JACKSON, Miss. ― New Orleans' second-round pick ended a mini-hold out Friday, signing a four-year contract.

Tracy Porter, the 40th-overall selection, got on the field immediately, working out during the afternoon session at Millsaps College.

That leaves Sedrick Ellis as the only Saints' 2008 draft pick not under contract at this point. That could change soon.

"I definitely expect him to join me soon," Porter said. "I've talked to him. He and I, we're good friends. I've hung out with him. He's off doing his thing right now making sure he comes to camp in tip top shape."

As for Porter, the cornerback out of Indiana began working immediately, starting out with rotations in the second- and third-team defenses. Though he held out, he missed only three practices, the best situation under the scenario.

"I def think it's a great thing I didn't miss too many practices," Porter said. "There's definitely stiff competition as well and those three days with the stiff comp can set you back for awhile. I'm definitely staying up to speed with what coach is throwing at me."

So, what was the reaction from teammates who already practiced in the Mississippi summer heat?

"They were laughing and clowning," Porter said. " 'It's about time you showed. Where you been? You took an extended vacation.' Little things like that. They're glad I'm out here and I'm glad I'm out here."
Payton at QB?
Sean Payton grabbed the football, looked straight ahead and called out a cadence. Seconds later, he took a three-step drop - albeit a slow one - and made his reads, eventually tossing a pass to Aaron Stecker.

Payton, a former quarterback in college and in the pros, wasn't trying out.

Far from it. Instead, with the Saints carrying only three quarterbacks into training camp - the rosters were trimmed by the league from 85 to 80 for this season - Payton had to turn to someone to help out in the passing game.

"I'm pretty comfortable throwing it to the backs," Payton said.

But don't look for him to suit up anytime soon in a player-coach role.

"I think we're in trouble if we get to that," he said.

All's well
Tight end Jeremy Shockey, running back Deuce McAllister and wide receiver Marques Colston all fully participated during Friday's morning session. Shockey is returning from a fibula break, McAllister had surgery on both knees and Colston had his left knee drained Wednesday.

The only other injury was wide receiver Carlos Robinson, who tweaked a hamstring.

Taking it slow?
With McAllister, cornerback Mike McKenzie, safety Josh Bullocks and Colston coming back from knee injuries, Payton knows he'll have to stay more patient than normal in trying to get them back into playing shape.

"I think you need to have some patience in understanding the nature of the injury when you start talking about Deuce or Mike McKenzie or when you talk about Jeremy Shockey's break," Payton said. "Some of these injuries have really kept these guys from playing football for half a year or longer.

"We just need to have a plan and stick to it. As a coach, you want to get everybody in there and get them started, but you also have to be mindful of not having a setback."

Day 2 thoughts: Morning session
Here's where I will merge a notebook and blog into one from here on out while I'm in Jackson for training camp. After a few notes, I'll post some quick thoughts of what I've seen during each session.

This morning, Friday, I focused mostly on the defensive and offensive lines. I'll focus on them again this afternoon when the 4:20 p.m. practice gets going.

A few things:
-The defensive line, for the most part, had its way with the offensive line. Sure, an o-lineman earned a win, but it was occasionally, not regularly.

-Charles Grant has looked a little slimmer and little quicker this year than he did last season. I won't venture to guess why, but maybe he's a little bit more focused. He hasn't talked with the media since the incident in Georgia, however.

-Defensive tackle Orien Harris, a free agent pickup this offseason, beat Andy Alleman several times, getting to the tackling dummy with ease.

-One of the bright spots was rookie Carl Nicks. Though the fifth-round pick out of Nebraska had his fair share of trouble, he also stood out, parrying veteran Will Smith on at least one occasion and holding his own against Smith another time.

-Of the three practices thus far, Friday morning was by far the worst. It's not that they looked particularly bad. It's just that it was a bit more sluggish than the first two practices. It also was hotter. And with temperatures expected to reach at or near 100 Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, the sluggishness may stick around for a couple of more days until they get used to the heat and humidity.

Day 2: afternoon thoughts
So, strangely, I ran into Juan Kincaid this afternoon at the practice. OK. it's not so strange. He's here with WWL-TV covering training camp.

Instead of my thoughts, let's hear what he had to say about the four practices thus far.

"We saw (Adrian) Arrington make another really nice catch," Kincaid said. "We saw (Chris) Reis make a really nice interception

"You don't see a lot of the main players, like the (Jonathan) Vilma, like the Deuce McAllister that aren't able to go full speed. Those will take time. That's probably the one thing I'm disappointed about. I like the approach Payton is taking, working them in slowly.

"Drew has been pretty accurate. Mark Brunell looks pretty good behind him. I think that's an upgrade from Jamie martin a year ago. I think this team is deeper at running back than they have been in many many years. They're going to be OK there. The front four will be the most important position on the team this year. There's a lot of concern with what's going to be on the cornerbacks. Theyv'e got to get a better push.

But Juan, does this year feel any different than last year?

"No," Kincaid said. "It feels exactly the same as it did last yaer. Everyone is pretty business like. The only thing that's difference is the weather. It's been a little cooler.

"Maybe there's a little more eagerness. Last year you were coming off a year where you went so far. This year you're coming off a year you really struggled. There probably is an added pressure to do much better.

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