Kromer’s turn

Aaron Kromer began his first day in charge of the New Orleans Saints’ coaching staff on Monday by providing his players with a dose of perspective in Metairie, La.

The images of flooded homes, schools and businesses in the south Louisiana communities hit hardest by Hurricane Isaac last week provided all the material he needed.

“I talked to the team this morning about adversity, and that this isn’t adversity: Having a new coach (in) Game 1, having Joe Vitt during the preseason, having Sean Payton have to leave when he did,” Kromer said. “That’s an opportunity for all of us to step up.

“Adversity is when your house is flooded and you can’t go home,” Kromer continued. “That’s what we talked about … and our guys over time have realized that the fans and the people in this area can always bounce back – and we live by that.”

Kromer will be the figurehead of the coaching staff for the first seven weeks of the regular season, starting with the opener against Washington this Sunday and including the bye week between the fifth and sixth games.

Monday was the first official day of his ascension, and also marked the beginning of suspensions for Vitt (six games), general manager Mickey Loomis (eight games) and defensive end Will Smith (four games) in connection with the NFL’s bounty investigation.

Payton, the Saints’ banished head coach, and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, a former defensive captain, were already serving suspensions running the entire season.

In the meantime, the Saints sound as confident about their chances to contend for a fourth straight playoff appearance as they would if there had never been a bounty probe.

“We’ve established a culture here that everyone has bought into, and when you’ve established a culture, no matter who’s at the top of it, it’s always the same,” said safety Malcolm Jenkins.

Urlacher at practice

Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher returned to practice at Lake Forest, Ill., for the first time since July 31, hoping to play in Sunday’s season opener.

Urlacher did not stop to talk to reporters, but coach Lovie Smith said the eight-time Pro Bowl player looked good considering he had arthroscopic surgery to his left knee Aug. 14.

“He had a good first day back,” Smith said.

Garrard could lose spot

Quarterback David Garrard signed with the Miami Dolphins in March, climbed to No. 1 on the depth chart a month ago and is now in danger of losing his spot on the roster.

Garrard somewhat gingerly returned to practice in Davie, Fla., three weeks after he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery that forced him to miss the entire exhibition season.

The veteran is one of four quarterbacks on the roster, raising questions he’ll be released or traded.

Rookie Ryan Tannehill will start Sunday’s opener at Houston ahead of Matt Moore, who started the final 12 games last year, and Pat Devlin.

Around the league

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey said that Maurice Jones-Drew will rotate in on third-down plays Sunday at Minnesota. The NFL’s leading rusher in 2011 also will “get a series” in place of starter Rashad Jennings, Mularkey added. Jones-Drew ended a 38-day holdout Sunday without a new contract. … Mike Wallace thinks he’s ready to face the Denver Broncos. The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver said there’s no need to hold him back for Sunday’s season opener in Denver despite a lengthy holdout that didn’t end until last week. … Buffalo backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen has accepted a $1 million pay cut, restructuring his contract to improve his chances of staying on the team. Thigpen is competing for the backup spot with Tarvaris Jackson, acquired from Seattle in a trade last week.