Rick Mueller, the New Orleans Saints director of player personnel, interviewed with the Houston Texans on Tuesday for their general manager opening. Mueller is the third candidate to interview for the job vacated by Charley Casserly, who resigned to pursue a job with the NFL. Mueller follows Denver assistant general manager Rick Smith and Green Bay director of pro personnel Reggie McKenzie.

Drew Brees was not scared away from signing with the Saints because of the devastation done to New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. "If anything, it was motivation to sign," Brees said by phone from New Orleans. "Obviously, it is a great challenge, starting over as a city and organization because of everything that has happened over the last year. The city is in a rebuilding phase, but I don't think the people have lost any of their energy or strength of character."

Former NFL fullback Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, who played 11 seasons in the league with five different franchises, died Saturday after a seven-year battle with a recurring brain tumor. Heyward, who retired from the league following the 1998 season, was 39.

After league officials denied prospective Saints running back Reggie Bush from wearing the number '5' in the NFL, Bush has decided on wearing number '25' Bush will get the number from Saints running back Fred McAfee.

Wide receiver Derrius Thompson signed with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday. His contract was terminated by the Dolphins last preseason after being placed on injured reserve. Thompson, who signed a one-year minimum deal, impressed Saints officials during a tryout at last week's rookie minicamp.

Atlanta general manager Rich McKay, co-chairman of the competition committee, said Tuesday that the committee had recommended against Reggie Bush?s request for his college number. Bush wore number five for the University of Southern California, as well as for Helix High School outside San Diego. ?Nobody is comfortable that an exception be made to the policy and no one is confident that there will ever be a change,? McKay said at the NFL owners meetings, adding that it might come up again, but certainly not until after the 2006 season has started. ?Obviously, I am disappointed by today?s decision but I respect the NFL Competition Committee?s judgment,? Bush said. ?The No. 5 is special to me, but with the proceeds from the jersey sales I was also trying to do something special for the city of New Orleans and the entire region. ?We have not decided which number I will wear for this coming season, but that decision will come soon.?

Although he reiterated his intention to be in his first NFL training camp on time, Saints first-round draft choice and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush delivered a not-so-subtle message to Saints officials over the weekend. Bush told ESPN.com, "My goal is to be in there and to start doing my part to bring a Super Bowl championship to New Orleans. That's what I want. But I have an agent and I have faith in Joel [Segal] to handle that end of things for me. ? [And] he knows we have to have a fair offer, one that meets our expectations."

The New Orleans Saints have set a franchise record for season-ticket sales, four months before making their post-Hurricane Katrina return to the Superdome. The Saints, who spent last season in San Antonio after Katrina flooded the city and severely damaged the Superdome, have sold 54,969 season tickets, surpassing the previous record of 53,728 set in August 2003. Owner Tom Benson said Wednesday that the Saints received "a spike" in ticket sales after drafting Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush last month, but they were already on a record pace.

The N.F.L. is deciding whether the number system is necessary, and if not, to what extent players should be free to choose their numbers. Next week, the eight-member competition committee will probably recommend that the team owners adopt a more flexible system starting in 2007 ? one that allows running backs and receivers to choose a number from 1 to 49. At least 24 of the league's 32 teams would have to approve a revision.

Rookie Reggie Bush has instructed his agent to avoid a New Orleans Saints training camp holdout at all costs. "I told my agent I want to be in here in camp on time ... whatever it takes, I want to be in camp on time," he said Saturday at the team's minicamp. "I think it is important to start off on a good foot and a good note, not only with the team but the city." Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said negotiations are in the early stages with Bush. "We're encouraged he feels that way, but we haven't really started talking," Loomis said.