By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

Tuesday’s New Orleans Saints practice was an intense, physical session, highlighted by a live goal-line drill. This time the victory went to the defense – revenge for their last goal-line drill last week, when tailback Mark Ingram scored.

This time, the Saints’ first-string offense nearly scored on a 3-yard pass from Drew Brees to tight end David Thomas, but Thomas bobbled the ball as he stepped out of bounds. Then tailbacks Ingram and Pierre Thomas were stuffed on second and third down. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma got great penetration on the final run. It wasn’t clear who made the official tackle, but outside linebacker Scott Shanle said from his vantage point, the trio of veteran tackles Shaun Rogers, Aubrayo Franklin and Sedrick Ellis were clearly doing their job up front.

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By The Times-Picayune

Right tackle Jon Stinchcomb has been released by the New Orleans Saints.

The New Orleans Saints made the move on Monday, making way for backups Zach Strief and Charles Brown to battle for the starting tight tackle job,

Both Coach Sean Payton and General Manager Mickey Loomis described the move as very difficult for them personally. Stinchcomb, who was drafted in the second round in 2003, was the longest-tenured member of the Saints’ roster and one of the most popular players in the building.

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By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints are considering a change at right tackle, where sixth-year pro Zach Strief was lined up with the starting unit during Sunday’s practice. Longtime starter Jon Stinchcomb worked with the second team.

Coach Sean Payton said the team went into this training camp planning to create competition at the position and that Strief has earned the opportunity throughout his five years in New Orleans.

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By James Varney, The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints were joined at practice Sunday by wide receiver Marques Colston and cornerback Tracy Porter, two key players for the team as they head toward the 2011 season.

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By John DeShazier, The Times-Picayune

While the affirmative case for offseason training activities was made by the New Orleans Saints‘ and San Francisco 49ers‘ first-team offenses that slopped around for a few series in the first quarter Friday night, backup quarterback Chase Daniel solidified his case as Drew Brees’ understudy at the Superdome.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints quarterback Chase Daniel showed promise in the win against San Francisco.

It wasn’t all that spectacular. But it didn’t have to be, either.

Daniel directed a couple of scoring drives in the first half — one ending on Garrett Hartley’s 47-yard field goal in the first quarter, the other culminating with Mark Ingram’s 14-yard touchdown run in the second — to lead New Orleans to a 17-3 lead at the break.

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By Kevin Spain, The Times-Picayune

You know what you’ve got with the New Orleans Saints offense, a great quarterback, a good group of receivers, a solid running game and the ability to score a lot of points. (Check out our game updates here).

The question mark coming into this season was how well the defense, which had a fairly complete makeover in the offseason, would come together.

Against the San Francisco 49ers in the first preseason game of 2011, it was the defense that looked more ready for the regular season, as it dominated when the first teams were on the field, and the Saints won 24-3.

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By Nakia Hogan, The Times-Picayune

By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

More than a week into New Orleans Saints training camp, it’s worth pointing out one thing we haven’t been seeing – any signs of post-lockout sloppiness.

In fact, I honestly hadn’t thought about the idea of the “lockout hangover” until colleague Mike Preston from the Baltimore Sun checked in with me to ask how the Saints are looking, compared to the Baltimore Ravens, who have been off to a sloppy start. According to Preston’s research, the Ravens aren’t the only ones.

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By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

The two most prominent names remaining on the New Orleans Saints’ list of unsigned free agents are fullback Heath Evans and safety Darren Sharper.

Coach Sean Payton confirmed on Sunday that the team plans to part ways with Evans after signing fullback Korey Hall in free agency. Sharper, meanwhile, said he’s not close to a decision yet on where he’ll play in 2011. He said the Saints are still a possibility but he’s “ready to play for any contender.”

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By James Varney, The Times-Picayune

After the Saints first full-pads practice Thursday evening, Coach Sean Payton was asked about those perennial battles that stamp training camps everywhere — the heralded rookie coming in with a starter’s job in his cross hairs.

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