| | By Doug Brien
Special to ESPN.com
Editor's note: What is life in an NFL training camp like? Kicker Doug Brien takes you inside the camp of the New Orleans Saints with his weekday diary for ESPN.com.
Thursday, Aug. 3
THIBODAUX, La. -- In our game against the Jets, injuries took a toll on our team. In preseason games, starters need to work enough to get in sync and coaches need to look at the new players. Although those are both important objectives, perhaps the more important goal is to stay healthy. Against the Jets we were unable to stay healthy. We lost Cameron Cleeland and Steve Israel for the season and Rob Kelly for at least a month. Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game. But the teams that lose the fewest key players during the season usually are the most successful. Both Cam and Steve were going to be very valuable to the team this season. For us to succeed this year, some different players will have to step up and make up for their absence.
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Earlier this week I was asked what happens to a player who gets injured. Well, both Cam and Steve left camp to have surgery. Rob has been here at camp resting. He goes to meetings, but not to practice. None of them will travel to any of the preseason games.
Most likely, Cam and Steve will be placed on injured reserve. They are still on the team and count against the salary cap. However, they do not count against the 53 active players that the team can carry throughout the season. The Saints pay their normal salaries and still own their rights. During the season they will likely come into the facility each day for rehabilitation. Whether they travel or not depends on coach Jim Haslett's policy. In the past, players like Joe Johnson could choose whether to travel to road games or not.
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I spoke with Cam and I thought he had an excellent attitude. On the bus after the game he told me that he felt that this was a test and that he was up to it. ” |
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The season will probably frustrate both Steve and Cam. They have both been plagued by injuries in the past and fought to get healthy for camp this season. Both players were having excellent camps and had high hopes for the season. I spoke with Cam and I thought he had an excellent attitude. On the bus after the game he told me that he felt that this was a test and that he was up to it. He already looked forward to beginning rehabilitation on his Achilles tendon and getting ready for next season. Cam knows he still has an extremely bright future ahead of him and is committed to not letting this injury set him back.
I wish Steve and Cam all of the best in getting healthy as soon as possible. If you want to send notes wishing either of these players well, send them to me through my site and I will make sure they get them.
Material from kicking.com.
Visit Doug Brien's web site at http://www.kicking.com
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