NFL

Saints didn't feel at all at home

By wire services
Published September 21, 2005

SAN ANTONIO - Now that he's been through the experience of playing a "home" game on the road, and came away a loser, New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett is furious about it all.

Back at the team's temporary home in San Antonio, Haslett said Tuesday the Saints were at a competitive disadvantage in their 27-10 loss to the New York Giants at the Meadowlands on Monday night - even if they were wearing their home jerseys and saw their nickname painted in one of the end zones.

"They could have done that anywhere," Haslett said. "They could have played that game in Baton Rouge. They could have played it in San Antonio and could have done the same thing.

"To play it in Giants Stadium, to give them another home game and to put us in a situation where we couldn't hear ... It wasn't why we lost that game, but ... "

When the league told the Saints they had to play in New Jersey, Haslett would only say it put his team behind the eight-ball. Yet after seeing his team commit six turnovers and 13 penalties, he let loose.

"It wasn't a home game," he said. "I look up at the scoreboard and there are signs, "Let's Go Giants'. The referees, when they flipped the coin, they asked us if we wanted heads or tails. They had no idea who the home team was and who was away. The crowd noise we had to deal with, we never had to do a silent count at home."

Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks had some strong comments about all the hoopla surrounding the game.

"They made this seem like the Super Bowl," Brooks said after the loss. "We played a team that outplayed us today, but it was way overdone. Setting up a stage, traveling out here, was uncalled for."

TELETHON RAISES $5M: The fundraiser that featured more than 30 current and former players raised $5-million for the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund in about 61/2 hours. Monday night's telethon was part of the NFL's "Hurricane Relief Weekend" and coincided with a special Monday Night Football doubleheader on ABC and ESPN.

BUCS: The Bucs on Tuesday signed fullback Carey Davis to the practice squad. Davis entered the league with the Colts in 2004 as an undrafted free agent and spent time on the team's practice squad. Davis, who played at the University of Illinois, was waived by Atlanta last month. Defensive back Kalvin Pearson's promotion to the active roster opened a spot on the Bucs' practice squad.

EAGLES: Kicker Todd France was signed to the practice squad, two days after linebacker Mark Simoneau kicked an extra point. France, who lost out to Matt Bryant in Bucs training camp, will back up Pro Bowl kicker David Akers, who is bothered by a hamstring injury and uncertain for Sunday's game against Oakland.

JAGUARS: Safety Donovin Darius will miss the rest of the season after tearing a knee ligament against Indianapolis.

RAVENS: Quarterback Kyle Boller is likely out until the end of October with an injured right toe.

VIKINGS: Plans were unveiled for a $675-million retractable roof stadium aimed to boost the team's revenue, which was the second-lowest in the league last year.

Times staff writer Stephen Holder contributed to this report.

[Last modified September 21, 2005, 00:25:10]