Lance Moore reigns king of Saints' wide receiver corps

METAIRIE - All New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore does on the field is what the coaches tell him to do.

Though it's hard to imagine the coaching staff instructed the 5-foot-9, 190-pound wideout to outshine Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey and even Reggie Bush in the passing game.

Moore did that part on his own.

He came up with another career day last Sunday in Kansas City as he snagged eight passes for 102 yards including a 47-yard touchdown grab. Moore currently leads the Saints in the three major receiving categories as he has 52 catches for 609 yards and five touchdowns.

"I don't go out there and do anything crazy out there," Moore said. "When the plays are there to be made, I'm just going out there and doing my best to make those ... . As everybody knows, Drew (Brees) is playing unbelievably well and it makes it easy on everybody."

Moore scratched and clawed his way through the NFL ranks as he began his career on the team's practice squad in 2005 with Jim Haslett still at the helm. He impressed Sean Payton enough for the then-new coach to keep Moore around for the practice squad. Moore made his way to the gameday roster four times but only caught one pass in 2006.

His impressive training camp in 2007 stamped his spot on the roster. He hauled in 32 passes for 302 yards and two scores last season.

"I knew that I was capable of playing well," Moore said. "It was just a matter of when I got my chance. It's like a lot of guys. Guys come in and out of the league that are definitely capable players, but for one reason or another may not get that opportunity. I knew that when I got my opportunity, I had to make the most of it. I'm doing that right now."

With Moore's contract expiring at the end of this season, every productive game means leverage come free agency. Moore said those thoughts haven't crossed his mind yet.

Moore's solid play on the field has caught the attention of Payton and Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

"I think the players and the people that study the tape certainly pay attention to who is getting the ball on third down and Lance has done a good job of being very consistent," Payton said. "He has strong hands in traffic and has real good athleticism. To his credit, he's a guy that really came from first base, that it didn't come real easy to.

"He was a free agent that played over in Europe and has really had to earn each inch of the way so there's a little bit in all of us that roots for players like that and he has worked extremely hard to put himself in this position. There's obviously a lot of confidence that Drew (Brees) has in him ... . But he has been very important, certainly in the absence of Marques (Colston) with the hand injury and now it's hard to get him off the field."

McCarthy said Moore's numbers force coaches to pay attention and game plan for the Saints pass catcher.

"We prepare for everybody that's productive on film," McCarthy said. "That never changes and I think that's the beauty of the Saints offense. They do a very good job of utilizing their personnel and their progressions and their approach of how they go after your defense. We anticipate that will be the case on Monday night."

Campbell lands on IR, Bell signed - Add tight end Mark Campbell to never-ending injured reserve list as he became the 14th Saints player whose season has ended because of an injury.

It's the second consecutive season Campbell's year ended with him on injured reserve.

Campbell left last Sunday's game in Kansas City with an injured MCL and Payton didn't sound too optimistic when he discussed Campbell's ailment on Monday. The veteran tight end sustained a back injury that forced him to miss the entire 2007 season.

He caught 12 passes for 121 yards and two scores in nine games in 2008. Shockey, Billy Miller and Buck Ortega are the other tight ends on the Saints roster.

Running back Mike Bell officially signed with the Saints on Wednesday to fill Campbell's roster spot and to make up for the loss of running back Aaron Stecker, who was put on IR on Tuesday.

Bell rushed for 680 yards and eight touchdowns in 20 games with Denver in 2006 and 2007, but was waived by Denver and Houston this year.

The Saints also added wide receiver Chris Francies and running back Lavarus Giles, a former Jackson State standout, to the practice squad.
Glenn, Karney out vs. Packers

Although the Saints didn't practice Wednesday, the team still had to submit an injury report where cornerback Aaron Glenn (ankle) and fullback Mike Karney (knee) were deemed out for Monday's game against Green Bay.

Those who would have been limited if the team had practiced Wednesday were running back Bush (knee), Colston (knee), center Jonathan Goodwin (knee), defensive tackle Antwan Lake (ankle), running back Deuce McAllister (knee), Shockey (ankle) and tackle Jon Stinchcomb (calf).