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Last Updated: Mar 31st, 2005 - 07:09:09 |
NEW ORLEANS(AP) -- Joe Horn is still the same free spirit he's always been -- ready for a joke, a laugh, a good time.
There is one big change now, however. Now Horn thinks things through. Now he considers the consequences.
"I've been through a lot in my life, so I feel like if I want to make some decisions or do what I want to do, I have the right," Horn said, after finishing up an offseason workout Tuesday. "On and off the football field, even with the cell phone incident, I know why I did that."
Horn is still remembered for whipping out a cell phone after scoring a touchdown in a 2003 game and acting as though he was making a call from the end zone.
He did it because he'd promised his kids he would. It was that simple, Horn said. And he would not rule out doing something like it again, if he promised it.
On the other hand, Horn did not like the $30,000 fine the NFL slapped him with after the stunt.
"Regardless if you have money or not, you don't want to give away money like that," Horn said. "I didn't get fined last year at all. Obviously I'm going to do the right things and try not to have money taken away from me now."
Horn, 33, whose contract expires after this season, was New Orleans' top receiver last year, finishing with 1,399 yards and 11 touchdowns on 94 receptions. He made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time.
He spent a lot of time during the offseason hunting rabbits in his native Mississippi and thinking things over. Among his decisions: he wants to be more of a team leader this year.
Toward that end, Horn decided against skipping the preseason workouts -- although he had considered doing so until he received a contract extension.
"I had a change of heart. I knew a lot of the young guys would be over here and I wanted to be here for that," Horn said.
Negotiations between his agent and the Saints are going well, Horn said.
"It's almost done right now," Horn said. "So I'm pretty happy with it."
Happy enough to arrive at camp for the offseason work right on time.
"Joe Horn has had a great first week," said strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson, who oversees the offseason program. "That is a real positive influence on the team. The guys really look up to him and I think Joe is going to help us greatly in that area."
Horn hopes so. He's worked hard in the past, both during the season and during the offseason. But New Orleans has fallen short of the playoffs since 2000.
The Saints rallied last season, winning their final four games to finish 8-8, just missing a playoff berth.
"I know a lot of people say, why'd it take so long," Horn said. "It just did. That's how it happened, we jelled together at the end of the season. Hopefully, now during the offseason program and training camp we can keep that nucleus together."
Former offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy left the team during the offseason. The Saints promoted Mike Sheppard from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator to replace McCarthy.
"I'm sure Coach Sheppard has a lot of stuff in store for us and I'm very excited to see what it is," Horn said. "Hopefully it will be a prosperous season for us on the offensive side of the board."
Last year, Horn backed off, not talking to reporters, preferring to see some of his teammates step up and discuss the team's troubles. He's not sure how he'll handle things with the media this year, but he does plan to take a more active leadership role with his teammates.
"I'm going to speak up more this year," Horn said. "I kind of laid back because we had a lot of veterans here the last four or five years. I had to wait my turn. I feel now, with my 10th year coming up, it's time for me to step up and be that leader."
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