Hodson, Nussmeier In New Orleans Battle Quarterbacks Have Chance To Shine Sunday Against Hawks
This time last year Tommy Hodson was a lobbyist at the Louisiana state capital. Someday he’d like to be a politician.
Right now he’d like to be elected to the No. 2 quarterback spot on the New Orleans Saints, who play host to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Hodson, a popular former LSU quarterback who played in 32 games with the New England Patriots - including 12 starts - after they made him a No. 3 draft pick in 1990, is battling former University of Idaho standout Doug Nussmeier for the backup spot behind Jim Everett.
“I’m just concentrating on my game,” Hodson said. “I need to make sure I know the system and can run it and the depth chart will work itself out.”
Hodson sat out last season after being cut by Miami in training camp. He signed with Dallas late in the season, but was inactive for his only game on the roster and was released the next week.
“Obviously, I would rather have been in the league last year, but it did give me a chance to work out and get a little stronger and bigger,” Hodson said. “I think it helped my throwing, too. I tried to use that time to get better.”
He also used the time to get some political experience. Hodson would like to run for federal office someday. That’s after a successful career in the NFL, he hopes.
In the Saints’ first two preseason losses, Everett started and Hodson and Nussmeier split the remaining three quarters.
In the 27-17 loss to Green Bay, Hodson worked last and completed 5 of 12 for 56 yards and no touchdowns. He was intercepted twice. Nussmeier was 4 for 6 for 30 yards a touchdown and two interceptions.
In the 14-13 loss to the Giants, Hodson followed Everett and, although he had a better statistical game, Nussmeier led a last-minute Saints rally that ended when Cary Blanchard’s 52-yard field goal fell short.
“It’s still a very tight race there,” Saints coach Jim Mora said. “Neither guy has pulled ahead.”
Against Seattle, Hodson will again follow Everett and Nussmeier.
All three Saints quarterbacks can expect to be tested by Seattle’s defense, designed to take advantage of the quickness of tackles Cortez Kennedy and Sam Adams.
Seahawks notes
Wide receiver Joey Galloway, the team’s first-round choice, was one of the stars of the annual rookie show with his portrayal of defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy. Galloway stuffed pillows and towels into a No. 96 uniform and walked around like the Tez. “He just kinda smiled and nodded his head,” Galloway said of Kennedy’s reaction. Kicker Judd Davis cracked up the veterans by wearing a shaky wig in an attempt to impersonate tight end Paul Green. … During a 2-minute drill Friday, Kennedy started calling plays to quarterback John Friesz through the headset communication system. Asked which plays Tez called, quarterback Rick Mirer said, “Fat-(Butt) Left.” … Kicker Todd Peterson will not only handle the first-half kicking but he will do some key kicking in the second half. That indicates he’s pretty well beaten out Davis for the job. … Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson isn’t sure whether wide receiver Brian Blades (back) and Adams (foot) will play. Green will sit out with back problems. Eugene Robinson was given clearance to play.