JACKSON, Miss. ― Not even a day into training camp for the 2008 season and the Saints already can call it exceptional.

General Manager Mickey Loomis announced during an opening-day news conference that the franchise has come to terms with Marques Colston, signing the talented wide receiver to a three-year extension that keeps him with New Orleans through 2011.

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Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis

Loomis didn’t disclose the financial terms of the deal. He said it’s the first time he can ever remember signing a player to an extension after only two years.

“He has been durable. He has been dependable. He is big and physical,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said. “He works to improve. He’s steady and consistent and does his job.”

With camp set to start Thursday, the timing couldn’t be better.

“We’re excited to have Marques and to know he’s going to be part of the New Orleans Saints through 2011,” Loomis said.

Payton said 79 players reported, one shy of the 80 allowed by the NFL. Jeremetrius Butler decided to retire, Payton said, instead of reporting.

Not included in that number, however, are New Orleans’ first- and second-round selections. Sedrick Ellis and Tracy Porter have not been signed to contracts, yet.

Loomis doesn’t expect that to change soon and he’s not happy with that prospect, blaming agents for hijacking rookies for their own benefit.

“There’s been very little progress in the first round, period, and really the top of the second round has had little progress,” Loomis said.

“It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating because I feel like it’s the agents of these guys not wanting to look bad as opposed to any concern with getting the player in here and getting him acclimated in the right way in their first year in the league.”

And then there’s Jeremy Shockey, whom the Saints acquired Monday in a trade with the New York Giants. He, too, will have to get acclimated to the Saints way of doing things.

He, at least, has a past relationship with Payton to fall back on. On Wednesday, Payton said Shockey cleared his physical.

“We’re excited to see what he’s able to do,” Payton said. “He’s close to 100 percent. He passed his physical and everything looked clean. It’s just a matter of transitioning back to football and getting in football shape.”

Shockey broke his fibula at the end of the 2007 regular season and missed the Giants final six games.

In other news from the news conference:

- All but one player reported at their desired weight, including all linemen. Payton wouldn’t specify as to who didn’t come in at weight;

- Defensive backs Josh Bullocks and Mike McKenzie were placed on the pup list - physically unable to perform - meaning they won’t practice immediately but will be able to come back from knee injuries when they’re ready. Payton expects that to be within the first week in Jackson.;

- Tight end Eric Johnson is on a list similar to the pup list, non-football related injury list. Johnson didn’t work out the past couple of weeks resting his left ankle.

- Deuce McAllister reported to camp eight pounds lighter than he did two years ago when he came off knee surgery. Payton said it was very “encouraging. He looks as trim as he’s been in a while.”

The Saints begin training camp Thursday morning at 8:50 a.m. and then have a second practice at 4:20 p.m. All practices are open to the public while at Millsaps.