SAN DIEGO (AP) -In what's becoming a tradition, the San Diego Chargers opened training camp without their first-round draft pick.

Although the Chargers were confident in how contract talks were going, cornerback Antonio Cromartie was a no-show as the team had its first practice for rookies and selected veterans on Tuesday.

``Everything's really going well,'' general manager A.J. Smith said after practice. ``We just didn't make the 9 o'clock deadline for when the kids report,'' he added, referring to the time rookies were supposed to be in on Monday night. ``We had a number we threw out there and they had one. We just didn't hit on it.

``I'm really optimistic, and he said close,'' Smith said, referring to Cromartie's agent. ``What's close, people ask me? Well, we've just got to get it done. I remember back in Buffalo, Scott Norwood was close on a field goal, too.''

Smith, who was in Buffalo's front office at the time, was referring to Norwood missing a 47-yard field goal on the last play of Buffalo's 20-19 loss to the Giants in the 1991 Super Bowl.

Cromartie's agent, Jason Fletcher, refused comment.

This is the fifth time in six years that the Chargers' first-round pick wasn't on the field for the start of camp.

The last Chargers' first-rounder to come in on time was cornerback Sammy Davis in 2003. The Chargers traded Davis to the San Francisco 49ers in the offseason for another former first-round bust, wide receiver Rashaun Woods.

When he does get a deal, Cromartie will be trying to win a starting spot in a secondary that had only seven interceptions last season. San Diego's pass defense was ranked No. 28.

By comparison, cornerback Ty Law, now with the division rival Kansas City Chiefs, tied for the NFL lead with 10 pickoffs last year for the New York Jets.

Cromartie missed all of last season at Florida State with a knee injury. He made just one start in college, but the Chargers took him with the No. 19 pick because they liked his work ethic and potential.

Second-round draft pick Marcus McNeill, an offensive tackle from Auburn, made it from the airport in time to join his new teammates in post-practice stretching.

``I don't think he made any mistakes today - yet,'' coach Marty Schottenheimer said.

McNeill agreed Monday night to a four-year contract. He was at a movie in Atlanta with his niece and nephew when he got a call from his agent that the deal was done, and flew to San Diego on Tuesday morning.

``Everybody around here knew I wasn't really trying to miss any camp and I really wanted to come here because I really can't compete for any job if I'm at home doing nothing,'' he said.

Left tackle is a huge concern for the Chargers, especially with untested Philip Rivers taking over at quarterback. Roman Oben missed the second half of the season with a foot injury that required two operations and the Chargers plan to be conservative with him this camp. Leander Jordan started the last eight games last season for the Chargers, who finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 seasons.

McNeill has a medical issue, too, a narrowing of the spine.

``A lot of question marks have been put around me from workouts and my back situation and everything,'' he said. ``That's one asset that I do have is being on the field. When I am on the field I do feel like I'm a pretty decent player, so I'm really looking forward to getting out there and playing football.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.