Saints WR Lance Moore to Have Shoulder Surgery

REPORT: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore was injured while lifting weights during the team's off-season training program and will require surgery to repair the damage.

Head Coach Sean Payton said he expects Moore to miss the team's spring mini-camps but he is hopeful that Moore will be available to return for the start of training camp in July.

Saints Sign LB Waters

The New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President and General Manager Mickey Loomis has announced the signing of free agent linebacker Anthony Waters. Terms of his contract were not disclosed.

Waters, who is entering his third NFL season, spent two years in San Diego after being selected by the Chargers in the third round of the 2007 draft.

The 6-3, 238-pound linebacker played in seven regular season games, making three tackles on defense and three stops and a fumble recovery on special teams. He also played in one postseason contest, recording a tackle.

Double Murder in Vilma's Vacant New York Condo

The NYPD is investigating a double-murder which took place in a condo owned by New Orleans Saints LB Jonathan Vilma.

The bodies of Sekou Sakor and Ansu Keita turned up in New York City last week around the time neighbors reported gunfire at a vacant condominium in Woodbury, N.Y.

New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly explained that the two Liberian immigrants appeared to have suffered an executed style death, because they allegedly orchestrated a “black paper scheme” fraud where people were bilked into buying a chemical that wipes ink off dollars.

According to police, Sekou Sajor and Ansu Keita’s bodies were dumped in separate New York boroughs after being shot in the head once apiece in a residence owned by Vilma, a former New York Jets player.

The New Orleans Saints linebacker and former New York Jets player was not there at the time, and has not been in the condo since 2007 when he placed the home up for sale. At this time he is not a suspect. Police are currently seeking to question a relative of Vilma who had access to the condominium, located in a luxury gated development about 13 miles from the Jets' former training camp at Hofstra University.

Police officials said investigators believe the victims may have been mixed up in a so-called "black money" scheme. Victims are sent e-mails saying that they could receive $100 bills smuggled from overseas -- stained black to avoid detection -- if they purchase a special chemical to wash it off; what they end up getting is a pile of worthless paper.

It was unclear how Sakor, 31, and Keita, 32, may have ended up at Vilma's home.

Saints Stay In-Division, Sign DT Coleman

The New Orleans Saints have stolen from division rival Atlanta Falcons by signing, DT Rod Coleman to a one-year deal. Financial terms were not released.

The 32-year-old former Pro Bowl selection did not play last season after being released by the Atlanta Falcons, where he had some of his best seasons under current Saints defensive line coach Bill Johnson. The 6-foot-2, 285-pound lineman led all NFL defensive tackles in sacks in 2004 (11.5) and 2005 (10.5) while Johnson was a Falcons assistant.

Coleman was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1999 and has played nine seasons, his last four with Atlanta. He has 293 career tackles and 58.5 sacks. Coleman has played in 109 regular season games, starting 70. He also has played in nine postseason games, including the 2003 Super Bowl with the Raiders.

Saints Release Kaesviharn

The Saints released safety Kevin Kaesviharn, a decision made easier after signing veteran free agent Pierson Prioleau. The team didn't make an official announcement, but team spokesman Greg Bensel and Kaesviharn's agent Bruce Tollner both confirmed the move.

Kaesviharn, 32, was scheduled to earn $1.6 million in salary and bonuses this year. He had two years remaining on the four-year contract he signed in 2007, but the Saints decided to go in a different direction, signing veterans Darren Sharper and Prioleau in free agency.

Kaesviharn started 14 games over the past two years with the Saints. But was ineffective during that span, he was inconsistent in coverage, giving up too many deep passing plays.

He earned the full-time starting job at free safety last year but missed the final five games of the season after suffering a neck injury. He finished the 2008 season with 61 tackles and two interceptions, giving him a total of 97 tackles and two interceptions during his time in New Orleans.

Saints Continue Defensive Make-Over: Add Prioleau

The New Orleans Saints have added some depth to their secondary with the signing of Pierson Prioleau, terms of the contract were not revealed.

Prioleau, 5-11, 188 pounds, is a veteran of ten NFL seasons who has played with the San Francisco 49ers (1999-2000), Buffalo Bills (2001-2004), Washington Redskins (2005-2008) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (2008).

The move reunites Prioleau with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams; they have worked together in Jacksonville, Washington, and Buffalo.

He has played in 129 career regular season games during his career, making 48 starts, and has accumulated 371 career tackles, along with five-and-a-half sacks, and 130 career special teams tackles.

He'll likely serve as a back-up for the Saints, behind recently signed Darren Sharper and holdover Roman Harper.

