Saints strong safety Roman Harper is back on top of the team's depth chart and is being counted on to be a big factor in the defense of a team that is favored to get to the Super Bowl.

He went down after five games last season with a torn ACL. Knee Reconstruction surgery was next and then rehab instead of a run to the NFC championship game. He had won a starting job as a rookie as the second-round draft choice from Alabama.  Harper had 26 tackles and a sack and provided the Saints with a physical run-stopping presence until suffering the injury.

Q: You left the Saints locker room without assistance and drove home after suffering the knee injury. When was the injury discovered?

A: An MRI revealed a tear of the ACL. I awoke the morning after the game and wasn't in any pain, wasn't limping, and was ready to return to practice. Then I had the MRI and that was it."

Q: How was it watching instead of playing?

A: It was real hard. Mixed emotions. I was really excited about the team's success, but at the same time I wished I could have been out there playing. I wasn't too angry or too down on myself. I remained pretty excited about the whole season and kept a positive outlook about everything because of the way the team was playing. I didn't want to be holding my head down while everybody else was happy.

Q: You were a regular at the Edge Bar and Grill in Metairie. Was it a place where you could relax?

A: Yes. I like to shoot pool and the steaks there were good. Because I was  a new player, nobody recognized me and that was nice."

Q: How did your rehab and spring work go?

A: real well. i did everything during the spring, all the drills, all the optional workout sessions and the mini-camp. I'll be okay. I was running really well and taking some good strides. I have to know when to rest my knee and when to push it.

Q: What do you think of the additions the Saints made to the defense with cornerback Jason David from the Colts, and safety Kevin Kaesviham from the Bengals’ Kaesviham could push you and Josh Bullocks for playing time.

A: I don't blame them for making the additions. We had some key injuries last season in the secondary, at my position especially. We just needed some more depth, more bodies. The more talent as a team you have, the more talent you can throw at a team. It just makes your team better. I understand it's a competition thing. The best player will play.

Q: The Saints are being picked as a Super Bowl contender this season. Your thoughts?

A: On paper, most teams feel like they should have a chance to at the Super Bowl every year. You can't really dwell on that. You just have to come together and gel. We're really ahead of where we were this time last year. Just going off that, I think we're making strides. We understand what our coaches want from us as individuals and we know ourselves better. There's a psychology:. As you get older and come together as a team, you kind of gain a little bit of a personality. The more we play with each other, the better we'll be. We just have to continue to play hard. I think that's what won a lot of games for us last season.

Q: The Saints are going to find out quickly how good they are because they open against Indianapolis with Peyton Manning  and his receivers on opening night of the NFL season. Will the defending Super Bowl champions test the Saints' secondary?

A: It's crazy. Who could imagine a couple of years back the Saints kickoff off the season and everyone wanting to see them? We definitely won't be able to sneak up on anybody, That’s for sure, The whole world was behind us last year. Definitely we'll have teams looking u\at us differently.

Q: Are you ready to test the knee? Is there any doubt that you are ready?

A: I think I'll know when I'm back when I get hit. I've twisted and turned, planted and broken on the ball, but I haven't hit anybody or been hit on my knee yet. When that time comes and I get up fast, I'll be able to put that behind me and move on a little bit more. Until then, it's going to stay in my head.

LETTER FROM A MOTHER: The following is a letter from a mother concerning her son's visit to the Saints' training facility and game:

My son is the biggest fan of the New Orleans Saints. He wants to be a Saint more than anything in the world and looks forward to their games every week of the NFL season. Needless to say it was no surprise that he wanted to meet his favorite Saint, Drew Brees, when the Make-A-Wish organization asked him who his wish would be.

We had an amazing time with just not Drew Brees, but the entire New Orleans Saints organization. I really thought the Saints would just let us go down to the sidelines during a game or something like that since we were season ticket holders. Instead, they pretty much gave us the run of the land at their practice facility. I was amazing how kind they treated our family. The Saints went completely out of their way to make sure we were having a great time and that Devan was enjoying himself to the fullest extent.

For that day my son was the Saints' No. 1 priority. They made it a point to show him a great time and a part of the Saints family. He met with Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush, Mike McKenzie, Sean Payton and even owner Tom Benson and his wife made it a point to visit and show my little boy around. McKenzie even told Devan that he was his hero and asked him to autograph his shirt. Devan was beaming when he heard that.

This entire visit meant so much to my son. He hasn't stopped talking about the visit and when he talks about it his little face lights up. He want to be a football player when he grows up, but the doctors the sport is too strenuous for him. But I know my son and I know the determination he has and he'll find a way to be part of football in some way.

We are indebted to the Make-A-Wish organization, the New Orleans Saints and ESPN for everything they did for our little boy. This was a life changing adventure for him and one that none of us will ever forget.

                                    ---Beverly Muller (Devan Muller's mother)

LOCAL ONE-HITS YANKEES: Chad Gaudin, who prepped at Crescent City Baptist in Metairie, combined with Rich Hardon on a one-hitter as the Athletics defeated the Yankees on Saturday. Gaudin, 24, went seven innings and threw 96 pitches. Johnny Damon broke up the no-hitter with a one-out single in the sixth inning. ":Of course I was planning to go the full length," said Gaudin. "But after the hit, they wanted to get Harden some work." Gaudin, 5-foot-11, 170. improved his record to 7-3 and has an American League low ERA of 2.92. He struck out A-Rod twice. A-Rod the the AL's home run and RBI leader.