"Tonight, Robert Meachem will get a second chance to make a first impression.
Meachem, the Saints' second-year receiver, said he can't wait to take the field in the preseason opener at Arizona, where he finally can put his lost rookie season behind him.
"I don't know how to put it into words. I'm very excited, though. This is going to mean a lot to me," said Meachem, who was the only first-round draft choice in the NFL last year who did not suit up for a regular-season game. "This is a very exciting moment for me. And it's going to be very important, because I want to make plays and show the coaches this is what they drafted as (a) No. 1 pick."
Meachem played in the preseason last year, and he even caught a touchdown pass. But he was gimpy and sluggish after undergoing minor knee surgery earlier in the summer.
He healed as the season went along, but by then it was too late to put him in games, with the Saints still chasing a playoff spot until the final week of the season.
Meachem, however, has had a terrific offseason. He asked veteran receiver David Patten to be his mentor and trainer, and he has been more energized and confident.
"Last year, I can't make any excuses. I had a limp, and I couldn't show what I could do," said Meachem, 6 feet 2, 210 pounds, who was drafted 27th overall from Tennessee. "This year, the limp is gone. I'm 100 percent, and I'm just looking forward to this game.
"Right now my confidence is back. It's sky high. Last year, I wasn't able to run like I wanted to. I wasn't able to come in and out of breaks like I wanted. And this year, I'm coming out of breaks and I'm running past guys, and that's just an enjoyable moment.""
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Meachem eager for game action tonight
Meachem eager for game action tonight
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