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Status quo Williams still listed as doubtful for Vikings game
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- New Orleans running back Ricky Williams is doubtful for the Saints' second playoff game Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings. Williams broke a bone in his ankle in the Nov. 12 game against the Carolina Panthers and has not played since. Head coach Jim Haslett had hoped Williams might be available for the playoffs, but said on Monday he was not optimistic for Saturday's game. "He's had a boot on for the last three days," Haslett said. Williams tried to practice last week, but was having pain and tendinitis in the ankle. "Ricky is doing exactly what he's been doing for a month," Haslett said. "He might run scout team Tuesday. It's a day-to-day thing." Another big blow to the Saints running game has been the loss of full back Terrell Smith, who missed the final two regular season games and last weekend's playoff game with bulging discs in his back. Although the Saints have not had a 100-yard rusher since Williams went down, the running game remained productive under what Haslett called his running game by committee, until Smith went out. Wide receiver Joe Horn has a sprained foot and was not expected to practice on Tuesday. Horn left the stadium on crutches on Saturday. Robert Wilson, who caught three passes for 412 yards and a touchdown Saturday, has a broken right thumb but will play. Wide receiver Keith Poole, who missed last week after being knocked out during the game the week before, was expected to return to practice this week. Norman the handy manNo one has been more excited about the Saints playoff run than defensive lineman Norman Hand. Hand, the 325-pound run stuffer for the Saints, wasn't even pulled consistently on third downs against the Rams, and he normally is. "We didn't bring Norman in to get stats," Haslett said. "We brought Norman in to plug the hole, stop the run, push the pocket, and he did all of that. We left him in on third down because he was just bull-rushing the guy over him into the quarterback. Plus he complained all week that he wanted to rush the quarterback. I don't argue with him. He's a lot bigger than me." Saints not surprised to be underdogsThe Saints victory against the Rams in the first round of the playoffs apparently did not impress the oddsmakers. New Orleans was an eight-point underdog to the Vikings on Monday. "It's been that way all year," Haslett said. "It doesn't matter much. I think our team likes that."
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