Palko to get shot at QB for Saints

Tyler Palko will follow starter Drew Brees off of the bench against the Bills.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Tyler Palko, the western Pennsylvania native who starred in college at Pitt, is getting an early shot to show Saints head coach Sean Payton what he can do in the NFL.

Payton has decided that Palko, an undrafted rookie whom the Saints coach called personally before bringing him to New Orleans, will follow starter Drew Brees off of the bench Friday night and may play as much as three quarters against the Buffalo Bills.

“I’m anxious to see his development — his progressions, ball security, how he handles his decision-making, and seeing if he can move the ball while he’s in there,” Payton said after Thursday evening’s practice at Millsaps College, the team’s training camp home.

Saints sign fifth QB

This week, the Saints signed a fifth quarterback when they brought in Matt Baker, who played in college at North Carolina and last year spent time with the Dallas Cowboys.

But Payton said it’s too early to bring Baker in. Meanwhile, he said he already knows what No. 2 quarterback Jamie Martin can do and has had reserve quarterback Jason Fife on the roster for about a year.

When Palko finished his career at Pitt, he had 8,343 passing yards and 66 touchdowns. Only Alex Van Pelt and Dan Marino threw for more yards at Pitt, and only Marino threw for more touchdowns.

Thursday was Palko’s 24th birthday, and that’s when Payton announced that he would be the quarterback playing the most against the Bills.

“I’m excited about getting out there and showing coach what I can do and that I’ve made progress since I’ve been here,” Palko said.

Palko knows the odds are slim he’d see any playing time in the regular season. He just wants to make the 53-man roster or at least earn a spot on the practice squad.

He got in late in the Hall of Fame game against the Steelers last Sunday night, completing 4 of 8 passes for 53 yards. He also had a 13-yard scramble and was moving the team down the field until he threw an interception deep in Steelers territory.