Saints’ Kromer Downplays Impending Promotion

METAIRIE, La. (AP) - While Aaron Kromer says he has aspirations to be an NFL head coach, he says he doesn't see his six-game appointment as figurehead of the Saints' staff as an audition.

Kromer, who coaches the offensive line, calls himself "a fill-in for a fill-in." He will temporarily take over for assistant head coach Joe Vitt, who will spend most of the season filling in for suspended head coach Sean Payton.

Vitt is suspended is for the first six regular season games. Kromer says his job during that stint will be to "hold the fort" and ensure continuity in a program established by Payton during the past six years.

Saints players say they expected Kromer to fill in for Vitt because he knows the personnel and knows how Payton wants things done.