top receiver
manager Alex Antho- the matter." has averaged 371.5 pass- without Drew. Me and him Michael Thomas, who has
poulos during a confer- Seeking to clarify his ing yards and thrown for get a chance to come in made 73 of the team's 203
ence call with media. remarks, Anthopou- five touchdowns. and kind of help this of- receptions for 874 of the
"Every day you get more los issued a statement Bridgewater averaged fense be even more pro- team's 2,088 yards through
information. And we've Wednesday night in re- 241.0 yards and threw for ductive than it has been." the air.
had time to connect sponse. nine scores in his five starts. Saints coach Sean Payton "Obviously, you understand
with 27 of the clubs — "In advance of the gen- He, too, had to play with- said he "absolutely" remains opponents are going to
obviously the Astros and eral managers meetings, out Kamara, Cook and high on Cook's potential in find a way or try to find
(Nationals) being in the I called around to clubs Smith in his final start. his offense. a way to (double-team)
World Series, they were to explore the possibility Brees said he isn't sure how "Look, we've seen it all dur- Mike, certainly in certain
tied up — but we had a of potential offseason long he'll continue to wear ing training camp," Payton down and distances, and
chance to get a sense trades," he said. "At no a splint on his right thumb, said. "We've just got to con- we've got to have other
of what the other clubs time during any of these on which he had surgery tinue to look at giving him ways to get the ball down
are going to look to do in calls was there discussion Sept. 18, but he has decid- opportunities." the field or to other receiv-
free agency, who might of individual free agents ed to keep using it for now Kamara has not yet fielded ers," Payton said.
be available in trades," or the Braves' intentions because he feels comfort- interview requests this week "I think we'll handle that all
Anthopoulos said, ac- with respect to the free able with it. but indicated he would on right."
cording to the union. agent market. To the "It feels fine," he said. Thursday, as he often does NOTES: Tight end Josh Hill
Baseball's labor contract extent I indicated oth- Cook, who had seven when healthy. (calf) and cornerback Pat-
prohibits clubs from act- erwise during my media catches for 78 yards and The Saints have gotten by rick Robinson (hamstring)
ing in concert in free availability on Monday, I two touchdowns over his without Kamara thanks to both were limited in prac-
agent negotiations. misspoke and apologize last two games before his Latavius Murray, who had tice. Not a single active
"The statements made for any confusion."q injury, said he "felt good" in 62 rushing or receiving player missed practice
practice and sounded en- touches combined for 307 entirely.q