The New Orleans Saints are knee-deep in a critical offseason, but they took time on Tuesday to get out into the community for some non-football work.
Players and coaches took to Hollygrove Tuesday morning to help refurbish the Trinity Community Center in conjunction with Rebuilding Together New Orleans and 18th Ward. Fred McAfee, Saints VP of Player Engagement, also helped organize the event.
“Chances to come together as a team are obviously really valuable to us, we have a ton of fun doing that, but even better when you get to reach out to the community," head coach Kellen Moore said. "This is obviously a special community, in our eyes, and so any chance we get to do this we’re always gonna hop on it.”
The team's rookies landed landscaping duty, filling in holes along the property and fixing walkways. Players also applied mulch around trees at the facility, and a large group, including Kellen Moore, repainted the interior of the community center building. The group also assembled new tables and chairs for use within the building.
"We’re all in this thing together at the end of the day," Moore continued. "We’re a part of this community, we need this community on Sundays, and hopefully we can help them along the way as well so we feel very fortunate to be able to do this.”
As far as football is concerned the Saints are running their third set of optional OTAs this week, followed by a mandatory minicamp, then a month off before starting the full training camp in late July.