The New Orleans Saints announced today that they have signed safety Roman Harper and have waived linebacker Dominique Tovell. The announcements were made by Saints' Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

Harper, 6-1, 205, rejoins the Saints for whom he began his professional career in 2006 as a second round draft pick (43rd overall) out of the University of Alabama. The Prattville, Ala. native is a veteran of 10 NFL seasons, playing his first eight in New Orleans and his last two with the Carolina Panthers.

Harper has played in 140 career regular season games with 136 starts and has career totals of 873 tackles (625 solo), 18 sacks, 11 interception, 68 passes defensed,13 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 39 special teams stops. His 18 takedowns since 2006 are the most by an NFL defensive back during this period. He has played in 13 career postseason contests with 12 starts and has recorded 60 tackles (41 solo), 1.5 sacks, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two special teams stops.

Harper appeared in 108 regular season with 104 starts with the Saints from 2006-13. He registered 743 tackles (525 solo), the highest total by a Saint during that eight-season period. He also had 17 sacks, seven interceptions, 53 passes defensed, 13 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 39 special teams stops. Harper is the only safety in Saints history to be selected to two Pro Bowls (2009 and 2010) and his 17 quarterback takedowns are the most in club record books by a Black and Gold defensive back. Harper was a part of a team that captured three NFC South titles, qualified for the playoffs five times and captured Super Bowl XLIV during his tenure and in eight postseason games with seven starts, he recorded 47 tackles (29 solo), 1.5 sacks, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two special teams stops.

Harper signed with the Panthers as a free agent in 2014 and started all 32 regular season games in his two seasons in Carolina. He recorded 130 tackles (100 solo), one sacks, four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 15 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. In four postseason contests, he started all five games and made 13 stops (12 solo).

In 2015, Harper started all 16 regular season games at safety for the second straight season and the sixth time in his career and finished with 73 tackles (58 solo), a career-high two fumble recoveries and seven passes defensed. He added eight stops in three postseason contests.