Oct. 25, 2007

By Ed Staton
Bayou Buzz

Punt returner Michael Lewis said he hopes "to bust one" against the Saints on Sunday in Monster Park.

The Beer Man is now 35 and happy to still be playing football after overcoming knee surgery that ended his Saints career.

"When you're playing against your former team, of course I want to bust one on them," Lewis told the Bay Area media. "I didn't like the way it ended in New Orleans. I know I have a lot of football left in me. I just got caught up in a situation where they were going in a different direction."

49ers coach Mike Nolan said he likes the job Lewis is doing. He joined the 49ers on Sept. 25 and has returned 13 punts an average of 7.4 yards. He has called for a fair catch just once, an indication of his commitment to gaining yards. Although he hasn't broken a return longer than 23 yards, Nolan credited Lewis with giving the offense good field position to start drives.

"He's a pro," said the coach. "He prepares well. I like his work ethic. He adds chemistry. He's quality at doing his job. I'm please he's on the roster."

49ers leading rusher Frank Gore didn't practice on Wednesday and is listed as probable for the Saints game. Gore suffered a ankle sprain against the Giants last week.

Quarterback Alex Smith (separated shoulder) worked out on Wednesday and said he's ready to play on Sunday.

The 49ers have struggled to establish offensive playmakers beyond Gore and one that they lost in free agency, tight end Eric Johnson, talked to the Bay Area media with a conference call on Wednesday. Johnson has fit in well with the Saints' offense. He has 28 pass catches, which would lead the 49ers, but is second with the Saints to Reggie Bush's 36. At his current pace, Bush has a chance to catch 100 passes this season.

"I just wanted to come in to New Orleans and get involved in their offense," Johnson told the media. "I saw good potential playing with the Saints. Drew Brees is a guy that really knows how to find his receivers. As I'm in New Orleans longer, I think we'll build a good chemistry. Things will get better from there."

Johnson, who had 34 catches as a top third-down option with the 49ers last season, said knew he would have been the backup to Vernon Davis had he stayed in San Francisco and he wanted to go to a team where he would have a chance to start. He said he was happy playing with the Saints.

"When you start for a while and then you're not playing as much, it's tough," said Johnson. He missed two seasons with injuries around a 2004 season in which he led the 49ers with 82 catches. "It's been good in New Orleans."

During his six seasons with the 49ers, Johnson was nicknamed "Bill's son." He got the moniker after the late Bill Walsh convinced him the former Yale wide receiver could make the transition to tight end in the NFL Johnson kept after former general manager Terry Donahue to draft him. The 49ers finally drafted Johnson in the seventh round.

Saints defensive tackle Brian Young and center Jeff Faine missed practice on Wednesday. Both are listed as "day to day," but Faine appears to be more of a long shot to play on Sunday because of an injury to his left pectoral muscle. If the muscle is torn, Faine could be out for several weeks.

Cornerback Jason David (broken forearm) is expected back for Sunday. He missed four weeks with the injury, but practiced on Wednesday. He or backup Jason Craft will start against the 49ers.

Here's a prayer for the Saints Archbishop Philip Hannan wrote in 1968, their second year:

God, we ask your blessing upon all who participate in this event, and all who have supported our Saints. Our heavenly father, who has instructed us that the "saints by faith conquered kingdoms and overcame lions", grant our Saints an increase of faith and strength so that they will not only overcome the Lions, but also the Bears, the Rams, the Giants, and even those awesome people from Green Bay,

May they continue to tame the Redskins and fetter the Falcons as well as the Eagles. Give to owners and coaches the continued ability to be as wise as serpents and simple as doves, so that no good talent will dodge our draft. Grant to our fans perseverance in their devotion and unlimited lung power, tempered with a sense of charity to all, including the referees

May our "Bedlam Bowl" be a source of good friendship and may the "Saints Come Marching In" be a victory march for all, now and eternity.

WAVE HAS NO. 1 RUSHER: Tulane was expected to be unpredictable this season, but they were not expected to have the No. 1 rusher in college football's 1-A's 119 programs.

The Green Wave had a new coach in Bob Toledo and a new offensive scheme and one of Conference USA's best running backs in Matt Forté. This week, Forte leads the nation at 180.4 yards per game, having rushed for more than 200 yards in four of TU's past five games. Last Saturday, he ran for 342 yards against SMU, breaking his own TU and conference records. He scored four times, including a career-long 77-yard run.

Forté had 303 yards against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 22.

"I said that he's a great player," said Toledo, former head coach at UCLA. "I reserve that term for a few people, and he's a great player.

"You know all his stats, but he's No. 1 in the nation in rushing, he's No. 2 in all-purpose yards and he's our whole offense right now."

Forté was named Walter Camp player of the week and C-USA offensive player of the week, but didn't earn Louisiana player of the week. LSU quarterback Matt Flynn earned that honor..

"So what does that tell you," said Toledo. Tulane is in a mid-major conference.

Tulane (2-5, 1-2 in C-USA) not only snapped a three game skid with the 41.34 overtime win at SMU, but an eight-game C-USA road losing streak.

The Wave is host to Memphis (3-4, 2-1) on Saturday and a one-point favorite.

"Forté's supposed to be 220, 225 pounds, but he's really fast said Memphis coach Tommy West. "I haven't seen anybody catch him from behind.

"You don't run for 300-plus yards by accident. It doesn't happen. That's unbelievable."

Off the typewriter...

The Senior Bowl, one of the more important pre-draft scouting events, is still three months away, but that bowl's organizers are already hard at work. The top senior passers including Brian Brohm of Louisville, Matt Ryan of Boston College, Andre Woodson of Kentucky and Colt Brennan of Hawaii have been invited to the Mobile game next January...Fox NFL analyst Howie Long's son Chris is one of the top defensive ends in college football. He plays for Virginia and should he the first defensive end picked in the NFL draft.