With the NFL season opener looming five days away for the New Orleans Saints, Coach Sean Payton had some succinct wisdom for his newer players.

One of them, former Heisman Trophy running back Mark Ingram, got an excellent taste of that Sunday, Payton said. While speaking to the back the Saints made their second pick of the first round in the 2011 draft, Payton contrasted what Ingram's alma mater, Alabama, just had in its season opener Saturday vs. what the Saints will have on the road in Green Bay against the Packers on Thursday.

"I told him, 'We're not playing Kent State this weekend. We don't get a couple of warmups,'" Payton related.

Overcoming a rash of turnovers in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide eked out a 48-7 victory last Saturday over the visiting Kent State Golden Flashes.