The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints are leaving New England after losing their punter and their exhibition opener. Normandy High's Laurence Maroney ran for two touchdowns to help the Patriots beat the Saints 27-24 Thursday night, a game capped by Stephen Gostkowski's winning 28-yard field goal with 53 seconds.
The Saints' final drive ended when former Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel was intercepted with 39 seconds to go. Daniel was six of nine passing for 50 yards.
On his first series since being voted Super Bowl MVP, Drew Brees threw an incompletion and was sacked for a 10-yard loss. But on his third and final possession, he led a 20-play, 86-yard march that lasted 10:01 and ended with a 2-yard scoring run by Reggie Bush. Tom Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, played New England's first two series and went five for eight passing for 67 yards.
The status of Saints punter Thomas Morstead is uncertain. He hurt his shoulder knocking Julian Edelman out of bounds after a 40-yard return following New Orleans' first series. Kicker Garrett Hartley punted the rest of the game.
Will Roethlisberger play? • Ben Roethlisberger is permitted to play in all the Pittsburgh Steelers' exhibition games before his suspension begins. That doesn't mean he will.
Coach Mike Tomlin wouldn't say whether Roethlisberger will take a few snaps with the starters during Saturday night's exhibition game against the Detroit Lions — the first time the quarterback will appear before his home crowd since being suspended for six regular-season games.
"We're going to make you come to the stadium to check that out," Tomlin said.
Because the starters will play only eight to 12 plays, it is unlikely both Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich will get on the field, unless it's for a few downs a piece. Leftwich will be the starter when the season opens and Roethlisberger's suspension begins.
"I want to play — I want to be out there with the guys. I'd like to play the whole game," Roethlisberger said. "If coach says I'm not going to play, it's his call."
Elsewhere • The 49ers signed rookie free-agent defensive tackle Will Tukuafu to help fill the void left by Kentwan Balmer's absence. Tukuafu, out of Oregon, was signed by the Seahawks before they released him June 22. Balmer missed his fourth straight day of training camp Thursday and his absence is still considered unexcused. Coach Mikle Singletary allowed Balmer to miss Monday and Tuesday workouts as he dealt with a "personal issue." But the 49ers had expected him back Wednesday. ... A person familiar with D'Qwell Jackson's pectoral muscle injury says the Browns linebacker has been told he does not need surgery and could be back on the field in less than a month. ...The Titans signed defensive lineman Raheem Brock to boost an injury-depleted line. ... Bears running back Harvey Unga, BYU's career leading rusher who was taken in the seventh round of the supplemental draft last month, is out for the season because of a hamstring injury. ... Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hillis is likely to be out until at least September because of a sprained knee.
