hagan714

Saints Add Kicker Billy Cundiff; Waive FB Corey McIntyre
Douglas P. Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com
Nov 23, 2006 – 11:50 am


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The Saints signed strong-legged placekicker Billy Cundiff today and waived fullback Corey McIntyre.

Cundiff played four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and earned the reputation as one of the NFL's top kickoff men with his high, hanging kickofss that helped the Cowboys hold opponents to a league-low 17.5-yard kickoff return average in 2004.

He was signed by Green Bay as a free agent in March, was limited to six games in 2005 with Dallas due to an injury but was released by the Packers on August 17, 2006.

In 53 career games with the Cowboys, Cundiff connected on 60-of-82 field-goal attempts (73.2 percent) and missed one extra-point conversion in 101 attempts. Cundiff's career-long field goal was a 56-yarder in 2005.

He holds the record (with three others) for most field goals in a game with seven against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football on Sept. 15, 2003.

In other news, the Saints added wide receiver Dante Ridgeway to the practice squad and released quarterback Jason Fife. Ridgeway was in training camp with the Jets this season after spending the entire 2005 on their practice squad. A product of Ball State, Ridgeway entered the league as a sixth round draft choice of the St. Louis Rams in 2005. In 35 college games at Ball State, he caught 238 passes for 3,030 yards and 22 TDs.

Dante Ridgeway Grade: 3.53
Position: WR
Class: Jr
School: Ball St.
Conference: MAC
5-11, 212, 4.63
Selected by: St. Louis Rams
Round 6, pick 18 (192 overall) Grading System



BIO: Two-year starter named All-Conference and All-America last season after posting 105/1,399/8. Sophomore totals included 89/1,075/10. Set an MAC single season record for receptions last year and holds almost every Ball State receiving record.

POSITIVES: Sure-handed, underneath receiver who consistently makes the reception. Fluid releasing off the line, runs decent routes and gets separation from opponents. Extends his hands offering the quarterback a nice target and displays good eye/hand coordination. Pulls the ball out of a crowd or adjusts to scoop up the low throw. Makes the acrobatic reception with regularity. Works to pick up yardage running after the reception.

NEGATIVES: Lacks the deep speed or ability to stretch defenses. Not a big, strong, sturdy receiver and may have difficulty handling the jam at the next level.

ANALYSIS: A pass-catching force in college the past two seasons, Ridgeway has been the go-to guy who opponents have been unable to stop. Had a terrific Combine and looked like the best receiver in the RCA Dome. Marginal size/speed numbers make him best suited as a fourth receiver in the NFL.

PROJECTION: Early Fourth Round

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...ers/62462.html

COMBINE: 4.57 in the 40-yard dash … 2.66 20-yard dash … 1.60 10-yard dash … 4.39 20-yard shuttle … 11.60 60-yard shuttle … 7.25 three-cone drill … 33-inch vertical jump … 9-foot-9 broad jump … 30-inch arm length … 8½-inch hands
http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2005/ridgeway_dante

Ok now we do not have a #3 QB and we add a WR? looks like another Hass to me 4.57 speed but a bit shorter. Is the front office admitting, granted in a round about way, that they should have hung onto Hass? Okay thats my dig for cutting him. Just does not make sense to me.
Copper shows signs of possibility but need work on the mental part of the game. Henderson needs Stick'em still, but he has improved. What about Jones?

Danno

Well they did try to re-sign Hass to the practice squad but Hass was apparently too pissed to sign. So he signed with the Bears. How's he doing in WR weak Chicago?


Ohh, here it is...

0 games, 0 receptions, 0 yards.

Hmmm. Interesting. I guess you could say at least he hasn't fumbled.

LongTimeFan

I guess Payton feels Brees will finish the season healthy and is comfortable with just two QB's on the roster, If Brees was to go down (God forbid) I feel Martin would continue to keep the passing game going...
OK move I guess, just don't know much about Ridgeway, as some of you know I was big on Hass but I guess more important Payton wasn't, Sean has his reasons for cutting Hass.

hagan714

ridgeway is the same as hass that was my only point.

Brann

How is Ridgeway the same? Because they're of similar size and from smaller I-A schools? You can't just look at someone's combine stats and tell right away whether or not they can get separation or fight off a jam at the LOS. From what I've read from people who attended TC, Hass couldn't fight a jam consistently and wasn't getting much separation from our corners. He was cut with the intent of signing him to the PS, but he and his agent didn't like his chances of making the active roster. Signing with the Bears was his decision.

TheDeuce

You think we're looking for guys who can catch the ball and hold on? Not that I think we'll see this kid on the field or anything, but hopefully Payton is eating our skill players' collective lunches

saintsfan1313

at least we have someone that can kick tha ball past the 20 now.....

hagan714

Ok-ay brann
They both have hands and slow. thats the point. why are you so worried about it? Is there something you know about him that we do not? If so share it. If it is the Hass love bit that is under your skin drop it. Look, if the kid was tall and/or bit faster i would be understand. But he is not. I do not see him filling an area of need that could not wait till next year at this point of the season.

The big need, IMO, is defensive depth. With the contract issues we have on the defensive side, I would think that some depth issues would be addressed. I scan the wavier wire and post both sides of the ball when I find a player of interest. There have been more than one interesting defensive player cut that would seem to fill our needs more than this signing does. thats all.

How I read this signing is our WR depth is not as good as we were told. Not that I bought into to it. I was hoping for a higher pick on WR last year. Look for a day one pick next years draft, I hope, if we do not address it thru FA. Horn needs a replacement in the next 2-3 years. We already did this in another thread. so this signing is what it is. ????????????????