Aderious Simmons returns to New Orleans for a chance to play

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A month ago, former Arizona State offensive tackle Aderious Simmons arrived at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport for a customary pre-NFL draft visit with the Saints.

The trip, though, was anything but ordinary.

"It was kind of emotional," Simmons told Yahoo! Sports, "my first time back in five years."

Simmons is a New Orleans native, born at Charity Hospital and reared in several neighborhoods, including the Westbank and Harvey. But in August 2005, he was among the thousands who bolted from New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina and struggled to piece their lives back together.

Despite returning to his roots, Simmons felt awkward cruising through his old haunts in a rental car.

"The biggest thing in my head was, 'I was at home, but I felt like a stranger,' " Simmons recalled. "I noticed all the changes.

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