NEW ORLEANS – It could take the entire preseason for NeSaints coach Jim Mora to decide on his No. 1 quarterback.

The contest was made necessary when starter Bobby Hebert left the Saints during the off-season and signed with Atlanta. The competition is expected to be between Wade Wilson, Steve Walsh and Mike Buck – provided that Walsh, a holdout, signs a contract.

Mora said Monday, though, that his decision may not affect how the Saints handle their offense.

“I don’t think it makes any difference whatsoever,” Mora said. “Our team is comfortable with all three guys.”

Mora added that he has no early notion of who will start.

“We’ll make sure that the three guys get an equal opportunity throughout the camp,” Mora said.

Of the three, Walsh may have an early advantage since he has been a Saints starter before, Mora said.

“I’m not even thinking that he won’t be there,” when training camp opens this weekend in LaCrosse, Wis., Mora said.

Bucks is a former standout for the University of Maine.

The Saints have a numer Morten Andersen, and their two first-round draft choices, Louisiana Tech offensive lineman William Roaf and Notre Dame tight end Irv Smith.

Vice President Jim Miller would not discuss specific negotiations, but said this was “the week of the cauliflower ear” as team negotiators talk with agents.

Gil Fenerty, a running back who retired last summer, has rejoined the team, Mora said. “He said he missed football and wanted to play and felt he could play,” Mora said.

The Saints’ coaches arrive in Wisconsin on Thursday and team physicals are scheduled Friday and Saturday. Following the first practice on Sunday, the Saints will go into a two-a-day practice routine. The team leaves for Japan on July 27 for its first preseason game against Philadelphia.

Besides quarterback, Mora indicated that most offensive positions would be open during camp. Asked if the changes might result in a more potent attack, something that Mora described as a top training camp priority, he said: “I don’t know. I’ll let you know three months from now.”

Hobert drops bat, signs with Raiders

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) – Quarterback Billy Joe Hobert left his baseball bat in Sarasota, Fla., and reported to training camp with the Los Angeles Raiders Monday afternoon.

Hobert, who was playing minor league baseball for a Chicago White Sox farm team for the past three weeks, became the first of the Raiders’ six draft picks to come to terms and joined the team late in the second of two workuts Monday.

“It was time to put the baseball thing behind me and start making football my focal point,” said Hobert, from the University of Washington.

He arrived with about 20 minutes left in the afternoon practice and did not relieve Jeff Hostetler, the only other quarterback in camp for the team.

“I’m sure Hostetler will sleep better tonight,” said coach Art Shell.

Hobert, a third-round draft choice, arrived on the first day of drills after agent Bruce Allen told him “it was a good deal and I should be here.”

He said he didn’t know the terms or the duration of the contract.

The team’s five other draft choices, including first-rounder Patrick Bates of Texas A&M and third-rounder James Trapp of Clemson, remain unsigned.

Hobert said his baseball experience was enjoyable, even though he suffered from a mystifying lack of power.

“I hit .302, but there were no `jacks’ (home runs),” he said. “I only played about 15 games, in left and right field. I was just making sure to keep my doors open. This was the first time I’d played baseball in four years.

“I wanted to be here a week ago … It’s time to focus on football.”