updated 7:11 p.m. ET Sept. 22, 2005

SAN ANTONIO - The TV sets just installed in the New Orleans Saints’ locker room at the Alamodome drew a gripped audience Thursday, with players in disbelief as the bright radar colors of Hurricane Rita headed toward Louisiana.

While they’re concerned about the city they left behind, they’re also wondering whether a pounding in Baton Rouge would force another change in a season already severely altered by Hurricane Katrina.

“Just about everywhere we go a hurricane hits,” quarterback Aaron Brooks said. “You just can’t believe it. What the hell is going on? It’s like a black cloud. We may not be able to play in Baton Rouge if it hits like that.”

It’s been less than four weeks since Katrina wrecked New Orleans and damaged the Superdome, forcing the Saints to move their headquarters and practice facility to San Antonio.

The team is scheduled to play three games at the Alamodome and four more at LSU’s Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. The games against Miami (Oct. 30), Chicago (Nov. 6), Tampa Bay (Dec. 4) and Carolina (Dec. 18) are tabbed for Baton Rouge.

Saints officials briefly contemplated leaving a day early for their game Sunday at Minnesota, but they’re sticking to their original travel schedule because the storm, with winds exceeding 160 mph, is sliding further up the Gulf Coast and away from San Antonio.

The section of the hurricane considered most dangerous, the northeast portion, could land in Louisiana and pour enough rain to once again threaten the levees surrounding New Orleans.

“Something’s wrong with New Orleans,” offensive tackle Jammal Brown said. “Somebody wants that city gone.”

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Brown, a rookie, said he lost all his possessions in Katrina.

Other players were lucky, their homes escaping flood waters and serious damage from high winds. They’re wondering if they can get lucky twice.

“I’m going to keep praying,” running back and kick returner Aaron Stecker said. “My house is in St. Charles Parish, and my house had some leakage and siding damage — nothing major.”

Safety Jay Bellamy said it would be better for New Orleans to take the brunt of the storm “instead of tearing up some other place.”

“New Orleans is already messed up and everybody’s already gone,” Bellamy said. “It would be better ... instead of creating more havoc around the world.”

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Bellamy’s house in Metairie, La., was dry after Katrina. Most of the houses on his street were in 2 feet of water, he said.

Brooks also lives in Metairie, and his house sustained little damage. He credits previous owners who built up the structure of the house.

“So I don’t have concerns, but we can’t be worrying about that,” Brooks said.

Brooks is trying to keep his focus on the game Sunday at Minnesota. The Saints (1-1) are coming off a home game played in Giants Stadium; angry over their plight, they lost 27-10 and played sloppily. They hope to bounce back in a true road game against the Vikings (0-2), who are dealing with their own early-season woes.

After Katrina, New Orleans players know they’re better off focusing on football than weather.

“Nothing we can do about it, except for pray and go on,” linebacker T.J. Slaughter said. “I ain’t going to think about it. I’ll just go on and whatever happens, happens. I just hope it goes back out to sea.”

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