The New Orleans Saints announced today that they have reached the NFL mandated roster limit of 80 players by making the following roster moves: Waived/Injured: G Roger Allen, LB Ezra Butler, WR Jarred Fayson and RB Chris Taylor. Released: DE Alex Brown. Waived: WR John Chiles, T Dan Gay, FB Kolby Hurt, S DeAndre McDaniel, CB Mark Parson and C Ryan Taylor. The Saints also announced that veteran PK John Kasay has agreed to terms with the club. The announcements were made by Saints' Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.
Kasay, 41, is an 18-year veteran NFL kicker who originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft choice of the Seattle Seahawks in 1991. He then joined the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 1995, where he spent the past 14 seasons. Throughout the course of his career the University of Georgia product has converted 433 career field goals on 529 field goal attempts (81.9% conversion percentage) as well as 524-of-535 extra points attempts (.979% conversion percentage). Kasay has scored 1,823 career points during his professional tenure, which places him second all-time amongst active players in the NFL (Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions, 1,890 points). In 2010 Kasay converted 25-of-29 of his field goals for a conversion percentage of 86.2% with a long field goal of 55 yards, as well as all 17 of his extra points attempts.
Brown, a 10-year veteran, has appeared in 143 consecutive games, the longest current consecutive games streak for an NFL defensive end. The 2002 fourth-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears owns 45½ sacks, notching six or more in five separate seasons. He joined the Saints as an unrestricted free agent in 2010 and started all 16 games, while recording 39 tackles and two sacks. The former University of Florida standout owns 528 career tackles (318 solo) along with five interceptions, 31 pass defenses, 17 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries.
Allen, 25, was in his second season with the Saints after having spent the 2010 season on the team's practice squad. The Missouri Western product broke into the NFL in 2009 with the St. Louis Rams, where he made one start and spent the season on their active roster.
Butler, a first-year player, signed with the Saints on January 19, 2011. He was on the roster for the New York Jets during their 2010 postseason and with the Jets during the regular season. He broke into the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2008 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers and also has played with the UFL's Las Vegas entry.
RB Chris Taylor spent portions of the 2010 season on the Saints' practice squad. Taylor played in four games with the Houston Texans in 2006 and three games with the Texans in 2008. Taylor, in his fourth NFL season, is a product of the University of Indiana.
Parson, a free agent CB from Ohio, spent part of the 2009 season on the active roster of the Houston Texans and a portion of 2010 on the Saints' practice squad.
Fayson, a rookie undrafted free agent out of Illinois, signed with the Saints on July 27, 2011. Chiles, a former collegiate quarterback and wide receiver from Texas, also originally signed with the Saints as a rookie free agent on the same date.
Hurt (Missouri State), McDaniel (Clemson), Gay (Baylor) and C Ryan Taylor (UCLA) were also among the Saints' class of 2011 undrafted free agents.
The Saints host the Tennessee Titans on Thursday in the preseason finale for both teams. All NFL teams must reduce their roster to 53 players by Saturday at 5 p.m. (CT).
