Thirty-Seven Saints Gather at Tulane Practice Facility for Organized Workout

Led by Drew Brees and his personal trainer Todd Durkin, thirty-seven Saints players shrugged off the lockout and began their offseason conditioning program today at Tulane's practice facility. More players, including rookies just drafted, are expected to join later workouts. No details are available on exactly what they did, but judging by the video, it appears to have been mostly stretching and conditioning exercises aimed at getting their bodies back into practice shape. These workouts will eventually develop into on-field work if the lockout continues.

The court battle to end the lockout is currently awaiting the ruling from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which could come as early as this week. With any luck, the court will deny the league the stay of Judge Nelson's earlier ruling and allow players and coaches to begin their normal offseason training and conditioning. No one seems to have any idea which way the ruling could go.

In addition to the Saints, players from other teams have also conducted their own organized workouts. These include the Falcons, Dolphins, Buccaneers, and Giants. There may be others, but I haven't yet found any confirmed reports.

Make the jump for a complete list of those in attendance plus lots of video from the workout.

The Times-Picayune provides this attendance report:

The group included several unsigned free agents, including safety Roman Harper, offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod, tight ends David Thomas, safeties Darren Sharper and Chris Reis, center Jonathan Goodwin, fullback Heath Evans, offensive tackle Zach Strief, linebackers Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Danny Clark and safety Pierson Prioleau.

Among the others in attendance were linebacker Jonathan Vilma, offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb, receivers Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson and Adrian Arrington, tight end Jimmy Graham, quarterback Chase Daniel, safety Malcolm Jenkins, cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Randall Gay, defensive end Junior Galette, kicker Garrett Hartley, tight end Tyler Lorenzen, quarterback Sean Canfield, tailbacks Lynell Hamilton and Chris Taylor, fullback Jed Collins, center Matt Tennant and long snapper Justin Drescher.

At least one draft pick, cornerback Johnny Patrick, attended. Defensive end Greg Romeus and linebacker Nate Bussey are expected to join their new teammates soon, as well. Top picks Cameron Jordan, Mark Ingram and Martez Wilson also may join them. 

Guard Jahri Evans is expected to arrive as soon as Wednesday, and several other veterans could begin to join the group as the program continues. Among the notables who weren't in attendance Tuesday were tailbacks Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Chris Ivory, guard Carl Nicks, receiver Lance Moore, defensive linemen Will Smith, Sedrick Ellis, Shaun Rogers, Remi Ayodele and Alex Brown, cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Patrick Robinson, linebacker Scott Shanle and punter Thomas Morstead -- though it's possible any or all of them could show up soon.