Center 7
Guard 12
Offensive Tackle 18
Defensive End 29
Defensive Tackle 22
Linebacker 35
Running Back 15
Wide Receiver 30
Defensive Back 50
Quarterback 13
Tight End 19
Kick Returner 2
Punter 3
New Orleans Saints FB Heath Evans and over 35 of his teammates took to the diamond on Wednesday night at Zephyr Field to face a team of players from the armed services in the Heath Evans Softball Showdown.
While in the end unlike in Super Bowl XLIV, Evans and his teammate ended just short of the finish line in an 18-17 loss to an all-star group of softball players from the Marines, Louisiana Air National Guard, Army and Navy that work out of the Joint Reserve Base at Belle Chasse (La.), the group of over 9,000 fans that attended the contest enjoyed a fun evening of hitting, pitching and autographs. The event raised nearly $100,000 for the Heath Evans Foundation, which was formed by the Saints fullback to dedicate itself to assisting kids and families that have been affected by sexual abuse
Among the 37 players that participated were fan favorites such as QB Drew Brees, WR Lance Moore, TE Jeremy Shockey, WR Pierre Thomas and LB Jonathan Vilma.
The evening started with a home run derby event featuring the Saints players. Just as he has taken over games on the gridiron when the time dictates it, the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player was the man of the hour in the pregame event. Brees swatted over ten home runs from both sides of the plate to take the honors.
The players then took the field against their friendly foes from the military for a seven-inning contest that went right down to the wire. After going to bat in the sixth inning they had pounded out an 18-9 lead. But the Saints group rallied for six runs in the bottom of the sixth, held their opponents scoreless for the top of the seventh to set up a potential rally, trailing 18-15 going into their final at bats.
The New Orleans players grinded out two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Hitting two three-run homers in the actual game to supplement his home-run derby take, Brees’ teammates even put their leader to bat a second time in the final inning, but when he popped up to first base, the comeback would not be complete. However, the fans were not disappointed in what was an entertaining three-hour exhibition.
Center 7
Guard 12
Offensive Tackle 18
Defensive End 29
Defensive Tackle 22
Linebacker 35
Running Back 15
Wide Receiver 30
Defensive Back 50
Quarterback 13
Tight End 19
Kick Returner 2
Punter 3
SEAN CANFIELD
Quarterback
Oregon State University Beavers
#5
6:03.4-221
Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad High School
OVERVIEW
After entering the season as a virtual unknown due to injury, Sean Canfield was one of the hottest quarterbacks in the country the second half of the 2009 season. With eleven scattered starts over the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Canfield impressed scouts in his first full season as a starter with his pinpoint accuracy and efficiency. Canfield led the Beavers to an 8-5 record in 2009 and a run at the Pacific 10 Conference championship that lasted right up until the last week of the regular season. Under Canfield, the Oregon State passing offense improved from 30th in the nation in 2008 (249.0 ypg), to 26th in 2009 (270.8 ypg). He led a unit that ranked 15th in the national in passing efficiency (147.33), second in scoring (32.42 ppg), and 28th in total offense (419.42 ypg). Individually, Canfield was the nation’s 15th most efficient passer with a rating of 148.26, while also ranking 20th nationally in passing yards per game at 258.58. He passed for at least two touchdowns in eight regular season games this season.
Accuracy is Canfield’s strongest attribute, and it was reflected in his stats as he broke the Beavers single-season record for completion percentage. The lefty completed 67.93% of his attempts, a number good enough for sixth in the nation. As a senior, Canfield earned First Team All Pac-10 Conference honors. He was the conference leader in passing yards per game (258.58), and completion percentage (67.93%), and ranked second in passing efficiency (141.9). He tied for the conference lead with 21 TD passes.
A decorated high school standout, Canfield lettered and started three years for Carlsbad High School. He led the team to a 24-9 recorded over his three year span as a starter, including a San Diego Section title as a sophomore. He earned All-Avocado League honors and the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award three times, and was a three-time all-state selection. ESPN.com listed him as the nation’s 16th best quarterback in its December 2004 ratings, and both Scout.com and Rivals.com gave him a “three star” rating out of a possible five stars. He participated in the prestigious EA Sports Elite 11 quarterback workout. As a senior at Carlsbad, Canfield earned second-team All-CIF San Diego Section honors after throwing for 1,691 yards on 119 of 214 passing (55.60%) with 13 touchdowns.
