JACKSON, Miss. – New Orleans wide receiver Marques Colston darted five yards up field, turned to his right and made towards the sideline and turned his head.

Almost immediately, Drew Brees zinged in Colston’s direction a pass that the third-year receiver deftly handled before turning towards the end zone.

Associated Press

Marques Colston extends to make a big catch against the 49ers.

Ho hum. Another catch for the standout receiver during Friday’s afternoon practice at Millsaps College.

It wasn’t even his biggest catch of the weekend. No, that would be the contract extension he signed Wednesday keeping him in New Orleans until at least 2011.

“It’s something that I’m very happy to get done and very appreciative of Mr. (Tom) Benson and the Saints being willing to work with me this early in my contract,” Colston said. “I’m just happy to get it done and be able to move on and focus 100 percent on football.”

Not that’s something Colston knows how to do well.

A 7th-round selection out of Hofstra in 2006, Colston has been a model of focus for the past two years. Don’t expect his third year to be any different.

Despite outperforming most other players from his draft, Colston never complained, never let on that he was uncomfortable with what could be considered a rookie contract that in hindsight, wasn’t as valuable as it should have been.

Colston never saw it that way.

“Not really,” he said. “My compensation hasn’t been bad to this point, anyway. I’ve learned to be patient with things and just hopeful things would work themselves out.”

That’s exactly what happened. And things might be getting even better for the receiver.

If there was anyone who needed the addition of Jeremy Shockey to the offense more than Brees, it was Colston.

You see, following a breakout rookie season, Colston, naturally, became the target of defenses league-wide.

More double teams in his sophomore season? You betcha.

“Quite a bit more, just looking at film,” Colston said. “Hopefully coming into this year we have enough weapons to spread the field and they’ll play everyone even and honest.”

Colston still finished with more yards and more touchdowns than he did his rookie year. He finished with 1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2007 compared to 1,038 yards and eight TD’s his rookie season.

Still, Shockey will help take pressure off of the young receiver. He’s known as a tight end who can stretch the field. He left the New York Giants as the franchises No. 5 all-time receiver.

“Huge addition,” Colston said. “He’s definitely another great weapon on our offense. Hopefully he can get in and get acclimated and start making plays.”

Nevertheless, the offense – when the ball is in the air, at least – will still focus on Colston, head coach Sean Payton said.

“You’re trying to find a number of ways to get the ball to a guy like Colston,” Payton said.

With nearly six weeks left until the season opener, Payton has plenty of time to figure out to get Colston the ball more.

And Colston will be waiting there patiently.