Smith said Fonoti's agent, Steve Feldman, told the Chargers the player was coming to camp.

"I was informed yesterday that he would be here," coach Marty Schottenheimer said. The coach said he was surprised, "particularly in light of the fact we were told without reservation he would be here."

Fonoti, a 1999 Kahuku High graduate, was the Chargers' second round pick in 2002 from Nebraska.

Agent Steve Feldman wouldn't say why Fonoti was absent.

"At this point all I'm going to tell you is he'll be there first thing in the morning," Feldman said. "It just doesn't serve any useful purpose to say anything else. Whether it was a mixup or some kind of unnecessary concern, he'll be there first thing in the morning."

First-round draft pick Shawne Merriman continued to stay away from the Chargers' offseason workouts on the advice of his agent, Kevin Poston. Poston wants the Chargers to change the language that protects unsigned players in case of injury, and the Chargers have refused.

Patriots

Seymour still AWOL

Richard Seymour missed his second straight day of New England's mandatory minicamp yesterday.

The three-time Pro Bowl defensive end has complained about the six-year contract he signed as a rookie in 2001, and coach Bill Belichick has called his absence "unexcused."

Safety Rodney Harrison declined to pass judgment on a player who works very hard and is considered a team leader of the three-time Super Bowl champions.

"That would be something different if he wasn't that type of guy," Harrison said yesterday, "but Rich is a guy that pays the price and he does everything he can to help his teammates be successful. So Rich is a good man on the field as well as off the field.

"I can't judge (his absence). I don't know the situation. I'm not in Richard's shoes. Only he can express that."

Seymour has two years remaining on a $14.3 million deal he signed in 2001 after being drafted in the first round out of Georgia.

ELSEWHERE

Dolphins: Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor missed the first session of workouts at Miami's three-day minicamp yesterday at Davie, Fla., because of an undisclosed illness. Taylor returned in time for the team's afternoon session after seeing a doctor in the morning, Dolphins coach Nick Saban said.

Panthers: Carolina signed eight-year veteran strong safety Mike Minter to a four-year contract extension yesterday, likely assuring the local favorite will finish his career with the team that drafted him. Terms of the contract were not immediately available.