Mark Ingram (turf toe surgery) has shed his crutches.
The Saints expect Ingram to participate fully in their offseason program after his early-January surgery. In terms of on-field risk of aggravation, the only concern would be if the Saints were playing football or running and cutting anytime soon. They obviously aren't. Ingram will be 100 percent for 2012.

Per Adam Schefter:

Ex-Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo will reportedly meet with the Saints on Wednesday.
The Eagles' plans for Juan Castillo are still unclear, which could leave the Saints and Colts battling for Spags' services. Colts GM Ryan Grigson has a relationship with Spagnuolo from their time together in Philly. The Saints can offer a contending roster whereas Indy is starting over again after a 2-14 season.

Rams named Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator.

Gregg Williams reportedly has agreed to become Jeff Fisher's defensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams.

The NFL Network reported Monday that the Saints' defensive coordinator, whose contract expired after the season, agreed to join Fisher in St. Louis. Williams has called Fisher one of his closest friends in the coaching business.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Saints SS Roman Harper is dealing with a "significant" ankle injury.
It sounds like a possible high ankle sprain. Harper must have suffered the injury late in last Saturday's win over the Lions. It's "a new one," reports beat writer Jeff Duncan, "and it's significant." Harper is one of the league's better in-the-box, run-support safeties, so his absence would be major against San Francisco's run-first offense in the Divisional round.

Lance Moore (hamstring) has been ruled out for the Wild Card round. Moore is out indefinitely. Robert Meachem should start against Detroit.

I had to share this I laughed so hard...in the middle of their Open Game thread this poster put a message titled "Meanwhile in Minneapolis" then the following:
________________________________________________
Ponder: Man, I can’t believe we’re only down by one against the Saints right now. We could actually pull off an upset.

Gerhart: I know, fellow white teammate. This is awesome!

Peterson: Sup crackers, believe we actually this close?

(Gerhart and Ponder exchange confused looks)

Gerhart: Are you talking to us?

Peterson: Yea….

Ponder: Cool…

Gerhart: Yea, I’m excited that we’re this close rig…(Brees throws TD)

Peterson: Dammit!

Ponder: Well, we’re still within one possession. (Goes 3 and out)

Gerhart: Well, not great but our defense has been playi…(Brees throws TD)

Peterson: God dammit!

Ponder: It’s not that bad, guys. We’ve been down before. We can’t give up (Punts)

Ponder: Ok, so we need to get som….(Brees throws TD)

Peterson:…..

Gerhart: Hey Adrian…

Peterson: Don’t talk to me.

Gerhart: Well, there goes that…

Brees: Sup losers.

Ponder: Drew Brees? What are you doing on our sidelines? And if you’re here, then who is playing QB?

Brees: Oh, that’s Tom. Yea, he’s with the Make a Wish Foundation. His wish was to score a TD in an NFL game.

Ponder: But he’s like 12, and has canc….(Tom throws TD)

Brees: Way to go, buddy!

Peterson: F*** this, I’m getting traded.
________________________________________________

Thank you Charlie Kelly for a great laugh

Venturing back to the land of the Purple. Let's all be on our best behavior.

Get on over there and help answer all the questions their fans may have. Use your P's and Q's and lets be good representatives of Saints fans!

The NFL has upheld Lions DT Ndamukong Suh's two-game suspension for violating the league's on-field conduct policy after an appeal attempt.
Suh will sit out Sunday's game against the Saints and next week's home game versus the Vikings. The Lions should be pleased if they emerge from the two-game stretch 1-1. Heading into the New Orleans game, Detroit should be quite concerned with its pass defense. Suh won't be rushing quarterbacks and drawing double teams, and CB Chris Houston (knee) and FS Louis Delmas (knee) both missed practice all week. Drew Brees could shred them in Week 13.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Vikings are set to release QB Donovan McNabb on Thursday.
We've seen speculation on this ever since the Broncos granted Kyle Orton his release. McNabb will be subject to the waivers process with $1.5 million remaining on his 2011 salary. He would certainly have interest in playing for his hometown Bears, who have a higher waiver claim than the Texans. We're not sure he'd be much of an upgrade on Caleb Hanie, however.

Follow the link to provide insight to Lions fans who just gotta know...

Lions DT Ndamukong Suh has been suspended by the NFL for two games without pay.
It's a well-deserved ban after Suh stomped on Packers right guard Evan Dietrich-Smith last Thursday. With nine personal fouls in 27 career NFL games, Suh earned the league's first multi-game ban since the Albert Haynesworth incident in 2006. Although he can appeal the ban and play against the Saints this Sunday, we're not expecting him to do so after apologizing to commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this week. Sammie Hill and first-round rookie Nick Fairley are candidates to fill in.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Broncos have waived QB Kyle Orton.
Rotoworld:
Broncos waived QB Kyle Orton.
Interesting. The Broncos weren't going back to Orton, so the hope is that a QB-needy team such as the Bears, Texans, or Chiefs will claim the remainder of his $7.4 million salary. The obvious dot-connecting is with the Bears and former coach Lovie Smith, though Mike Martz's offense is much different than the one Orton ran under Ron Turner from 2005-2008.

Colts versus Pats is bumped. Brees gets to shine on SNF.

The NFL has flexed the Lions vs. Saints game to their featured Sunday Night game at 8:30 p.m. on NBC. Dec. 4. The game was originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. start in New Orleans.

Bucs claimed DT Albert Haynesworth off waivers from the Patriots.
It's an ideal landing spot for Haynesworth, who should be in for big snaps immediately with Gerald McCoy out for the season. It's a curious move by the Bucs, however, who now have to pick up the remainder of Haynesworth's 2011 salary and will be sticking a clubhouse cancer in the middle of an extremely young locker room. If Bill Belichick couldn't get through to Haynesworth, it's unlikely Raheem Morris will.

Slow news day. Depth potential? Anyone remember why he was waived?

Patriots waived DT Albert Haynesworth.
The Boston Globe's Greg Bedard pointed out Monday night that Haynesworth turned in three of the worst plays ever seen by a defensive tackle in Week 9. Haynesworth got "ragdolled easy," pancaked, and then fell down with a soft shove against the Giants, leading to a sideline confrontation with DL coach Pepper Johnson. Haynesworth still has the talent to excel, but his heart isn't it. It will be interesting to see if Eagles DL coach Jim Washburn, who had Haynesworth in Tennessee, will push for a waiver claim.

Saints placed OT Charles Brown (hip flexor) on injured reserve, ending his season.
It's a tough blow for Brown, who shined as the Saints' fill-in starter at right tackle with Zach Strief nursing an injury of his own. Coach Sean Payton revealed that Brown injured his hip flexor and will require surgery. He's been injury prone through two seasons, but should maintain a roster spot in 2012.

Saints signed OT Ray Willis, formerly of the Dolphins.
Willis, 29, was a fourth-round pick in the 2005 draft. The Florida State alum will provide right tackle depth with Charles Brown going on injured reserve.

And by ACL I refer to him as the Astounding Catch Leader for all NFL Tight Ends with 45 receptions. Good on you Jimmy.

And if you thought ACL meant anything else...hopefully that livened up your Friday. GO SAINTS!

As seen on Rotoworld:

The Saints have ruled out Mark Ingram (heel) for Week 8 at St. Louis.
Ingram didn't get on the practice field this week, even though the Saints are calling him "day to day." We have a sneaking suspicion that this is a multi-week injury. Look for Pierre Thomas to handle the majority of inside carries against the Rams, with Darren Sproles as the best bet for red-zone touches and all passing-game work, as usual. Chris Ivory may be active for the game, but has just three practices under his belt since coming off PUP.