METAIRIE, La. -- Hardly two years removed from playing college football on a 12-man defence in western Canada, Akiem Hicks is primed to emerge as a full-time starter on an NFL defensive line. Just dont tell him that, because he wont even admit to being encouraged by the fact that he played with the starting unit in the New Orleans Saints preseason opener and is regularly practicing with the first team. "Not yet, because theres so much more to go," said Hicks said, referencing a metaphor defensive line coach Bill Johnson uses about each day of good work amounting to nothing more than a bean in a jar, which has to be full to represent a good season. "I dont have enough beans to be encouraged yet." Maybe not, but his effort in practice on Tuesday certainly seemed worthy of another bean. He was a force in 11-on-11 drills, registering what would have been a sack on Drew Brees if he were allowed to touch the quarterback. Later, during a 2-minute drill, he had two more standout moments. First he batted down one of Brees passes, then he perfectly read a screen pass to Darren Sproles, who Hicks wrapped up for a 4-yard loss in a 2-minute drill. The 6-foot-5 Hicks, who said he now weighs about 330 pounds, is currently playing the left defensive end in co-ordinator Rob Ryans new 3-4 defence (three linemen, four linebackers). Last year as a rookie, drafted in the third round out of the University of Regina (Saskatchewan), Hicks played reserve defensive tackle in a 4-3, then made the transition this year to what Johnson calls "the most physical position on our defence." It wasnt clear whether Hicks would emerge as a starter when 2013 training camp opened because the Saints had signed 11-year veteran defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman, who had played the past two seasons in Ryans 3-4 defence in Dallas. Last week, however, Coleman tore a pectoral muscle, which has likely ended his season. Third-year pro Tom Johnson also is in the mix to start at that spot, though he has missed more than a week of practice with a hip injury. Johnson conceded that Hicks is in position to win the starting job, but stressed that three weeks of evaluation remained. "Thing Ive said all along about Hicks is that hes raw but he has a lot of versatility," Johnson said. "I thought our scouting people did a great job watching him in Canada to know." Hicks, who grew up near Sacramento, was recruited by LSU out of the community college ranks, but an NCAA violation related to financial help provided by an assistant coach left him ineligible to play in the United States, hence his move to Canada, where he thrived as a stand-up defensive end. "What was hard was to evaluate him versus the people he was against," Johnson said. "It wasnt like if he had went to LSU and stayed. You could evaluate him against guys who would potentially be in this league. It was like guys that were just little kids and he was obviously dominating up there." Big NFL offensive tackles can find him tough to block as well. "Hes a good athlete that weighs (330 pounds) that moves like hes 300 or 290," said Saints right tackle Zach Strief, who has to block Hicks in practice. "Thats something pretty God-given thats pretty hard to find." NOTES: RB Pierre Thomas (left leg), OLB Martez Wilson (left elbow) and OLB Junior Galette (left leg) all returned to practice from injuries, participating to varying degrees. Thomas did the most, taking part in seven-on-seven drills. Wilson participated in a "walk-through" and Galette mostly watched. ... Courtney Roby, a veteran special teams leader and reserve receiver, needed help off the field after apparently hurting his left foot. Payton said Roby had a toe injury. He did not get more specific. ... Jerry Romig, who has been the public address announcer for Saints home games since 1969, and who also handled P.A. announcing for the first four Super Bowls in New Orleans, said his last game on the job will be this Fridays home preseason game against Oakland. Romig, 83, said his voice is fine but back problems have made it tough to get around. His 57-year-old son, Mark, who will take over, said his father wants him to show his own personality. But Mark Romig added, "My mother told me I have to do it just like my father." Air Jordan 6 Wholesale . Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year. Air Jordan 6 Online Shop . Olsen, who is 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, can play either centre or guard. The 25-year-old Olsen played 16 games and made four starts in 2012 with the New Orleans Saints. http://www.wholesaleairjordan6.com/ . By then it was clear: The 76ers were going to win for the first time in two months, and they were going to do it with ease. The 76ers snapped their NBA record-tying, 26-game losing streak, routing the Detroit Pistons 123-98 on Saturday night to avoid establishing the longest skid in U. Wholesale Jordan 6 Cheap .C. -- Ryan Sproul scored the winner late in double overtime to lift the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 2-1 win over the Abbotsford Heat on Friday in Game 1 of their American Hockey League playoff series. Jordan 6 Clearance . Torres scored the first goal by an English team in the knockout phase of the Champions League this season when he met Cezar Azpilicuetas cutback in the ninth minute of their first leg match in the last 16. But Chelsea failed to make the most of its counterattacks and the Turkish champions equalized in the second half after gaining in confidence and cutting out their defensive mistakes. TORONTO -- Tyler Bigg scored 10 seconds into the first period and Jerry DAmigo added another near the midway mark as the Toronto Marlies edged the streaking San Antonio Rampage 2-1 in American Hockey League action. Entering Saturday, the Rampage had won six straight and earned points in 16 of 17 games while spending the entire month of February on the road due to the Stock and Show Rodeo taking over the AT&T Center in San Antonio. "Statistically, what theyve been able to do on the road since theyve had an event in their building, theyve been fantastic," said Marlies coach Steve Spott. "We knew they were going to be hot. We knew we had to be good defensively today and we were." Bobby Butler had the lone goal for the Rampage at 15:04 of the third. The Marlies (30-17-4) improved to 4-2-0 on their current 10-game home stand, which continues Sunday against the Oklahoma City Barons, and swept the four-game season series with the Rampage (23-22-8). Drew MacIntyre made 22 saves for his league-leading 23rd win of the season. Biggs scored 10 seconds in to the first period, jamming home a loose puck off a scrum in front of Rampage starter Michael Houser for his sixth of the season. "I think its a good story, when you look at the (Jerred) Smithson, Biggs and (Mike) Duco line, youre going head-to-head against Drew Shore, a very good player in this league and the National Hockey League," Spott said.dddddddddddd "To get that early goal, especially from our checking line, I thought that was the bonus goal we were looking for and we were able to hold on for 60 minutes." DAmigo gave the Marlies a 2-0 lead at 10:24 of the opening period, beating Houser glove side for his 14th of the campaign. DAmigo, who was checked on the play and went into the boards heavily, came up favouring his left hand and went directly to the Marlies dressing room, but later returned. "(Spencer) Abbott seems to be finding me on those little breakaways there and Im just skating right into it," said DAmigo, who had his left hand wrapped in ice post-game. "Trying to just get the puck on net someway, somehow and I saw the glove open up and put it in." San Antonio defenceman Alex Petrovic was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for slashing on the play. "He hacked me down and you cant really stop yourself so you try to put your hands up to stop yourself and obviously it didnt work," added DAmigo of the play. Houser, who allowed two goals on nine shots, was replaced by Jacob Markstrom. He finished with 23 saves. Note: The Toronto Maple Leafs assigned forward Peter Holland to the Marlies on Saturday. Spott said Holland would centre the teams top line Sunday. 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