What the World League of American Football has provided Kirk Maggio is another chance to try out for a National Football League team. Maggio, a Calvert Hall graduate who went on to become a standout punter at UCLA, has signed with the New Orleans Saints.

"This is exactly where I wanted to be a year ago," he said. "I was talking to New Orleans while the draft was under way and before anything could be finalized, I was selected by the Green Bay Packers. So now I'm exactly where I had hoped to be -- except it's a year later."

Maggio, who played for the Birmingham Fire and finished second in the world league in punting, has an understanding with the Saints' management that he will receive a full trial in training camp. With the Packers, he was released after less than two weeks. A prerequisite to going with the Saints was assurance that he would be given a thorough chance to make the roster.

At UCLA, in 1989, Kirk was the No. 2 punter in the nation.