Veteran Alex Smith is supportive of Colin Kaepernick's success, even if he takes Smith's job as starting QB for the 49ers.

Smith plans to fight for his job when healthy, and he had yet to be medically cleared as of Wednesday. Yet head coach Jim Harbaugh said that once Smith is available, the starting QB for the team could change week to week, and even during the course of a game.

Harbaugh gave no indication when he would select his No. 1 for Sunday's game against the Saints in New Orleans.

The New Orleans Saints' defense has been much improved during their winning surge and Malcolm Jenkins sees them as attacking more instead of being reactive.

"I think as of late we've just gotten to the point where it's just like, 'I know what I have, but I also know how to play football,'" Jenkins explained. "And I think guys have really leaned on their instincts to play within the scheme. And with doing that, we've been able to start playing a lot faster. And even if we do make a mistake here or there, our speed or the disruption we're causing allows somebody else to clean up our mistake."

The New Orleans Saints have 15 players scheduled to carry cap numbers of $3 million or more in 2013.

The Saints have 28 percent of their 53-man roster taking up 87 percent of the cap room, which would mean they can only reshape their roster via the draft.

The Atlanta Falcons became the final team in the NFL to lose during the 2012 season, dropping a 31-27 decision to the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints had a +7.4 advantage in The Trench Counter, averaging twice as many yards per rush and 9.1 yards per pass. The Saints had a -2 deficit in Total Rushes/Completions.

Drew Brees went 21-for-32 for 298 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Jimmy Graham exploded for 146 yards on seven receptions and two touchdowns.

Chris Ivory rushed seven times for 72 yards and a touchdown.

Matt Yrany threw for 411 yards on 52 attempts with three touchdowns and one interception. Tony Gonzalez caught 11 balls for 122 yards and two touchdowns while Roddy White had 114 yards.

Michael Turner rushed for just 15 yards on 13 carries.

Sean Payton negotiated an out in his contract with the New Orleans Saints if Mickey Loomis left the club in order to protect himself against Rita Benson LeBlanc, according to a source.

Payton wanted Loomis to remain as a buffer in dealing with LeBlanc, who is the daughter of Tom Benson.

The New Orleans Saints improved to 3-5 with a 28-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Saints had a +2.5 advantage in The Trench Counter, outgaining the Eagles by a 1.1 margin. The Eagles had a +5 edge in Total Rushes/Completions.

Drew Brees went 21-for-27 for 239 yards and a two touchdowns. Jimmy Graham caught eight balls for 72 yards and a touchdown.

The Saints also featured an effective running game, running a total of 25 times for 140 yards (5.6 average).

Michael Vick went 22-for-41 for 272 yards and one touchdown, but he threw a 99-yard pick-six from the Saints' goalline in the first quarter.

Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints can begin negotiating a new contract, according to a source.

The NFL voided Payton's contract extension that would have kept him with the Saints through 2015.

Payton hasn't responded for comment Sunday or Monday on the situation.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports spoke with Payton on Sunday and said that the suspended head coach plans on staying with the Saints.

Payton is expected to become the NFL's highest-paid head coach.

Sean Payton's multi-year contract with the New Orleans Saints has been voided within the past year, according to sources.

When Payton is reinstated by the NFL, he will be free to coach any team.

Payton is expected to become the NFL's most sought-after head coach and speculation has begun that he could end up with the Dallas Cowboys.

Payton confirmed the news, according to FoxSports.

Payton had a clause in his contract that allowed him to walk away from the deal if general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended, fired or left the Saints' organization, according to sources. The NFL believed that the language in Payton's deal would set a bad precedent.

In a statement issued Sunday morning, the NFL said it had "made no determination" on the status of Payton's contract for next year.

"All contracts between clubs and their employees must be approved by the commissioner, and we do not comment on specific terms of individual contracts," the statement said. "Any comment regarding the matter should come from Coach Payton and the Saints."

Many believe Payton's strong relationship with owner Tom Benson will keep him with the Saints.

But Payton has recently gone through a divorce and bought a house in Dallas early last year.

Darren Sproles will miss Monday's game for the New Orleans Saints against the Philadelphia Eagles due to a fractured hand.

Sproles has undergone surgery on the hand and will be reevaluated next week.

Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram will have a bigger role with Sproles out.