blacksaint

Brett Martel / Associated Press

JACKSON, MS -- New Orleans Saints behemoth defensive tackle Hollis Thomas always seems to have a jolly demeanor and isn't shy about discussing his bulging midsection.

Saints tackle Hollis Thomas (99) leads defenders in a drill during the team's training camp. Thomas believes the hot weather and the two-a-day practices will help him reach the prescribed playing weight.

"I'm a fat guy, and I'll always be fat," Thomas said Friday, the first day of full practices at Saints training camp.

But weight is an issue for Thomas, even if he isn't letting it drag him down emotionally.

Head coach Sean Payton asked Thomas to show up at training camp at 335 pounds. He's heavier than that now, although neither he nor Payton would say specifically by how much.

"Confidential information. ... You don't see me walking around asking what size pants do you wear," Thomas said.

"I'll just tell you that you have a bad outfit," he said good-naturedly, turning his attention to a reporter wearing a lavender polo. "Speaking of bad outfits, where did you get that shirt from? Spring is over. And you've got man sandals."

Payton had a more straight forward response to questions about Thomas' weight.

"He's not right where we want him yet, but he's getting there," Payton said. I don't want to get into specific weights, but he's still heavy. He still has some work to do, but he's lighter than when he left (minicamp) in June, so that was encouraging."

Last season, Thomas helped solidify the Saints' interior defensive line against the run and at times showed the ability to pressure the quarterback, even sacking former Philadelphia teammate Donovan McNabb.

This season, he may have a little more competition for the starting job with the arrival of free agent Kendrick Clancy. For now, Thomas is still working with the first team, rotating in with Clancy and Antwan Lake, while fellow defensive tackle Brian Young has been riding a stationary bike on the sidelines as he recovers from a broken foot.

"I just look at it as good competition out there," Thomas said. "This is team sport and you need as many good players as you can. If he's going to be here and he can help us get to where we need to go, then that's what we need. It's not just a one-person team. You need a rotation on that front line."

Thomas expects that by simply eating right at training camp and participating in Payton's grueling, twice-a-day practices in the Mississippi summer heat, he'll get down to his desired playing weight before the regular season begins.

"With grueling heat and 10 pounds of equipment on you ... you can probably try to equate it to, with no disrespect to any soldiers or anything, it's kind of like going through a boot camp," Thomas said. "Somebody equated it to prison, but prisoners get a little leeway. They don't have to do this. It's kind of like boot camp. In boot camp, they have to do those long jogs with all that equipment on and stuff. They do more by nine o'clock than most of you do all day."

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