With most news from NFL training camps these days concerning holdouts and injuries, the New Orleans Saints received a welcome visitor Saturday.
Free-agent quarterback Bobby Hebert, who led the Oakland Invaders to a second-place finish in the USFL, visited the Saints training camp at Ruston, La. and talked for an hour with Coach Bum Phillips.
Veteran quarterback Richard Todd is among six non-reporting players in the Saints' camp, leaving Dave Wilson as the current leading candidate to start when the 1985 season opens.
'I wasn't there to talk about a contract or to sign with them,' the former Northwestern Louisiana star said. 'I just wanted to meet Coach Phillips and see how their camp was coming along. As far as my future, I'm leaving all of that up to my agent.'
Hebert's agent, Greg Campbell, has said the Saints, Los Angeles Raiders and Seattle Seahawks are interested in signing the south Louisiana native.
Saints officials said talks have been held with Hebert and his agent.
'New Orleans would be a good place to be because I'm from the area, their training camp is near my home in Natchitoches and I'd be playing in front of Louisiana fans,' Hebert said.
The Saints were set to sign Robbie Mahfouz of the USFL's Jacksonville Bulls Friday night but Phillips said, 'there still remains some paperwork between the two leagues before anything can be completed. We're still working on it.'
At Charleston, Ill., three St. Louis Cardinals remained unsigned Saturday as the squad continued two-a-day practice sessions at Eastern Illinois University.
Wide receivers Pat Tilley and Danny Pittman and linebacker Freddie Jo Nunn, the club's first-round draft pick, are the only unsigned Cardinals. There are 73 players in camp.
Defensive back Victor Heflin, defensive tackle Dan Ralph, free safety Benny Perrin and defensive tackles Ramsey Dardar and Paul Hufford all are sidelined with injuries.
At Thousand Oaks, Calif., Dallas Cowboys officials were pessimistic about Tony Dorsett honoring a contract extension and reporting to training camp.
Dorsett, represented by Howard Slusher, was granted the extension to allow him time to work out a financial settlement and payment schedule on $414,000 in back taxes.
If he doesn't report, Landry said he would fine Dorsett $1,000 per day until he does.
'He had better not paint himself into a corner because he already has problems,' head coach Tom Landry said.
At Latrobe, Pa., Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackles Tunch Ilkin and Mark Behning missed practice Saturday at St. Vincent College, a team spokesman said.
Ilkin, who started every game last season, had a slightly pulled hamstring. Behning, a second-round draft choice, suffered a sore shoulder.
Rookie tight end Alan Andrews, a seventh-round draft choice, was placed on the physically unable to perform list with a hamstring problem. He suffered the injury prior to the draft.
At Hempstead, N.Y., the New York Jets received more bad news regarding their offensive line. One day after starting tackles Marvin Powell and Reggie McElroy failed to appear at training camp, Stan Waldemore, 30, who started 14 games at left guard last season, injured his left knee while rehabilitating his right knee and was placed on the physically unable to perform list.
