JACKSON, Miss. ― A day after signing a three-year contract extension, Marques Colston celebrated the only way he knows how.

Scratch that, he was nowhere near in a celebratory mood, not when he wasn't able to fully participate in the first practice of the 2008 season.

"I had my knee drained yesterday," Colston said. "I'm just taking it easy on day one."

But before your heart stops, you should know that Colston doesn't see this as a huge setback. He had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the spring.

"Just precautionary stuff," Colston said. "it's a long season. I'm just trying to take the best road."

Colston wasn't alone on the exercise bike for the day. Deuce McAllister spent the afternoon session riding in place as did cornerback Mike McKenzie and safety Josh Bullocks. All three had knee surgeries in the past year.

All three are expected to return by the first week of the regular season when New Orleans opens up at the Superdome against Tampa Bay on Sept. 7.

Also limited on the opening day were tight end Jeremy Shockey (leg), tight end Eric Johnson (ankle) and David Patten, who head coach Sean Payton said was just an age thing.

A learning experience
Heading into last season, many news outlets pegged the Saints as the NFC's representative in the Super Bowl.

The team had what some players describe as a very good preseason camp.

And then, maybe partially due to listening to and reading preseason prognostications, the Saints fell flat to begin the season, opening up in an 0-4 hole.

Maybe, just maybe, that was a learning experience.

"There is a certain amount of urgency when you're coming off of a season when you were 7-9," Payton said. "I think the players are anxious to start '08 and start it off on a better note than we did last year."

Said quarterback and team leader Drew Brees, "Expectation levels certainly were very high last year. They are just as high this year, but I think maybe the approach and process has changed a little bit just because we went through what we went through last year."

All systems go for Vilma
Linebacker Jonathan Vilma had season-ending knee surgery in 2007. Ten months later, he's ready to play again.

Thursday, Vilma got his chance to put pads on for the first time since early in the 2007 season.

"It felt good. It felt really good today," Vilma said. "Being out there with my teammates, actually being able to hit people now."

And he's not being held back at all, he said.

"They told me to go after it," Vilma said. "I got a good deal with them. I told them I'd honestly tell them how I feel if I'm really feeling it or hurting. We don't want any setbacks. I want to be ready for the first game of the season."

Etc.
Offensive lineman Jammal Brown missed Thursday afternoon's practice and will miss all Friday to attend a funeral. He'll return Friday night. ... The lower field at Millsaps is finally finished. The Saints expect to start using it Friday. ... First-round pick Sedrick Ellis and second-round pick Tracy Porter were not at practice Thursday. Neither has signed a contract, yet. ... Vilma worked out with the first-team defense in the afternoon. ... The Saints will practice against at 8:50 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. All practices at Millsaps are open to the public.

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