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Saints Open Training Camp with
Two Practices
Top two draft picks holding out as Saints work
in Jackson heat
posted July 24, 2008 - print
me!
updated July 24, 2008
neworleansprofootball.com
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RB Deuce McAllister |
Ellis Holds Out: For the eighth time in the
last ten years, the Saints' top draft pick is not in camp on time.
Sedrick Ellis, the 7th overall pick, is likely waiting on the
contract for the fifth overall pick, Chiefs DT Glen Dorsey, to
provide a ceiling for negotiations.
The Saints' original draft pick, the 10th overall,
was used by the Patriots after the Saints traded up to take Tennessee
LB Jerod Mayo. The Patriots signed Mayo Thursday morning to a
five-year contract. The first sixteen picks of the draft are allowed
to sign six-year contracts.
In a twist, reports out of Kansas City indicate
that the agent for Dorsey, Joel Segal, is waiting on the contract
of sixth overall pick Jets DE Vernon Gholston and that the Chiefs
has suspended negotiations until then.
New Cornerback: The Saints signed free agent
defensive back Omowale (ohm - oh - wall - ee) Dada, 25, 5'10,
195 pounds. A two year veteran out of Washington State, Dada has
played in NFL Europa and spent time on the Seattle practice squad.
The Saints stand at 80 with Dada in.
Jammal Brown has left camp to attend a family
funeral. He should be back during the weekend. Second year tackle
Jermon Bushrod has stepped into the starting lineup at left tackle.
Camp Arm: Head coach Sean Payton is making
up for the lack of a fourth quarterback, the team's camp arm,
by throwing himself. Payton was briefly a strike replacement player
for the Chicago Bears in 1987.
Injury Notes: For as good as RB Deuce McAllister
looked in the morning, he rode an exercise bike in the second
practice. This is likely to be a trend as the Saints take it easy
on his surgically repaired knees. Same for Jeremy Shockey, who
is eight months away from a broken leg, and Brian Young with his
chronic knee pain. Marques Colston's knee was cleaned out in February
and drained right before training camp, and as a result is a little
sore. Jonathan Vilma will also continue to take it easy on his
knee. Hollis Thomas reported in on time and on weight, but was
affected by the Mississippi heat on day one. This isn't unusual
for big guys, but it will only get hotter for Thomas once Sedrick
Ellis signs.
The Saints have a history of long-haired players
recently, such as Ricky Williams, Kyle Turley, Steve Gleason,
Jamal Jones, and Mike McKenzie. Usually long-locked Jeremy Shockey
will not join that heritage as a Saint, initially at least. Newly-acquired
Shockey is sporting a close-cropped blond buzz instead of a chin-length
style.
Marques Colston's new deal and the negotiations
leading up to it may have impacted Devin Hester's decision
to hold out of Bears camp. Both players are Pro Bowl, second-year
players drafted in 2006 and have been surprise weapons for their
teams. Both were scheduled to make only $445,000 in the third
year of their rookie contracts. Hester received an initial signing
bonus of $1.25 million, roughly 125 times the signing bonus that
Colston got back in 2006. Colston has 19 touchdowns compared to
Hester's 13, but Hester has 3002 all-purpose yards (2731 on kick
and punt returns) and Colston has 2240 receiving yards.
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