Jenkins a no-show

• By LES EAST
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Jul 31, 2009 - Page: 1C

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METAIRIE — The Saints begin training camp with two practices today, but don’t expect to see first-round draft choice Malcolm Jenkins on the field.

In fact, General Manager Mickey Loomis said Thursday night that he’s “very pessimistic” about getting Jenkins, a cornerback from Ohio State, signed any time in “the near future.”

The only player who didn’t report Thursday was Jenkins, a cornerback from Ohio State who was selected 14th. Only eight of the 32 first-round picks have signed, and the closest to Jenkins’ slot was Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was picked seventh.

Loomis said the Saints presented their first contract offer to Jenkins’ representatives, but hadn’t gotten a response. He said that if the “magnitude of increase” in contracts signed by other first-round choices thus far continues, New Orleans will have a “real issue.”

Coach Sean Payton said linebacker Jonathan Vilma, the team’s leading tackler a year ago, will be one of three players limited in practice early in camp because of health issues.

Vilma had an arthroscopic procedure on his abdomen, which Payton said “wasn’t a full sports hernia.” Payton said Vilma will get a “fair amount of reps” and be monitored for the first week or so before they “turn him loose.”

Defensive end Rob Ninkovich, who was competing to replace long-time long snapper Kevin Houser, was waived. The departure of Ninkovich and the release last week of fullback Darian Barnes created roster spots for two draft choices that agreed to contracts: safety Chip Vaughn (fourth round) and punter Thomas Morstead (fifth round).

Two wide receivers — Lance Moore, who had offseason shoulder surgery, and Adrian Arrington, who has been slowed by a hamstring strain — will participate in individual drills but be held out of team drills until the Saints are confident they won’t be risking further injury.

The players reported Thursday morning and began with “an organizational meeting” that familiarized them with logistical changes to camp, which had been held at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., the past three seasons.

After that, the players participated in a series of conditioning runs. Payton said every player passed the test except for four unidentified linemen who finished but failed to make their prescribed time in their final run. Payton said only one unidentified player failed to meet his reporting weight.

The team had a brief walkthrough at its indoor facility and was scheduled to have a team meeting and break into offensive, defensive, and special teams meetings at the hotel Thursday night before their 11 p.m. bed check.

Payton said he is trying to simulate the on-campus training camp experience by using the team hotel, about a 12-minute drive from the training facility, the way dorms were used at Millsaps, allowing the players to get off their feet between practices.

The organization has moved all of its video and computer equipment to the hotel, and all of the meetings and players’ meals will be there until the team moves out of the hotel when it departs for Houston on Aug. 18 for practices and a preseason game against the Texans.