Saints coach Sean Payton is concerned about the work the team's top choice is missing because the history of No. 1s in the past who have missed training camp work have suffered for it. It's more of physical conditioning than mental because the defensive tackle playbook isn't real deep.

Ellis, who was drafted seventh over-all, is one of three first-round picks yet to sign a contract. No. 8 pick Derrick Harvey of the Jaguars and No. 8 selection Keith Rivers of the Bengals are the others.

Ellis could come to terms on Tuesday, but there has been little talk between Ellis' agent and the Saints. Ellis was expected to sign after No. 6 Vernon Gholston signed with the Jets and No. 5 Glenn Dorsey came to terms with the Chiefs.

"Sedrick is missing opportunities to get better," said Payton. "That can affect his play."

"I wish Sedrick was here because he could be getting some valuable lessons as far as learning the defense and getting through this stuff and getting in playing shape," said defensive tackle Hollis Thomas. who could lose his starting job to Ellis. "This is a team. It's team first. There's no 'I' in team. I'm going to get my reps regardless if he's here."

The Saints are deep at defensive line and should have a fresh player on the field more often than last season when the pass rush was below Saints standards.

Defensive end Will Smith, who was involved in a minor altercation with offensive tackle Jammal Brown in a Monday practice, said that he felt the D-line has more potential this year with himself, Charles Grant, Bobby McCray, Brian Young, Thomas and Ellis on the D-line. McCray, who looks more like a NBA power forward than a defensive end, is the quickest of the group and has impressed in camp.

"We're expecting big things from Sedrick," said Smith. "If we have the year that we're expecting to have, we can be unlimited. The top of the goal is the main thing."

Tuesday's afternoon practice will be conducted in Jackson Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m. and will be open to the public.

New tight end Jeremy Shockey caught a screen pass and was lined up with Reggie Bush at wide receiver in a recent practice. Shockey also is a coaching some other players during workouts. He frequently takes a linebacker, defensive back or tight end aside and gives them tips. Payton likes that. "Look at Shockey teaching," said Payton during a workout."

As far as fantasy football goes, if you weren't in love with the Saints passing game in the past, you'd better study the contribution can make to a passing game.

Before the trade, Drew Brees was considered one of Fantasy's Big Four QBs with Brady (who'll be 31 on Sunday), P. Manning and Romo. Now he may be the best value of the four as he'll probably still be available in the second round of your draft. Taking the best RB you can get in the first round and Brees in the second is a perfectly valid game plan.

Never forget that Shockey can be positioned anywhere on the field and easily go deep. Despite time with injuries over the past three years, Shockey accounted for 20.2 per cent of the Giants' catches (188), 20.6 per cent of receiving yards (2,133) and 23.9 per cent of receiving TDs (17). So as a Giant, he averaged 63 balls for 711 yards and almost 6 TDs, good numbers for a tight end.

In Fantasy summation, Brees is a better value than he already was, and Shockey becomes a great value. Marques Colston could actually go up. Bush might drop a tick.

SOME HITHER, OTHERS YON: You'll find Will Clark, for Jesuit, Mississippi State and MLB star living outside of Baton Rouge and serving as  a special adviser to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He will be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame on Friday. Clark already is the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He had a MLB  .303 career batting average, hit 284 home runs and drove in 1,205 runs. Clark played for the Giants, Rangers, Orioles and Cardinals. He retired from MLB in 2000....Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle said  there is a bond growing between him and Dwayne Bowe, former LSU wide receiver. "Definitely," the quarterback told the Kansas City Star. "I think you we started to see a bit of that last year. We're getting on the same page. There has to be a trust developing where you know he's going to be there and he knows I'll get him the ball."

Croyle thinks Chiefs fans have seen only a glimpse of Bowe's true ability. "He's going to be a special player. No doubt about it. And the thing is he works at it. I called him once a week during he offseason, and every time I called he was getting ready to go work out or go catch some balls. He's got a strong work ethic." Bowe was the Chiefs' top receiver last season as a rookie....Former Saints wide receiver Joe Horn reported to the Falcons' training camp and remains hopeful he will be traded even though interest has been minimal. The ability to trade Horn and the decision to retain him is complicated by his guaranteed, 2008 salary of $2.5 million salary. Horn's agent said Horn would restructure his contract to facilitate a trade. The Falcons would have to pay Horn even if they cut him. Horn said even though he wants out, he won;t be a distraction. "It's never going to be a locker-room issue," said Horn. "I respect all my coaches. I'll be a professional. If they ask me to go, I'm going to go. Until I hear otherwise, I'm working my tail off and catching balls."...My time is up. Ed Stton can be reached at edcoachstaton@yahoo.com.