For three hours on a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon, James Laurinaitis never sat down. He stood with his helmet on. He stood with his helmet off. He paced. He talked with teammates and coaches. Took a swig of water every now and then. And late in the game, he wore a baseball cap.
But he never played snap on defense, not a single down for New Orleans against Kansas City. After all those seasons in St. Louis wearing No. 55 for the Rams, Laurinaitis looked strange enough wearing jersey No. 53 in the black and gold of the Saints.