Jeff Charleston News

And Brees saw a connection between those disappointments and higher attendance for voluntary workouts this offseason than either he or head coach Sean Payton could recall since their arrival in New Orleans in 2006.

METAIRIE, La. Pay attention to the Saints' moves this offseason and one thing becomes apparent nearly immediately - New Orleans is hedging its bets and looking for defensive end help.

Reggie Bush and Marques Colston fully participated in the final minicamp practice Sunday morning - a good sign that both players remain on track to be full-go for the start of training camp on July 30.

Saints defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant and former Saints tailback Deuce McAllister will have to serve their four-game suspensions at the start of the 2009 season after a federal judge threw out their lawsuit against the NFL late Friday in Minnesota.

Former Saints tailback Deuce McAllister said he was "devastated" to hear that he and former teammates Will Smith and Charles Grant had lost their battle against the NFL in federal court Friday night, meaning they will still be required to serve four-game suspensions at the start of the 2009 season.

Saints defensive end Will Smith will likely miss the first four games of the 2009 season after a federal judge in Minnesota threw out his appeal, along with those of teammate Charles Grant and former teammate Deuce McAllister.

Saints defensive ends Charles Grant, right, and Paul Spicer, left, run around a barrel during indoor practice drills at the Thursday OTA.

The New Orleans Saints have brought their second former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end to the roster within a year as Paul Spicer agreed to a one-year contract Tuesday.

You've probably never heard of Ryan Pace. Unless you're an ardent Saints fan or intimate with NFL personnel circles, there would be no reason to know him.

The state and Saints negotiations on a long-term contract on the team playing in the Superdome are ongoing.