Are Gin & Tonic or Fuzzy Navels far away?

Saints coach Sean Payton literally served up cocktails at practice on Sunday.

The Super Bowl-winning whistle halted practice midway through the day, pulling his entire roster into a huddle, then brought a team caterer out with a tray full of colorful fruit cocktails for the enjoyment of veteran players not able to practice until August 4.

Former Chargers running back Darren Sproles and former Seahawks linebacker Will Herring are among the seasoned free agents picked up by New Orleans.

The Times-Picayune made sure to point out only non-alcoholic mixed drinks were served.

"Those were Shirley Temples," Payton said. "That was one of the provisions in the new CBA that players weren't practicing, so we brought them Shirley Temples. I wanted to make sure we were abiding by all the rules."

The Saints won 11 games in the NFC South last season, only to lose to a 7-9 Seahawks team 41-36 on Wild Card Weekend.

Quarterback Drew Brees and the other heroes left from the magical 2009 championship season play in the NFL season opener against Aaron Rodgers and the defending Super Bowl champion Packers at Lambeau Field on Thursday, Sept. 8.