Well, obviously I can't start this one without saying the obvious: First-round selection Sedrick Ellis agreed to a five-year contract worth a reported $49 million. Nearly $20 million of that is guaranteed and that's a lot of money, especially for someone unproven.

After talking with and listening to New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis speak, it was obvious that he was fairly irked with the whole process. I don't know offhand the longest holdout he has ever had to deal with, but for some reason, this one really got to him.

And he placed the blame on the agent. I'm not sure how often I agree with Loomis, but I definitely agree on this one. The two defensive linemen ahead of Ellis both signed by late Saturday. There was no reason this deal shouldn't have been done by Sunday.

Regardless, Ellis comes to camp Wednesday afternoon. I'll be interested to see how he handles the camp in regard to the shape he's in. He has been working out in Tampa, Fla., sure. But he hasn't been working out in pads. It's different. And he'll be six days behind his teammates.

Highlights from Tuesday night:
-Citing field condition and weather, head coach Sean Payton moved Tuesday's practice to Memorial Stadium and to 7:30 p.m. It paid dividends. The temperatures were much, much cooler (likely thanks to afternoon cloud cover and rain showers) and so much more bearable. I know the players were thankful for that.

-RB Chris Barclay is likely done for the season. Barclay became a Saint at the end of the 2007 season when it seemed like every running back was getting injured. He filled in admirably. However, Tuesday night, he had a gruesome injury to his lower leg. He planted his foot to try and reach back for an underthrown ball from QB Tyler Palko. His foot, however, stuck in the ground and he bent over backwards. Palko, once he was finished with the series, immediately went over to Barclay.

-WR Skyler Green had a great practice. But one particular play caught my eye and likely everyone else's. Green went deep on a go route and got behind the cornerback and safety. He caught the ball steps from the end zone and went in for a score. The several hundred fans in attendance appreciated that one.

-Here's a name you won't hear from much, if ever again: WR Todd Blythe had one of the night's best plays. With CB Gregg Fassitt on him in one-on-one coverage, Blythe used a double move to lose the defender. He caught a pass and went into the end zone untouched.

-WR Adrian Arrington had a decent practice. He dropped a few balls in individual drills that shouldn't be dropped, but during pass skele and team, he made some nice catches and gave good effort on balls that were all but uncatchable. He's quickly endearing himself to Saints fan in attendance.

-The hit of the night goes to OL Tim Duckworth. Probably 10 or more yards down the field past the line of scrimmage, he absolutely pancaked someone. I didn't get the number of the truck he ran over, but I think it might have been DB Wale Dada. Needless to say, it elicited one of the biggest cheers of the night.

-Payton canceled practice Wednesday morning, instead deciding on letting his players spend time going over plays and film and not going outside. Practice resumes at Millsaps College at 4:20 p.m.

3 Comments

Michael Thibodaux said:

What is Devery's injury status? 2nd question...with Devery seemingly "on the bubble" with good camps by a number of receivers, is it likely he may be traded to gain back lost 2009 draft choices or released outright? I would think a number of teams would peddle a 2nd round draft choice to the Saints for him. I think the Saints would keep Arrington over him right now. I also think, as I read elsewhere, that nothing will happen until the last cut, as well it should.

July 30, 2008 1:35 PM

Bradley Handwerger said:

Michael: Sean Payton said Tuesday that it'll be a week to a week and a half before Devery, as well as Tracy Porter, get near playing again. They don't want to push the hamstrings too hard too soon.

In regards to trading/cutting Henderson, I agree with the voice of the Saints Jim Henderson. Devery likely will be cut, but it will be late in the process. Too many receivers are having too good of a camp for Devery to be OK with being injured. I don't know about getting a pick back for him. That could be tough with him being injured and with his propensity to drop balls.

July 30, 2008 2:39 PM

SirSaint said:

The GM that gives up a second-rounder for Henderson should be fired on the spot. He won't even make his current squad!

July 30, 2008 4:10 PM

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