Ex-Saints teammates including Drew Brees are in the courtroom as proceedings began in the Will Smith murder case ... according to reports.
Witness testimony in the second degree murder case against Cardell Hayes began Tuesday ... and Brees and Steve Gleason were on hand to see it.
Another ex-Saint, Deuce McAllister, was also on hand, but was actually part of the trial ... being called as the state of Louisiana's first witness.
No word on whether or not either Brees or Gleason would be called as character witnesses for Smith .