Canfield chose Oregon State over an offer from UTEP, citing “coaching staff, the offensive scheme and the overall program” as the reasons for his decision. After graduating early from Carlsbad and enrolling for the spring term at OSU, Canfield spent the 2005 season redshirting while performing on the scout team. In 2006, Canfield was listed second on the depth chart behind current Carolina Panther Matt Moore. However, the redshirt freshman would see the field early in his career. After jumping out to a 42-7 halftime lead in their season opener vs. Eastern Washington, the Beavers put in their back-up in relief duty. Canfield would complete 11-of- 15 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. That season, Canfield saw action as a reserve in eight games, finishing with 335 passing yards, two TDs and a pair of interceptions on 28-of-45 passing (62.22%). He also rushed three times for minus 10 yards and a score.
Canfield was appointed the Beavers starting quarterback prior to the 2007 season. He became the Beavers youngest quarterback to earn the job since current Arizona Cardinal Derek Anderson in 2002. He led OSU to a 5-3 record before suffering a left shoulder injury in a loss at USC, his ninth start of the season. Showing the toughness that is demanded from the position, Canfield returned to action just eight weeks later in the Beavers’ Emerald Bowl match-up vs. the Maryland Terrapins after starter Lyle Moevao went down with injury. He hit on 8-of-14 pass attempts (57.14%) for 68 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the Beavers’ Emerald Bowl win. After the game, he found out the shoulder injury he suffered weeks earlier and had been playing with was actually a torn labrum. He would finish the season completing 165-of-286 passes (57.69%) for 1661 yards, nine touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
After having surgery on the torn labrum, Canfield missed nearly all of practice in August of 2008 while rehabilitating. Meanwhile, Lyle Moevao, who had taken over for Canfield a season earlier, entrenched himself as the team’s starter. It wasn’t until game four vs. Utah that Canfield would even be cleared to play, and he finally saw action a week later vs. Washington State, playing in relief of Moevao by throwing a 39-yard touchdown pass. Canfield finally saw significant action just two weeks later vs. Arizona State after Moevao went down with injury. He threw for a pair of scores and 218 yards to lead the Beavers to a 27-25 victory over the Sun Devils. The characteristically cool and calm Canfield showed his emotional and energetic side in his first significant action since 2007. Canfield would go on to start two games that season vs. UCLA and at Arizona, leading OSU to victories in both. He finished his junior campaign with 703 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions on 56-of-84 attempts (66.66%).
After an emotional 2008, Canfield finally regained his starting job in 2009 due to a shoulder injury to Moevao. He led the Beavers to an 8-4 regular season record and a run at the Pac-10 championship that lasted right up until the season finale vs. in-state rival Oregon. Their success earned the Beavers a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl, as he closed out his career with 3,271 yards on 303-of-446 passing (67.94%), including 21 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Canfield joined Florida’s Tim Tebow as the left-handed quarterbacks that tried to impress scouts at the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl.
CAREER NOTES
In 35 games at Oregon State, Canfield started 24 contests, hitting on 552-of-861 passes (64.11%) for 5,970 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions, adding three scores on 93 carries for minus 313 rushing yards…Shattered the Oregon State season-record for pass completion percentage of 60.6% set by Matt Moore in 2006, hitting 67.93% of his attempts in 2009…His 3,272 passing yards and 21 touchdowns in 2009 were good enough for fourth place on both of OSU’s season-record lists behind Anderson (4,058 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2003, 3,615 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2004, 3,313 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2002)…Canfield’s 38 touchdown passes and 5,970 yards rank fourth on Oregon State’s career-record lists behind Erik Wilhelm (9,383 yards with 52 touchdowns from 1985-88), Jonathan Smith (9,680 yards with 55 TDs from 1998-2001), and Anderson (11,249 yards with 79 touchdowns from 2001-04)…His 303 completions in 2009 are an Oregon State record, surpassing the previous mark of 283 set by Wilhelm in 1986…His 353 passing yards vs. Idaho State (9/15/2007) tied for 19th on the school’s game-record chart…His 87-yard touchdown pass to James Rodgers vs. Portland State (9/5/2009) ranks as the sixth longest pass play in OSU history…His 75-yard pass to Rodgers vs. UCLA (11/8/2008) tied as the 17th longest pass play in OSU annals…Canfield’s 10 touchdown passes to James Rodgers ranks the pair fourth all-time in OSU history for a QB-to-WR touchdown combination behind Wilhelm to Robb Thomas (17), Anderson to James Newson (15), Anderson to Mike Hass (14).
