Saints coach Sean Payton and his staff got their first on-field look at the team's 22 newcomers during a three-day minicamp for rookies and first-year players at the team's Metairie practice facility.
While the primary objective was to indoctrinate the team's six draft picks and 16 free agent signees and let them get their feet wet at the NFL level, Payton and the coaches were keeping an eye out for something else.
In the last two years, the coaches mined a couple of free agents out of the free-agent pool of players who went undrafted. Considering punter Steve Weatherford made the team in 2006 and running back/kick returner Pierre Thomas managed to land a roster spot a year ago, the Saints are hoping to uncover the next big thing.
In addition to their six draft picks and the 16 free agents they've already signed, the Saints brought in another 36 players on a tryout basis for the three-day camp.
"The goal is to indoctrinate these players into our system," Payton said. "It's a chance for them to see how we practice, learn our terminology and get them ready to compete for a position on this team.
"The minicamp is here to teach them about our system, the structure and an introduction of the building and the people that are going to be teaching them and instructing them."
Their first official weekend as NFL players was anything but easy. In addition to five practices, there were team and position meetings and their introduction to the team's playbooks.
But eventually, this weekend was about what the coaches see on the field even though it's no-contact work in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets.
"It's an opportunity for us to see what they can do," Payton said of the free agents and the players who are in for tryouts. "We have had players in here like (tight end) Billy Miller that were here on tryouts before, and (wide receiver) Jamal Jones in 2006, that we've had success with.
"We're just trying to find players that can help our team, and it gives us a chance to increase the number of players that are here and competing. We take a good look at these players and give them an opportunity to show what they can do."
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