06:08 AM CST on Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO -- Running back Anthony Thomas is looking for a chance to be more than an insurance policy in his new role with the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints acquired Thomas last week after the Dallas Cowboys released him after he played in six of the Cowboys' eight games.

"I was there just as an insurance policy until the young guys picked it up," Thomas said Monday after one of his first practices with the Saints. "If they didn't, I would have stayed longer probably. Once they picked it up, they had no need for me. My insurance policy was pretty much gone."

Thomas, who has played in the NFL five seasons, was a 1,000-yard rusher with the Chicago Bears. He was NFL Rookie of the Year in 2001 when he had a career-best 1,183 yards. Last year, he gained only 404 yards with Chicago playing behind Thomas Jones.

Thomas, 28, said he would have considered an overture from the Saints in the off-season if he had known the Cowboys would commit to a youth movement.

"I feel young," Thomas said. "You have to say what happens, happens, and just to move on."

Searching for a primary backup to Deuce McAllister, the Saints signed Antowain Smith to a free-agent contract during the offseason after Smith played a year in Tennessee following his Super Bowl appearances with New England during the 2001 and 2003 seasons.

The Saints took another look at Thomas when McAllister was lost for the season to a knee injury. A trade with Miami for Jesse Chatman also fell apart because team officials believed the player was overweight and didn't pay attention at times in meetings.

"Hopefully he can catch on here, step in if we need him to," offensive tackle Wayne Gandy said of Thomas. "Sometimes, when things like (getting cut by Dallas) happen to you, it helps you recover your career.

"I remember seeing a couple of Chicago games, he's kind of like Antowain -- not a lot of shaking, he gets downhill quick, a hard runner."

One of the biggest problems for the Saints running game this year is fumbles. New Orleans had fumbles from Smith and reserve running back Aaron Stecker in a 20-17 loss to Chicago before last week's bye. Smith also fumbled earlier this year, and it was returned for a touchdown in a 3-point loss to Atlanta.

Thomas began his career at Chicago without fumbling in his first 428 touches -- an NFL record.

Thomas isn't sure when he'll get his hands on the ball with the Saints. He spent much of the bye week reading the team's playbook.

"They told me to learn the offense as quick as possible, to pick up the (pass) protection," Thomas said. "They haven't given me an idea yet (about running the ball). I just want an opportunity to run it, either inside attack or outside attack. I feel comfortable doing both. Whenever the opportunity comes, I'm going to try to take advantage of it and hope it shows."

At age 28, Thomas hopes he looks as young as he said he feels.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)