Saints' rookies receive wake-up call

Every year it's a new batch of rookies, but the chorus is always the same:

"Man, I thought I was in shape . . . until I got here."

The Saints' three-day rookie minicamp offers a "welcome to the NFL" moment for draft choices and undrafted free agents, with a combination of heat, humidity and relentless pace. It can be a rude awakening, especially since most of these guys haven't been through an organized team practice in months.

But all things considered, the reviews have been favorable this year.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said he likes what he has seen so far from the team's top two draft picks -- defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and cornerback Tracy Porter. He also had nice things to say about lower-round picks Carl Nicks, a guard, and receiver Adrian Arrington, among others.

Practices are closed to the public and media, but Payton and players were made available between practice sessions Saturday afternoon.

"It's hard to tell (who's standing out), because you've got such a mixed group," Payton said. "You've got to be mindful of who Porter's covering or who Ellis is beating on a double-team or who Nicks is blocking. I think you'll get a better indication of more specifically how they're doing with the veteran players (in full-squad practice sessions later this month).

"But I think, overall, I've been encouraged with what I've seen from the class in general. The big guard from Nebraska has done a good job of stepping in, Nicks. I think when you look at Ellis, he's been a pain in the rear for a couple days now, splitting some double-teams and getting in the backfield. Porter showed some of the coverage skills that we were anticipating we'd see. And this Arrington has done a good job, the receiver we drafted late, of just handling the assignments. He's a pretty sharp kid."

Nicks and Arrington were among the rookies who admitted they weren't completely ready for the Gulf South elements, though they've been able to fight through it. Arrington said he had dropped just one pass through the first three practice sessions Friday and Saturday.

Ellis has shown the desire and explosiveness that made him attractive to the Saints, Payton said. And Porter has shown instincts in coverage, though he still hadn't reeled in that first interception as of Saturday afternoon.

"Being a first-round pick, you have a level of pressure -- you want to make a good impression," said Ellis, who said he felt more acclimated to the weather Saturday than he did Friday. "The tempo is very high. Everyone wants to come out and be seen. Everything is very fast-paced.

"I think you can always improve. But I'm very happy with how fast I'm catching on to the system, the plays they've put in, the stunts. I've been able to grasp them pretty quickly and apply them to the field."

Even Porter, who is from Port Allen, said the climate has been the lowlight this weekend. He said the highlight has been the level of intensity throughout the whole defense.

"The way we are flying around to the ball, the way we are working as a unit, the way we are on the same page, communicating presnap, after the snap," Porter said. "Being around guys who want to get better with each and every repetition."

The players often create that high tempo, because so many of them are trying to get noticed. Payton said he had to stop the team during the first walk-through Friday morning to slow them down a bit.

"It was like a scrimmage," Payton said. "I had to tell them, 'Hey, you're not going to earn a spot in this walk-through.' But that's to be expected, I think."

There are 64 players on the rookie-camp roster, including the Saints' draft picks, undrafted free agents who signed last week, some players from last year's practice squad who have not accrued a full year in the league and several players who were invited for a three-day tryout.

Among those tryout players are former LSU cornerback Jonathan Zenon and former LSU receiver Josh McManus. Zenon tried out with the Cleveland Browns last week but was not offered a roster spot.

Another interesting name on the tryout list is running back John David Washington, son of actor Denzel Washington, who spent the past two years on the St. Louis Rams' practice squad.

Payton touched on a few other topics in his media session Saturday. He said the Saints' visit earlier in the week with tailback Shaun Alexander went well, though he didn't give any hint as to whether or not the Saints will offer him a contract.

"He's had a long, successful career, and he still has some good years ahead of him, so we'll see where it takes him," Payton said.

Payton said the Saints' desire to bring in a veteran running back will depend on the health of tailback Deuce McAllister as well as the quality of players who become available once teams start waiving veterans.

Asked if the Saints are still looking to add a tight end, Payton said, "If the right guy was available."

He didn't mention anyone by name, but the Saints have reportedly been trying to acquire the New York Giants' Jeremy Shockey through a trade. At this point, that still seems like a long-shot possibility unless the Giants lower their demands.