Rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins eager to get deal done in time for camp
Posted by Brian Allee-Walsh, The Times-Picayune
July 24, 2009
Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune
Rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins says he grasped a lot in offseason workouts but he doesn't want to fall behind by missing training camp time.
Although little progress has been made on the contract front, Saints first-round draft pick Malcolm Jenkins appears to be settling into his new surroundings.
Jenkins, the 14th overall pick and top-rated cornerback in the April draft, said his agent opened preliminary discussions with Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis on Friday. Jenkins hopes to report for the start of training camp next week.
Players are to report by 10 a.m. Thursday but can check into the team hotel, the Airport Hilton, beginning Wednesday. Two practices are scheduled for Friday at the team's training facility in Metairie -- 8:50 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Both are open to the public.
"As of right now, there's been no progress," Jenkins said. "My agent (Ben Dogra) has spoken to Mickey several times before today, but this was the first day where they started making strides, I guess.
"I've expressed to Ben that I want to be there on time, but at the same time, I pay him to do his job, and I'm going to let him do it. I want to get to camp on time, but it's in the hands of my agent."
Attempts to reach Dogra were unsuccessful.
Jenkins ended the team's offseason program in June with the second unit and will be vying for a starting job in training camp.
"I want to be in camp from Day 1, but I think the way they were installing stuff, the things that we've already put in, I think I have a pretty good grasp on them," he said. "I know when we start installing (the playbook), we're going to pretty much go back to the basics.
"So the first couple of practices, I think I can do without. But if it goes past a couple of days, that's when I think I'll fall behind. So I'm trying to push my agent so I can definitely try to get in there on time."
Jenkins said he remains in good shape after working out this week with teammates Lance Moore and fellow rookie Chip Vaughn, a safety and the team's first of two fourth-round draft picks.
"My last day of working really hard was (Thursday), so I think I can start relaxing now," Jenkins said. "I'll do a little bit of light workout early next week and then just shut it down."
Besides working out in New Orleans and tweeting, Jenkins is trying to get his new apartment in order. Fans might have seen him recently shopping at "Wal-Mart, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Pier 1 Imports; places like that," he said.
"My mom (Gwen Jenkins) flew in for the weekend, so she's been helping me put the finishing touches on my place," Jenkins said. "She did all the decorating and stuff, color schemes and stuff like that."
