--The Saints announced last Tuesday the signing of defensive tackle DeMario Pressley, the first of their two fifth-round draft picks this spring, to a three-year contract.

Pressley, a 6-foot-3, 301-pounder from North Carolina State, was the first of the Saints' six draft picks to agree to terms with the team. The 144th pick of the draft, Pressley started 31 of 42 games at North Carolina State.

Pressley finished his career with 145 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. A three-year starter, he earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a junior in 2006.

To make room for Pressley on their 80-man roster, the Saints waived wide receiver Titus Ryan.

--For the second straight season, Saints guard Jahri Evans and wide receiver Marques Colston were among the NFL leaders in Performance Based Pay for 2007.

Each team was allowed to distribute $3.15 million to lower-salaried players, depending on the playing time they got last season. Eight Saints received at least $100,000, which is awarded on top of their base pay.

Evans earned $266,667 and ranked ninth in the league. Colston was 11th with $257,894 in extra pay. Both players had base salaries of $360,000.

The Saints' top five also included wide receiver Lance Moore ($143,226), safety Josh Bullocks ($130,456) and running back Pierre Thomas ($129,775).

--Saints quarterback Drew Brees joined New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on a seven-day, three-country summer USO tour last week. The tour was led by Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

It was the first time that the commissioner of a sports league visited U.S. troops overseas as part of a USO tour. In addition, it was the second USO-sponsored tour this spring for Brees, who earlier visited Okinawa.

While on those Pacific beaches, Brees talked by phone to his grandfather, who had landed as a U.S. Marine there more than 60 years earlier and participated in some of the heaviest fighting in World War II.

--Saints owner Tom Benson was honored by the Volunteers of America as the organization's Good Samaritan Award in Philanthropy in recognition of his efforts to rebuild the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Katrina.

VOA, one of the nation's largest and oldest human services organizations, presents the award each year to a person, program or organization that has made extraordinary efforts to provide services and shelter to those in need. The award was presented to Benson in June at the organization's national conference.

"I'm honored to receive this award, and on behalf of my family and the New Orleans Saints organization, I am grateful to be among those recognized for their good work," Benson said. "Since Hurricane Katrina, I'm proud of the overall impact our club has had on the community with donations, volunteer work and support. We vowed to take a leadership role in the days after the storm, and those efforts continue on a daily basis."

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I'm proud and pleased with (my progress). I don't know if there's really a 'next benchmark' to be met on my part. It's pretty much getting out there and trying to make plays. That's what I am looking forward to." -- Saints RB Deuce McAllister on his surgically-repaired knees.

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