Colston bails on Monday's OTA

Wide receiver Marques Colston was a no show at Monday’s offseason team activity session Monday morning.

Saints coach Sean Payton hasn’t heard from Colston and said he’d give Colston a phone call later this afternoon to find out why he didn’t attend.

Payton stressed the OTAs are voluntary, but said defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and guard/center Matt Lehr were deemed as being excused from the voluntary practice as neither were at the practice facility. Payton didn’t give the same distinction to Colston.

“In his case, he’s probably traveling west. … I’ll find out today and give him a call and find out what the deal is,” Payton said.

Colston is in the final year of his contract and has said he would like a new contract comparable to some of the league’s top wide receivers. Colston and defensive end Will Smith are both represented by Joel Segal. Smith missed all of the offseason workouts leading up to minicamp because he also wants a new deal.