Roman Harper hopes he can improve the air quality in the New Orleans Saints locker room this season -- metaphorically speaking, that is.The younger guys, they need to feel success, they need to know what it smells like, Harper said, alluding to the mantra, Smell greatness, from New Orleans 2009 championship season.The Saints -- who open training camp in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on July 27 -- havent entirely stunk up the Superdome in recent seasons; theyve been competitive in many games.But in going 7-9 in both 2014 and 15, theyve fallen far short of the standard they set when they made the playoffs four times in five seasons from 2009 to 2013. Harper, entering his 11th NFL season, was part of all of those playoff teams before leaving in free agency for Carolina, which made the playoffs in 2014 and advanced to the Super Bowl last season.Some of New Orleans roster moves this offseason, such bringing back Harper and acquiring eighth-year middle linebacker James Laurinaitis from the Rams in free agency, were made with an eye toward finding a better balance of young talent and veteran leadership -- particularly on a defense that has ranked second-to-last in the NFL the past two seasons.When New Orleans concluded offseason workouts this summer, its most accomplished players sounded confident that the Saints were developing the kind of cohesion that can make the difference between climbing into the playoff picture and languishing in mediocrity.Everybody is talented, so what separates you? quarterback Drew Brees asked rhetorically. Its discipline. It is work ethic. It is togetherness. It is competitiveness. It is toughness. I feel like we have all that with the guys, both veteran and young.Here are some things to watch as the Saints assemble for camp at the Greenbrier Resort:DETERMINED DREW: Brees is in the last year of a five-year, $100 million contract and wants an extension, but has asserted that his contract status wont affect his performance. History backs him up. The previous time Brees went into the final year of a contract was 2011, when he passed for what was then an NFL-record 5,476 yards, as well as 46 touchdowns. And while Brees is getting older, he led the NFL in yards passing last season with 4,870 -- down from his career high, certainly, but still elite.Drews been in this situation before, Saints coach Sean Payton said. I dont envision it to be a distraction.ALLENS TIME: If defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can ensure the right number of players are on the field every play and are lined up properly, hell have fixed two problems Payton cited with the unit a year ago. Allen, who took over New Orleans defense after coordinator Rob Ryans firing in the second half of last season, is coming off his first full offseason in charge and has sought to adjust New Orleans scheme to promote better organization and suit the strengths of his players.Youre able to instill your scheme and youre able to instill your culture, Allen said. You are not quite as able to do that when you take over in the middle of a season. Like anything else, were starting from ground zero. Were going to be judged on what we do from this point forward.PEATS PERFORMANCE: Payton has said he envisions 2015 top draft pick Andrus Peat as a starter on the offensive line this season. The question is whether its at tackle, where he played at Stanford, or at guard, where the Saints need someone to step in for Jahri Evans, who was released during the offseason. The Saints have starting left tackle Terron Armstead and starting right tackle Zach Strief back this season. So Payton aims to determine whether starting Peat over Strief at right tackle makes more sense than starting Peat ahead of one of the young, relatively unproven linemen competing to step in at guard.YOUNG DEFENDERS: The Saints are eager to see if players from the past two draft classes can make regular contributions on a defense that needs help. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is competing for snaps after being drafted 12th overall this spring. Meanwhile, two draft choices from last year -- cornerback P.J. Williams and pass-rushing outside linebacker Davis Tull -- are both on track to make their NFL debuts after spending last season on injured reserve.CATCHING ON: Rookie receiver Michael Thomas showed promise in offseason workouts and could compete for a starting job that opened up with the release of franchise career receiving leader Marques Colston last winter.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Adidas Superstar Baratas . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Adidas Superstar España . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.baratasadidassuperstar.es/ . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Adidas Superstar Baratas España . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. Adidas Superstar Baratas Online . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Alex Bowman still has no ride for next season. On a weekend when the championship contenders are making a bid for the title race, Bowman made a case for a full-time job.Bowman won his first career pole Friday with a strong run at Phoenix International Raceway. Bowman, the replacement driver for concussed Dale Earnhardt Jr., turned a lap at 140.521 mph to earn the top starting spot.Im still waiting for the right opportunity to come along, Bowman said. Theres nothing that has really fit that has come along. Ill still probably have my day job at Hendrick Motorsports driving the simulator. Well go from there.Bowman, who is from Tucson, ran Earnhardts car to the top of the leaderboard with NASCARs most popular driver in attendance.This is his hometown, kind of, so its awesome that all his friends are around to see him do this, Earnhardt said. This is great for his career; this is exactly what we were hoping to happen for him. Hopefully, he can put it together on Sunday.Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott qualified second and third as Chevrolets swept the top three. They also shut out the championship contenders from the top of the scoring pylon.Only Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards have spots locked down for next weeks season finale, and six drivers are vying for the remaining two slots.Of those trying to race their way into the final four, Joey Logano qualified fourth and was followed by Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.We are in good position right now, said Logano. If that was the end of the race we would move on, I think. We just have to keep looking ahead and maake sure we keep the big picture in mind.ddddddddddddHamlin, who is racing against three of his teammates for a spot at Homestead-Miami Speedway, was pleased with his fifth-place qualifying lap.Four cars stand in my way. Just four, its not that big of a deal, Hamlin said.Harvick is the favorite to win Sunday and has won six of his last eight races at Phoenix. When asked why hes so good at Phoenix, Harvick joked that he found a magic wand at Disney that he waves over PIR.His mood was light considering hes in a must-win situation, and the law of averages predicts he cant beat 39 other drivers at Phoenix time and time again. But Harvick noted he didnt win last Novembers race and didnt appear to be the least bit concerned about the odds. He also wasnt worried about any potential payback from Austin Dillon , the driver Harvick accidentally wrecked last week.Everybody is in the same position we are, he said. If somebody wins, theres only going to be one points guy that goes through. You need to pretend like you are in a must-win situation if you want to plan on going to Homestead.The only Chase drivers not to make it into the final round were Johnson and defending series champion Kyle Busch. Johnson already has a spot clinched in next weeks finale, but Busch will start 19th on Sunday.Martin Truex Jr. wrecked during practice and was forced into his backup car. But it couldnt pass inspection before qualifying began and Truex will start last on Sunday. ' ' '