2009 SEASON
All Pacific-10 Conference first-team choice…Elected team co-captain…Started thirteen games including the Las Vegas Bowl, leading the team to an 8-5 record (6-3 conference) and fourth-place finish in the Pac-10…Completed 303 of 446 attempts (67.93%) for 3,272 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions…Scored twice on 48 carries for minus 160 yards (-3.33 ypc)…Surpassed the previous school record for completion percentage (60.6% by Moore in 2006) by hitting 67.93% of his passes…His 3,272 yards ranks fourth all-time in OSU history for a single-season behind Anderson (4,058 in 2003, 3,615 in 2004, 3,313 in 2002)…His 21 touchdown passes also ranks fourth in OSU history for a single-season behind Anderson (29 in 2004, 25 in 2002, 25 in 2003)… 162 of his 303 pass completions (53.46%) went for first-downs, with 60 of those converting third-down attempts…105 of his pass completions (34.65%) were completed for a gain of 10-19 yards, and 41 (13.53%) went for 20 or more yards…Plays resulted in either a sack, pass break-up, or interception on 78 of his 446 pass attempts (17.48%)…45 of 446 pass attempts were deflected by the opposition (10.08%)…Averaged 251.6 passing yards per game, tops in the Pac-10 Conference…Ranked second in the conference in pass efficiency at 141.9…Ranked fourth in the conference in average total offense per game at 239.3…On 494 plays, Canfield amassed 3,111 total yards of offense…Engineered 67 scoring drives for OSU, with 46 going for touchdowns and 21 for field goals..
2008 SEASON
Missed nearly all of practice in August and the first few weeks of the season while rehabilitating from a left shoulder (throwing shoulder) injury suffered at USC in ’07 – cleared to play for the first time at Utah (10/02), although he wouldn’t see action until the October 11th clash vs. Washington State…Started two games for the season, vs. UCLA and Arizona, and played a majority of the Arizona State game due to a Moevao injury – all victories…Completed 66.67% of his pass attempts (56-of-84) and had a pass efficiency of 155.78 (would have been second in the Pac-10 behind USC’s Mark Sanchez, but he did not have enough attempts to qualify)…Finished with 703 aerial yards that included six touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
2007 SEASON
Sean started the first nine games becoming team’s youngest starting quarterback at OSU since current Anderson in 2002, Canfield connected on 165-of-286 passes (57.69%) for 1,661 yards, nine touchdowns and 15 interceptions…His 353 passing yards vs. Idaho State was the 12th-highest total in school history…Returned to action in the Emerald Bowl in emergency after Moevao was hurt in the first quarter, tossing a touchdown pass to Rodgers.
2006 SEASON
Played in eight games, all in reserve, as he accounted for 335 yards and two touchdowns (Eastern Washington) while completing 28-of-45 attempts (62.22%)…Played in the first half at Washington and Arizona State, but otherwise saw second half action in the rest of the games.