Browns Add Insurance, Sign WR Patten

The Cleveland Browns may be without the services of WR Donte Stallworth, for a long time, if not permanently as he awaits the legal repercussions of a fatal accident he was involved in earlier this month. When Stallworth's car struck and killed a pedestrian with his Bentley in Miami Beach.

In response to these events the Cleveland Browns have added some insurance in the form of WR David Patten, who had previously played with the team in 2000. The terms of his contract were not disclosed.

The well travelled wide receiver has played the last two seasons in New Orleans but has also had previous stops in the New York Giants, New England, and Washington. He won two Super Bowl titles with the Patriots.

For his career Patten has 324 catches for 4,715 yards and four touchdowns in 147 regular-season games in 12 NFL seasons.

Saints Release Veteran CB McKenzie

The New Orleans Saints have released 11-year veteran cornerback, Mike McKenzie after spending five seasons with the team. The move will save $4.575 Million in salary cap room.

McKenzie joined the Saints via a trade with the Green Bay Packers in 2004 but has been limited by injuries the last few season. The release does not come as a suprise as the Saints have been upgrading their defensive backfield over the last two seasons adding; Jason David, Randall Gay and Jabari Greer in free agency. They also drafted starter Tracy Porter last season. The Saints are also said to be interested in drafting CB/FS Malcolm Jenkins out of Ohio State.

When not limited by injuries, McKenzie has a reputation of being one of the better man-to-man coverage players in the league.

Saints Sign C Leckey

The New Orleans Saints have announced the signing of veteran center Nick Leckey to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

A 6th round pick of the Cardinals in 2004, out of Kansas State player he has also played in St. Louis where he started 10 games last season before a broken bone in his foot ended his season.

Chiefs Add Three

The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to terms with three player; linebacker Monte Beisel and wide receivers Bobby Engram and Terrance Copper. Terms of the contracts have not yet been revealed.

Beisel has previously played for the Chiefs from 2001-2004, after his collegiate career at Kansas State. He has most recently played with the Arizona Cardinals and the New England Patriots.

Engram, a former Nittany Lion began his NFL career with the Chicago Bears in 1996 and went to the Seattle Seahawks in 2001. He has caught 645 career passes for 7,690 yards with 35 touchdowns, and has returned two punts for touchdowns.

Copper has played in 63 games with five starts during stints in Dallas, New Orleans and Baltimore. He also has 41 tackles while playing on special teams.

Saints Sign Spicer

The New Orleans Saints have announced the signing of veteran defensive end Paul Spicer to a one-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Spicer, 33, started his career in Detroit, but has spent the last 9 years with the Jaguars. He is following his defensive coordinator Gregg Williams from Jacksonville to New Orleans.

According to NFL.com the 10 year veteran has notched 252 career tackles along with 28.5 sacks (21.5 sacks coming in the last 4 seasons) and 1 interception.

New York Ravens Sign Another Baltimore Defender

If the Cleveland Browns are becoming the Cleveland Jets than the New York Jets may be attempting to become the New York Ravens. New head coach Rex Ryan has added a third defender from his former Baltimore squad.


Defensive End Marques Douglas will join his former teammates LB Bart Scott and S Jim Leonard after agreeing to terms on a contract with the Jets. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The 32-year-old Douglas had 36 tackles last season with the Ravens after he was released from the Buccaneers after training camp. He was originally signed by Baltimore as an undrafted free agent out of Howard in 1999, and had three stints with the Ravens. Douglas has also played for New Orleans and San Francisco.

Redskins Ink Another Punter

The Washington Redskins have been searching for answers in their punting game and have been cycling through punter after punter to try and find a solution. The next one in the cycle is veteran Dirk Johnson. Terms of his contract were not disclosed.

Johnson has a 41.7-yard career average and a career net average of 35.9. He has punted for several teams in the NFL including New Orleans, Chicago, Arizona and he has also punted in the Super Bowl for Philadelphia in 2004.

The Redskins ranked last in the NFL in net average last season. Draft pick Durant Brooks won the job over incumbent Derrick Frost during training camp, then was cut and replaced by Ryan Plackemeier in October. Plackemeier was released last month.

Grady Jackson Joins Lions

The Detroit Lions signed unrestricted free-agent defensive tackle Grady Jackson to a three-year contract Wednesday. Financial terms on the coontract were not disclosed.

The 6-foot-2, 345-pound Jackson played most of the past three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round (193rd overall) in 1997 and also has played for New Orleans, Green Bay and Jacksonville.

Jackson, had 23 tackles and two sacks in 15 games last season with Atlanta. He was one of the players named in the StarCaps fiasco last season but was not suspended. Jackson filed suit against StarCaps in Alameda County Superior Court in California in November, seeking restitution for any lost salary and damages for "false advertising and unfair business practices."

