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NFL

Saints throttle Giants, hit .500

By Wire services
Published December 15, 2003

NEW ORLEANS - Saints receiver Joe Horn augmented his big game against the Giants with an unusual stunt.

Horn had four touchdown catches in New Orleans' 45-7 victory over New York. After the second one, he picked up a cell phone hidden in the padding of the goal post.

Horn, who scored on receptions of 50, 13, 7 and 18 yards, received a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and a tongue-lashing from coach Jim Haslett. But he also had a career night, setting a team record for touchdown receptions.

The three-time Pro Bowl player had his 19th game of 100 or more yards, also a team record. He finished with nine catches for 119 yards.

After an acrobatic catch of a 13-yard pass from Aaron Brooks, Horn ducked behind the goal post, where teammate Michael Lewis dug the phone out of the padding and handed it to him.

Horn flipped open the phone, pressed some buttons and simulated a call with the phone pressed to his helmet's ear hole. He said he pretended to call home, where his mother was with his children.

"I told my mom, when I scored my second one, I'm going to give them a call," Horn said. " ... I'll probably get fined for it."

The NFL had no immediate comment.

"You don't do stuff like that," Haslett said after the game. "I know it was premeditated. I know it was national television. But you don't do it.

"I won't fine him," he said, grinning.

The victory kept New Orleans' playoff hopes alive.

For the Giants it was the sixth straight defeat, further weakening coach Jim Fassel's hold on his job. New York has been outscored 163-51 during the slide.

Brooks was 26-of-35 for 296 yards and a career-best five touchdowns. New Orleans dominated, gaining 440 yards to 241.

Untested quarterback Jesse Palmer replaced Kerry Collins, who was out with a sprained ankle. In his first NFL start, the former Florida quarterback completed 15-of-26 passes for 140 yards.

The Saints jumped ahead on the opening drive. Brooks connected with Horn on a 50-yard touchdown pass just two minutes in. John Carney's 35-yard field goal on New Orleans' second drive made it 10-0.

Brooks, who lost three of his four fumbles last week, fumbled a handoff on the Saints' next possession. Dhani Jones recovered New York on the Saints 39. Visanthe Shiancoe's 4-yard touchdown reception, the rookie's first score, cut New Orleans' lead to 10-7.

[Last modified December 15, 2003, 01:46:24]


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