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Bench Warmer
Ellis’ holdout frustrating Saints coach
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)—Sedrick Ellis’ holdout reached its sixth day Monday and Saints coach Sean Payton appeared to be growing tired of it.
“He’s missing opportunities to get better, and that can affect his play,” Payton said. “If you just look at the history of guys who have held out for longer than a period of four or five days, it hasn’t been real good.”
The Saints reported to training camp for weigh-ins and conditioning tests last Wednesday. They began two-a-day practices on Thursday, meaning Ellis has missed 10 practices in all.
The Saints, looking to bolster their pass rush, traded up in last spring’s draft from the 10th slot to the seventh to get Ellis. Coaches were pleased with his work in rookie camp and minicamp, and it was clear he could compete for a starting job during training camp—if he shows up.
Part of Payton’s frustration stems from the fact the first through sixth draft picks have signed, setting somewhat of a precedent for the amount of money Ellis should receive.
“He needs to recognize, and I’m sure he will, that the slots ahead of him have signed and he’s missing valuable playing time and valuable reps as a rookie,” Payton said. “Then when he comes in, then all of a sudden we’ve got to get him acclimated because he hasn’t been here. That’s where there’s some urgency on his part.”
The top defensive tackle taken in the draft was LSU’s Glenn Dorsey, selected fifth overall by Kansas City. He agreed to a five-year, $51 million deal that includes an option year and more than $22 million in guaranteed money.
Ellis’ agent, Eugene Parker, did not return phone messages left at his office.
Ellis, a 6-foot-1, 307-pound defensive tackle out of Southern California, was an All-American and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. In 13 games last season, Ellis had 58 tackles, 12 1/2 tackles for losses and 8 1/2 sacks. He also was credited with breaking up seven passes.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)—Sedrick Ellis’ holdout reached its sixth day Monday and Saints coach Sean Payton appeared to be growing tired of it.
“He’s missing opportunities to get better, and that can affect his play,” Payton said. “If you just look at the history of guys who have held out for longer than a period of four or five days, it hasn’t been real good.”
The Saints reported to training camp for weigh-ins and conditioning tests last Wednesday. They began two-a-day practices on Thursday, meaning Ellis has missed 10 practices in all.
The Saints, looking to bolster their pass rush, traded up in last spring’s draft from the 10th slot to the seventh to get Ellis. Coaches were pleased with his work in rookie camp and minicamp, and it was clear he could compete for a starting job during training camp—if he shows up.
Part of Payton’s frustration stems from the fact the first through sixth draft picks have signed, setting somewhat of a precedent for the amount of money Ellis should receive.
“He needs to recognize, and I’m sure he will, that the slots ahead of him have signed and he’s missing valuable playing time and valuable reps as a rookie,” Payton said. “Then when he comes in, then all of a sudden we’ve got to get him acclimated because he hasn’t been here. That’s where there’s some urgency on his part.”
The top defensive tackle taken in the draft was LSU’s Glenn Dorsey, selected fifth overall by Kansas City. He agreed to a five-year, $51 million deal that includes an option year and more than $22 million in guaranteed money.
Ellis’ agent, Eugene Parker, did not return phone messages left at his office.
Ellis, a 6-foot-1, 307-pound defensive tackle out of Southern California, was an All-American and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. In 13 games last season, Ellis had 58 tackles, 12 1/2 tackles for losses and 8 1/2 sacks. He also was credited with breaking up seven passes.