Since being drafted by Oakland in 1997, Jackson has toured the NFL with playing stops in New Orleans, Green Bay, Jacksonville Atlanta and now Detroit.

Vilma Remains in New Orleans

The New Orleans Saints have come to terms with free agent LB Jonathan Vilma, signing his to a 5 years contract, the financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The 2004 defensive rookie of the year lead the Saints last season with 151 tackles, three forced fumbles, a sack and an interception.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said re-signing Vilma was the team's priority during the offseason.

"Jonathan proved he could come back from his injury and play at a high level and we expect the same or better from him starting this season," Loomis said

Strief Gets Tendered

Strief, a three-year veteran, is a restricted free agent (RFA). He received a one-year, $1.545 million tender, team spokesman Greg Bensel confirmed.

Strief can still sign an offer sheet with another team, but by giving him the tender the Saints retain the right to match within seven days. If they decline, they would receive a second-round draft pick as compensation.

Since Strief has started only three games since joining the Saints as a seventh-round draft pick, it’s unlikely he’ll receive an offer that would require a second-round draft pick as compensation.

The Deuce is Cut Loose

In an article I should file under "totally expected news", Deuce McAllister the long time and very popular New Orleans Saints' running back was released today.

McAllister, 30, has for years remaining on his contract and was expected to make $5.3 Million in 2009. The Saints will save more than $4 million in salary-cap space this year now that McAllister is off the roster. His "cap figure" will decrease from $7.3 million to roughly $3 million. The way the cap works, the Saints still need to account for $3 million of his signing bonus from the eight-year, $50.1 million contract extension he signed in 2005.

"Decisions like this are always very difficult ones to make," Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement before the press conference. "Deuce has epitomized hard work, leadership and productivity throughout his career and has been a source of great pride for all of us associated with the team. His records and accomplishments on the field speak for themselves about the type of player he was in a Saints uniform. He truly ranks as one of the greatest players in our club's history, and we are very respectful of everything he has meant to the Saints and our community."

The decision to cut McAllister is not purely a cost saving maneuver, McAllister has seen his role in the Saints' offense diminish with the emergence of Pierre Thomas and the fact that McAllister has suffered 2 knee injuries in 3 season.

Morgan Reinstated Rejoining Saints

A few weeks ago we reported that Dan Morgan was interested in coming out of retirement, it's official Morgan has been reinstated.

Morgan, who has had a history with concussions, dating back to his college days, also partially tore his achilles' tender, both led to his decision to retire, but with a year off the former Hirricane feels ready to give it another shot.

On Friday, the 30-year-old Morgan said he'll rejoin the Saints for offseason workouts next month. He'll have the same incentive-laden, one-year deal he signed last spring, following his release from the Carolina Panthers.

"I know what everybody thinks on the outside. They think I'm crazy for coming back," Morgan told The Associated Press by phone from his home in Charlotte. "You read the things that people say. Everybody's got their opinions and they're entitled to that. But my family is behind me, my friends are behind me. That's really all that matters. I know where I stand with my health. I feel good concussion-wise. I feel good Achilles'-wise. I'm ready to come back and play and I'm not worried about it at all."

Drew Brees Wins Award

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who this past year became only the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, was named Wednesday as the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year.

The award was announced this week in Tampa Bay at a news conference at the Tampa Convention Center, the NFL Media Center for Super Bowl XLIII.

As part of the awards, FedEx will donate $25,000 each to the Safe Kids USA chapter in New Orleans Safe Kids is a national non-profit organization that works to prevent accidental injury among children.

“I’m very pleased that $25,000 is going to the Safe Kids program in New Orleans,” said Brees, who was on hand to accept the award. “It’s a tremendous program, one that FedEx has put a lot into.”

Brees was honored after throwing for 5,069 yards — just 15 yards short of Dan Marino’s 24-year-old NFL record — and 34 TDs as the Saints led the league in total yards (6,571) and points (463). Both were club records.

Cards' Graham to be 1st Aussie in Super Bowl

Cardinals' punter Ben Graham, 35, spent 11 years playing Australian rules football before deciding to make a change, joining the New York Jets in 2005. Signing with the Jets Graham became only the 4th Australian to play in the NFL. On Sunday evening he will be the first to play in the Super Bowl.

He punted in New York for more than three seasons, his time elapsing just days after the Jets beat the Cardinals 56-35 on Sept. 28. After a team meeting, Graham was on his way to the locker room to prepare for a team photo when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"I went upstairs and was told I was being released," Graham said. "I actually left the building, walking past my teammates getting their photo taken."

After being released Graham spent 8 days on the New Orleans Saints roster before joining the Cardinals on December 1.