Saints start minicamp Friday

METAIRIE — The New Orleans Saints coaching staff will get a chance to see the five players they selected in the recent NFL draft when they hold a rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday.

Five practices will be held with two on Friday and Saturday and one more on Sunday for the 64 players who are expected to attend.

In addition to the five draft picks and 18 undrafted free agents, nine players signed by the Saints since the end of the 2011 season will be on hand. Also, 32 players — 10 NFL veterans and 22 rookies — will participate in the workouts on a tryout basis.

Only rookie draft picks, rookie free agents, players that do not have an accrued NFL season — along with veteran and rookie tryout players — are eligible for the minicamp.

Among the veteran NFL players in for a tryout is former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brian Brohm. Former LSU linebacker Ryan Baker, who was released by the Tampa Bay Bucs on Monday, is one of the rookies participating on a tryout basis.

All of the practices will be closed to the media and public.