The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that the Saints have released 2007 starting tight end Eric Johnson. Johnson has had a productive, but injury-prone, career, and with Jeremy Shockey on board, Johnson's recovery from an ankle injury made him expendable. That the Saints were willing to sign him to just a one-year deal in the offseason, and the long-time Shockey rumors, leave this as less than a surprise. Johnson caught 48 passes in 2007, but finished 26th in DYAR among tight ends [1]-- far behind backup Billy Miller, who will fill the reserve role behind Shockey.
The Saints used their free roster spot to sign second-round pick Tracy Porter [2], a speedy cornerback who will try to help raise a certain section of the team's secondary to a status above that of a large area in the middle of the defense [3].
Links:
[1] http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/te.php
[2] http://blog.nola.com/saintsbeat/2008/07/porter_agrees_to_contract_with_2.html
[3] http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2007/12/21/ramblings/stat-analysis/5920/