2005 SEASON
Redshirted as a freshman…Entered OSU for spring term after graduating early from Carlsbad High spending the season competing on the scout team.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.96 in the 40-yard dash…1.71 10-yard dash…2.86 20-yard dash…4.59 20-yard shuttle… 12.87 60-yard shuttle…7.51 three-cone drill…29.5-inch vertical jump…8.16 figure-eight drill…12.31 angle drive…250-pound bench press…31 5/8-inch arm length…9-inch hands…Throws left-handed.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Carlsbad (Carlsbad, Cal.) High School, starting in each of his three varsity seasons…Led the team to a three-year mark of 24-9…Earned All-Avocado League honors and the league’s Offensive Player of the Year Award three times…Also a three-time All-State selection…Second-team All-CIF San Diego Section as a senior after throwing for 1,691 yards (119-of-214) and thirteen touchdowns…Hit on 152-of-266 tosses for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior…Led Carlsbad to the San Diego Section title during his sophomore season, throwing for 1,725 yards (105-of-174) and 17 touchdowns…ESPN.com rated him the 16th-best quarterback in the nation in its December 2004 list…Participated in the EA Sports Elite 11 quarterback workout.
PERSONAL
Philosophy major…San Diego Tribune Scholar-Athlete Award recipient for 2004-2005… Son of Jill Ganey and Daniel Canfield…Father is a photographer and mother is a sales representative…Right-handed in everything, except when playing ping pong and throwing the football…Resides in Carlsbad, California
New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Monday the 14 undrafted rookie free agents that have agreed to terms with the team following the conclusion of the NFL Draft. Joining the Saints will be LBs Jason Beauchamp and Harry Coleman, WR Chris Bell, RBs Carlos Brown, Christian Ducré and Chris Ivory, Gs Brandon Carter and Joe Tonga, DEs Junior Galette and Brandon Sharpe, LS Clint Gresham, safety Ryan Hamilton, DT Jay Ross and CB Marcell Young.
The following is an outline of the 14 players who – along with the club’s six draft choices and other tryout players – will be coming to New Orleans to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp, scheduled to take place May 7-9.
Jason Beauchamp – Linebacker, UNLV (6-3, 244): Beauchamp is an athletic linebacker who was the Rebels’ leading tackler in both his junior and senior seasons, playing 48 games with 37 starts for UNLV and tallying 334 tackles, with 26 of those coming for losses including 13 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. The San Diego native was a three-year starter and was named honorable mention all-Mountain West Conference in 2009 after earning second-team honors the prior year, posting 95 tackles with a career-best 6½ sacks as a senior.
Chris Bell – Wide Receiver, Norfolk State (6-2, 211): Bell played two seasons at Penn State, catching 12 passes for 209 yards, prior to returning to his native Norfolk, Va., where he led the Spartans with 51 catches for 958 yards and 13 touchdowns in his lone season at Norfolk State. Bell led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in receiving yards and touchdowns and was named first-team all-MEAC before declaring for the NFL draft with a year of eligibility remaining.
Carlos Brown – Running Back, Michigan (6-0, 212): Brown was a four-year letterman for the Wolverines, playing in 30 games with 12 starts over his collegiate career. The Franklin, Ga. native totaled 1,025 yards on 201 carries with nine touchdowns for his career, caught 16 passes for 145 yards and a score and also averaged 20.3 yards on 19 kickoff returns. Brown took over the starting running back job as a senior and led Michigan with a career-best 480 rushing yards on 79 carries (5.9 avg.) with four touchdowns and added 10 catches for 122 yards and a score.
Brandon Carter – Guard, Texas Tech (6-6, 319): Carter started for three seasons for the Red Raiders, opening 40 of the 49 games he played during his collegiate career. The native of Longview, Texas was selected first-team All-Big XII as a senior in 2009 after receiving honorable mention all-conference honors in each of his sophomore and junior seasons.
Harry Coleman – Linebacker, LSU (6-2, 212): Coleman was a two-year starter for the Tigers, moving from strong safety to linebacker in between his junior and senior seasons and closed his career with 183 tackles, four sacks, 11 pass defenses, four fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries in 52 games, starting the final 26 of them. The Baldwin, La. native was named LSU’s Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2009, posting career-highs with 82 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles.
Christian Ducré – Running Back, Mississippi State (5-11, 225): Ducré, a native of Lacombe, La. and a graduate of Mandeville’s Fontaineblue HS, played in 37 games for Mississippi State over four seasons, rushing for 972 yards on 49 carries with seven touchdowns and catching 39 passes for 346 yards and two more scores. He spent a redshirt season at Tulane before transferring to MSU and had his biggest statistical season as a sophomore in 2007, gaining 487 yards with three touchdowns for the Bulldogs.
