Saints Reduce Roster By Nine

by Dave Lawrence, NewOrleansSaints.com
Friday, August 31, 2007 – 3:30 PM

New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Friday that the team has parted ways with nine players as the deadline for reaching the league-mandated roster level of 53 players approaches.

The Saints terminated the contract of linebacker Dhani Jones and waived offensive linemen Ben Archibald, Brian Ferentz and Rob Petitti, wide receiver Derrick Doyle, tight end Ronnie Ghent, and defensive linemen Rodney Leisle, Scott Scharff and Brandon Villarreal.

Archibald is a second-year pro who first joined the Saints in 2004, spending that season and all of the 2006 campaign on the team’s practice squad. The versatile offensive lineman was on the club’s active roster during the 2005 season and saw action in six games, primarily on special teams. The BYU graduate played in all five games this preseason, working at right guard.

Doyle signed with the club as a rookie free agent following the Saints’ preseason opener in August. The former Northwestern State standout saw limited playing time over the final four contests of the summer and did not record any statistics.

Ferentz joined the Saints prior to their third preseason game after spending the 2006 season on the Falcons’ practice squad. The University of Iowa product saw action at both center and left guard over the course of the team’s final three preseason contests.

Ghent signed with the Saints just prior to the Hall of Fame game and caught two passes for 23 yards during the preseason. The former University of Louisville tight end previously spent time on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad after originally signing with the Philadelphia Eagles out of college in 2004.

Jones signed with the Saints as a free agent a few weeks prior to the opening of training camp. The eight-year veteran linebacker started twice in the preseason and turned in 16 tackles and a sack for the Saints in five games.

Leisle was drafted by the Saints in the fifth round in 2004 and played in 17 regular season games for the club over the span of three seasons. He played in 14 games in 2006 and tallied 19 tackles and a fumble recovery. The former UCLA Bruin made eight tackles this preseason, including a sack against the Dolphins.

Petitti came to New Orleans after being claimed off waivers prior to the 2006 season from the Dallas Cowboys. The former University of Pittsburgh offensive lineman was inactive for all but one game in ’06 and played in all five games this preseason at right tackle.

Scharff re-joined the Saints early in training camp after spending time on the team’s practice squad in 2006. The defensive end out of Stanford made three tackles over the course of the preseason.

Villarreal first joined the club as an undrafted free agent in 2006 and spent the entire ’06 campaign on the practice squad. The former Purdue Boilermaker made two tackles from his reserve defensive tackle position this preseason.

The Saints roster currently stands at 66 and the club must reach the level of 53 by 3:00 pm (CT) Saturday.

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