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Saints-Ellis
07/30/08 - 09:07 PM
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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - New Orleans Saints first-round pick
Sedrick Ellis took a healthy amount of ribbing from his teammates
on the defensive line as he arrived Wednesday at Millsaps College
for training camp.
Ellis gave it right back to them as he practiced for the first
time since signing his five-year contract earlier in the day.
“They were giving me a little of tough love there, but some of
those other defensive line guys aren’t too underpaid themselves,”
Ellis said.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis did not release financial
details because of team policies. The Times-Picayune, citing
unidentified league sources, said the contract is worth $49
million, with $19.5 million in guarantees.
The newest Saints defensive tackle came into camp weighing about
305 pounds and took plenty of extra repetitions during individual
drills. Ellis spent most of his time practicing with the second
team, but that should change the more acclimated the No. 7 overall
pick in April’s draft becomes to the system.
Saints coach Sean Payton and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron
both said Ellis showed up in good shape, but they noted he’s behind
the rest of the team. Ellis missed the first 12 training camp
practices because of his extended holdout.
“It’s hard to be in the same exact shape everyone else is,
because it’s impossible to simulate what you’re missing,” Payton
said. “You can try, but it’s hard to do that. So until you get
pads on and start moving around in this heat, over a long period of
time, it’ll take a while.”
Ellis said he wished the contract talks wouldn’t have lasted so
long, preferring to have arrived at camp on the first day.
Reporting day was last Wednesday and two-a-day practices began last
Thursday.
“That was really tough, especially you know when all your new
teammates that you haven’t made an impression on yet are out
working hard and you want to be a part of that, especially being a
new member of the team,” Ellis said. “So it definitely weighed on
my mind and I kept in really good contact with my agent and with
officials on the team and we got it finished.”
Ellis ended his opening session on a positive note as he bowled
through guard Andy Alleman to put added pressure on quarterback
Mark Brunell. The move allowed defensive end Bobby McCray to jar
the ball loose from the left-handed quarterback.
“I think I had a couple of good plays this practice,” Ellis
said. “I’m definitely a guy that likes to do a lot of line games
and a lot of movement at the defensive line. I’m not the biggest of
defensive linemen, so I pride myself on my ability to move. I
definitely like to play stunt games on the line and things like
that. I just like to get in the groove with my teammates and have
as much fun as possible.”

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