Junior Galette – Defensive End, Stillman (6-2, 258): Galette was a three-year letter-winner at Temple before transferring to Stillman College prior to his senior season. The Spring Valley, N.Y. native played 33 games for Temple, making 80 tackles with 16 sacks and three forced fumbles. In his lone season at Stillman, Galette made 56 tackles and notched 9½ sacks, earning first-team All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors and being named a second-team Division II All-American.
Clint Gresham – Long Snapper, TCU (6-3, 238): Gresham, a Corpus Christi, Texas native, was the only long snapper invited to the NFL Scouting Combine after a solid career for the Horned Frogs, playing in 38 games over three seasons and recording eight tackles on special teams. The long snapper spent his freshman season at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to TCU.
Ryan Hamilton – Safety, Vanderbilt (6-1, 206): Hamilton was a four-year starter for the Commodores, playing both free and strong safety over his 39-game career (36 starts) that saw him total 222 tackles, five interceptions, two sacks, three forced fumbles and seven pass defenses. Had his best season as a junior in 2008, making 104 tackles with four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown and three fumble recoveries. The Wycombe, Pa. native had his senior season cut short after just two games after suffering a torn pectoral muscle.
Chris Ivory – Running Back, Tiffin (6-0, 222): Ivory played three seasons at Washington State, gaining 534 yards on 91 carries with four touchdowns in 22 games for the Cougars in an injury-shortened career. The Longview, Texas native also averaged 22.8 yards on 23 kickoff returns for WSU before transferring to Division II Tiffin, where he played in five games and rushed for 223 yards on 39 attempts.
Jay Ross – Defensive Tackle, East Carolina (6-3, 302): Ross was a three-year starter on the Pirates’ defensive line, opening 42 games of the 52 he played for East Carolina, three times earning honorable mention All-Conference USA honors. The Wilmington, N.C. native totaled 140 tackles over his four seasons, 25 of them behind the line of scrimmage including eight sacks and added two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a TD.
Brandon Sharpe – Defensive End, Texas Tech (6-2, 254): Sharpe played in 23 games at Texas Tech over three seasons after spending a year at Fresno City College. The Lyons, Ga. native set a school record with 15 sacks as a senior in 2009, earning first-team All-Big XII honors as he started 12 games and totaled 36 tackles (20 of them coming behind the line of scrimmage), with five pass defenses, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. For his Red Raider career, Sharpe totaled 41 tackles with 16 sacks.
Joe Tonga – Guard, Indiana (Pa.) (6-4, 313): Tonga played his senior season at Division II Indiana (Pa.) University and started nine games on the offensive line for the Crimson Hawks. The Taylorsville, Utah native played one season at Florida State in 2008, playing in 11 games after two standout seasons at Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) Community College, where he earned all-conference honors.
Marcell Young – Cornerback, Jackson State (6-0, 183): Young played in 21 games over two seasons for Jackson State in his hometown of Jackson, Miss., making 49 tackles with two interceptions, five pass defenses and two interceptions. Prior to transferring to JSU, Young played two seasons at Hinds (Miss.) Community College where he was selected to play in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game.
What’s the best thing about being a video game quarterback as opposed to playing the position in real life?
Nobody better to ask than “Madden NFL 11″ cover boy and Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees.
“No pain,” Brees says with a laugh. “I’m not worried about getting hit in ‘Madden.’ It’s a little different when you’re out there for real and you have to be aware of who is trying to knock your head off. If I get hit in the game, all that happens is my controller shakes.”
But there are some things Brees loves about the real NFL that he thinks can never be captured in virtual form.
“I think the atmosphere of a game, where you step out on the field and you hear the crowd noise, is really special,” Brees says. “Then when you throw a touchdown and run into that end zone and jump on a teammate … that interaction and that atmosphere is obviously something where you have to be there to feel.
“But to me, being in ‘Madden’ is just another way to connect with the fans. It helps educates the fans about the plays, the players, the teams. I have a Wii, and when my son gets older, it’s going to be fun to be able to play the game together. I have a feeling he’s going to be a gamer pretty soon.”