--Free safety Abram Elam didn't participate in the first week of voluntary minicamp. Instead, he was back home in Riviera Beach, Fla., after the tragic shooting death of his older brother, Donald Elam, Jr. Elam now has had three siblings murdered, all by gunshots. His younger sister, Christina, was killed in 1999 and his half-brother Donald Runner was murdered in 1987.

"With Abe, it's obviously a very difficult time for him," coach Eric Mangini said. "Organizationally and personally, our condolences go out to him, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and he'll be back whenever he's back. The important thing now is for him to take care of his family and to take care of himself."

--As expected, tight end Chris Baker was a no-show for voluntary minicamp. Baker wants a raise from his current four-year, $6.6 million contract. He's due $683,500 this year and $2.1 million in 2009.

"I've talked to Chris," Mangini said, "and one of the things that's been important to Chris and I is that he stay current on the information. What we've been focusing on is getting him the new information, making sure that he's up to date and giving him all the resources that he needs to be successful when he is here."

Mangini added, "We've always had a good relationship. I like the things that he's done. I like the progress that he's made over the course of time that I've been here. We've always had that relationship."

The coach added that he expects Baker to show up for mandatory minicamp in June.

--Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer had a coin flip before the first organized team activity (voluntary minicamp) practice to determine whether Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens would work with the first unit on the first day. Pennington won, which meant he practiced with the starters on the first day, and then Clemens worked with the first unit on the second day. They will continue to alternate.

"Chad got to call it," Mangini said. "He won, so he started the first drill. Whatever the progression is today is the progression. There's no other agenda to whoever takes the first snap, I promise you."

"Coach Schottenheimer flipped the coin and gave Chad the call, the veteran guy, and I understand that," Clemens said with a smile. "Chad called heads. I thought I had a good chance because I'm usually a guy that calls tails, and it was heads all the way."

QUOTE TO NOTE
"He makes 360 look good, you know? I wish I could say the same." -- Coach Eric Mangini on 360-pound nose tackle Kris Jenkins.

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