ORLANDO, Fla. — As things stood when Saints coach Sean Payton met with media at the annual NFL owners meeting Wednesday, the team’s plan at the center position was in no way finalized.
That’s chiefly because Brian de la Puente — the Saints’ starting center the previous three seasons — remained a free agent, and he was reportedly mulling his possibilities in New Orleans, Washington and possibly elsewhere.
However, speaking at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes hotel in Orlando, Payton did sound sure about at least one thing on the issue: Tim Lelito, who is heading into his second year after starting two games at right guard for the Saints in 2013, will enter training camp with a shot to earn the first-string job at center.