--The Saints last week signed four players, including former LSU offensive lineman Carnell Stewart, to contracts.

Stewart, a member of LSU's BCS national championship team last fall, signed as a free agent with the New York Giants following the NFL draft. He was released early last week, however, after failing his physical with an undisclosed injury.

The other three players signed -- quarterback Travis Lulay, defensive tackle Marcus Pittman and wide receiver Carlos Robinson -- attended the team's rookie minicamp on a tryout basis the weekend of May 9-11.

To make room on the 80-man roster for the four players, the Saints waived four undrafted rookies -- quarterback T.C. Ostrander, wide receiver Evan Moore, and offensive linemen Nate McManus and Akim Millington.

--After two months of offseason training and conditioning, the Saints will begin their Organized Team Activities on Monday, May 19.

Coach Sean Payton will put his team through 12 practice sessions during a three-week span that will conclude June 12.

Not included in the OTA schedule is a three-day full-squad minicamp to be held May 30-June 1 at the team's training facility in Metairie. It will be the first and only minicamp this offseason for veteran players.

--Payton said last week the team's May 7 visit with former Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander went well, but declined to say if the Saints will offer the 2005 NFL MVP a contract.

"He's had a long, successful career and he still has some good years ahead of him," Payton said during the team's rookie minicamp, "so we'll see where it takes him."

Eventually, Payton said, the Saints' desire to bring in a veteran running back will depend on the health of Deuce McAllister, who is coming off double-knee surgery performed in late September.

Another consideration, he added, will be the quality of players who are on the open market when teams start waiving veteran players.

--Payton and his wife, Beth, announced the creation of a charitable organization at a news conference last week.

The Payton's Play It Forward Foundation was designed to raise money and publicize the health, education and social welfare needs of families and children.

One of the foundation's first fundraising events will be the Black & Gold Gala, which will be held Oct. 10 in the Superdome. Singers Jimmy Buffett and Irma Thomas, "The Soul Queen of New Orleans," were named as the honorary chairs for this year's gala.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"It was like a scrimmage. I had to tell them, 'Hey, you're not going to earn a spot in this walkthrough (practice).' But that was to be expected, I think." -- Saints coach Sean Payton on having to slow his rookies down a little during their first minicamp practices.

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