Shockey wants back in the game, Coach

METAIRIE, La. -- If anything can be said about New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey throughout his rehab process as he tries to return from a sports hernia, it is that he certainly wants to be involved.

Saints coach Sean Payton would welcome Shockey to be in uniform this week against Carolina if only to get the player off his back. Shockey shadowed Payton through most of Sunday's win over the Raiders, trying to give his input and encouragement to Payton, his fellow players and anyone else who would listen.

"I know he's anxious to get back and not have him standing next to me with a towel in his hand. Hopefully it's this week," Payton said.

On one call from an official that Shockey disagreed with, Shockey fired his towel straight up in the air in disbelief. He was also the first to congratulate Reggie Bush on his first touchdown and the first to approach Taylor Mehlhaff after connecting on his first career successful field goal attempt.

Shockey then joined Payton on the field following the final play of the first half in arguing with the officials about placing one second back on the clock after a Billy Miller catch and the Saints tried calling timeout as time expired. Payton said he didn't anticipate Shockey having his back.

"It wasn't part of the plan," Payton said. "He just kind of invited himself. He's into it. It's important to him and I like that about him."

Shockey bit his tongue concerning the call - he's been fined three times already this season. But he couldn't hold back his willingness to be apart of the team, healthy or not.

"The last Sunday was a party I wanted to be in and I wasn't invited to," Shockey said. "(Marques Colston) is seeing what I'm seeing out there. Other guys are stepping up and making plays. I can't wait to personally get back. I know Marques can't wait."

Payton reiterated his confidence in having Colston and Shockey back for Sunday's game in Carolina. Colston practiced on a limited basis all last week, while Shockey was limited last Wednesday and sat out the final two sessions leading up to the Oakland game.

Shockey said it was smart to sit out against the Raiders as the original target date for his return was either this Sunday or when the Saints face San Diego in London in two weeks.

"I know Sean and the Saints have invested a lot in me," Shockey said. "The first three games I was really playing on one leg and I know I can play a lot better than in those first three games. It's about being smart and not pushing it. I'm my own worst enemy when it comes to that because I'm very competitive and very impatient when it comes to injuries."

Payton said he didn't feel as confident for the returns of defensive tackles Sedrick Ellis (knee) and Antwan Lake (groin). Ellis said he's going to see how his knee feels later in the week. He's missed the last two games and his original prognosis had him possibly missing the next two games as well.

Campbell's TD possibility - Quarterback Drew Brees knew he'd never thrown a touchdown pass to tight end Mark Campbell since both players joined the Saints. Brees even remembers the situations where he and Campbell could have connected and didn't in 2006.

"One was against Baltimore on a stick nod where Ray Lewis just got his hand on the ball and knocked it out, and the other one against Pittsburgh, and I just missed him on a corner route in the end zone down in the red zone," Brees said.

Campbell's fortune changed Sunday when he caught a 2-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to end the scoring for the Saints. It was Campbell's first scoring pass since Nov. 21, 2004, where he caught three scores while playing for Buffalo.