After returning from a trip to London, the Saints released punter Ben Graham and kicker Taylor Mehlhaff and one day later signed punter Glenn Pakulak and kicker Garrett Hartley to replace them.

Neither Pakulak, who has been to training camp with several teams, or Hartley, a rookie who was cut before he reported to camp with the Denver Broncos this summer, has ever kicked in an NFL regular-season game.

In eight games this season, Sean Payton has used Steve Weatherford and Graham as his punters and Martin Gramatica, who was inconsistent before he went on injured reserve with a groin problem, and Mehlhaff as kickers.

In the 40 regular-season games he's coached the Saints, Payton has used two punters (Weatherford and Graham) and five kickers (John Carney, Billy Cundiff, Olindo Mare, Gramatica and Mehlhaff).

--Running back Deuce McAllister and defensive end Will Smith said they're carrying on as usual with their game-week preparations while they await word about possible NFL suspensions for using a banned substance.

They, along with injured defensive end Charles Grant, were named in a report last month as testing positive for a substance that was apparently in some over-the-counter weight-loss pills they consumed this summer.

"I'm not even concerned with it, or worried about it," McAllister said Wednesday when asked if he had heard when his appeal might be heard. "Whenever it happens, it happens. My focus is on Atlanta.

"It's not something I'm going to be consumed with daily as far as my preparation is concerned because once that happens, then you're not prepared."

"I'm not really worried about that, to be honest with you, because it's out of my control," Smith said. "The only thing I can do is focus on football."

--Despite the Saints' 34-14 win over the Falcons in the Georgia Dome last December, the two NFC South rivals have waged some close battles since they first met in 1967.

They have played twice a year since 1970, first as members of the NFC West (1970-2001) and the NFC South (since 2002), except when they met only once in the strike-shortened season in 1987.

Thirty-eight of their games, which represent almost half of their 78 meetings (including one NFC wild-card playoff game), have been decided by seven points or less. The trend started with a 27-24 Saints victory in their first matchup on Nov. 26, 1967.

The Falcons hold a 23-15 edge over the Saints in games decided by a touchdown or less.

--Three Saints were named last week to Pro Football Weekly's Midseason All-Pro team, which can be found in its Nov. 9 issue.

The team, which was voted on by PFW editors, includes Saints quarterback Drew Brees, right guard Jahri Evans and punt returner Reggie Bush.

Bush, who returned three punts for touchdowns before going down with a left knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 20, was a unanimous selection.

--The Saints are 8-11 in their first game after a bye since the NFL started building open dates into the schedule in 1990 (each team had two byes in 1993).

Since Sean Payton took over as the Saints coach in 2006, they're 0-2 after a bye -- falling to the Baltimore Ravens (35-22) in 2006 and Carolina Panthers (16-13) last year.

The Saints did, however, win an NFC Divisional Playoff game over the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006 after earning a first-round bye.

BY THE NUMBERS: 46 -- Sacks allowed by the Saints since the start of the 2006 season, the fewest in the NFL. Indianapolis ranks second with 47.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think I'm definitely ahead of schedule. To have surgery two weeks ago and two days ago, I think that would be ahead of schedule. I feel good about that." -- Saints RB Reggie Bush, on running for the first time since having his left knee scoped on Oct. 20.