Sean Payton played coy after New Orleans’ 2007 preseason finale.
Then a second-year head coach, Payton had an undrafted running back who had impressed in training camp and surged in preseason games.
On that late August night, Pierre Thomas racked up 163 all-purpose yards, including 81 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
“He ran well, picked up some big (first) downs for us, and he’s pretty consistent,” Payton said, according to the Associated Press at the time, which called the head coach “noncommittal” on Thomas’ roster status.
What Payton wasn’t letting on that night is that the Saints pretty much knew they’d keep Thomas and perhaps also knew that meant waiving fourth-round draft pick Antonio Pittman.