Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

Saints sign Bobby McCray
NewOrleansSaints.com
For Immediate Release: March 2, 2008

The New Orleans Saints announced today that they agreed to terms on a five-year contract with unrestricted free agent defensive end Bobby McCray. The announcement of McCray’s agreement was made by Saints’ Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

McCray, 6-6, 262-pounds, was one of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ starting defensive ends the past two seasons and ranks tied for seventh in franchise history with DT Marcus Stroud, who was recently traded to the Buffalo Bills, with 22 career sacks. A seventh-round pick out of the University of Florida by Jacksonville in 2004, McCray has played in 61 regular season games during his four-year career and recorded 94 tackles, 22 sacks and seven forced fumbles. The 26-year old native of Homestead, Fla. registered a career-high 10 sacks in 2006. In addition, McCray has played in three career playoff games, starting both the AFC Wild Card and AFC Divisional Playoff games the Jaguars advanced to in 2007, while also appearing in an AFC Wild Card game in 2005.

“Bobby is a player we identified as being able to come in and help us in the defensive line rotation,” said Loomis. “He is a player that is quick off the edge and has displayed a penchant for being able to generate pressure on the quarterback and be disruptive in passing situations.”

As a collegian with the Gators, McCray played in 36 games, making 15 starts over the course of his last two seasons, and recorded 107 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 20.5 tackles for losses, 31 quarterback pressures, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

NFL radio just said it too. Saints sign Bobby McCray

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

I like this move.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

If Charles Grant doesn't step up his game this season, McCray could very well see an elevated amount of playing time. I hope this lights a fire under Grant's rear.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

Looks like we have our 3rd down pass rush specialist.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

This is a good signing. Second Tier, maybe, but he will surely help keep Smith and Grant healthy.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

Ok now this is the kinds of signings I like to see... address the weakest area of the team -Pass Rush.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

For the money he signed for, it looks like he's going to be more than just a situational pass rusher. I wonder if they're considering him at OLB. He's a bit tall but weighs less than Adalius Thomas of New England.

There's a little scouting report on McCray I got from SFIA on the Rev.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

I am liking this also, because they are doing what we wanted them to do right? They are addressing the defense completely. A lb, a cb, and a de, have been signed. This almost guarantees in my mind, that they are going DT in the first round.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

Good signing. He's been effective in Jacksonville and we definitely needed more quality depth here. He could push Grant for time or as stated motivate him to perform.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

and its finally someone who is young not coming off an injury!

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

If there is any player whose future could be affected by this signing, it's Smith not Grant. McCray gives us some insurance in case Smith and the team can't come to an agreement on a contract extension.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

New Orleans Saints SNAG McCRAY

Despite the presence of pass rushers Will Smith and Charles Grant in the starting lineup, the New Orleans Saints have secured the services of defensive end Bobby McCray.

Per a league source, the five-year deal is worth $20 million with another $4.5 million in escalators. He'll make $5 million in the first year of the deal.

The numbers imply that McCray will be a reserve in New Orleans.

McCray played in 14 games last season, and started in nine. He had only 3.0 sacks, down from 10.0 in 2006.

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Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

this could possibly allow them to move grant to a dt position on third and long allowing for an all out race to the qb! Helps keep a fresh rotation and allows for some interesting scheming on d

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

This is absolutely great this will also help keep the linemens off Vilma.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

yea on third down, mcray,grant, young, and smith.. we might actually be able to "not" give up 3rd and 15's

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

I don't know, what's up with his drop in production? Is this guy really as effective of a pass rusher as some people are saying?

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

No clue honestly... might want to go to the Jags board to get better insight on the guy.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

Not a starter anymore. Thats all. If you look at the Jags defense other players got the sacks this year. he forced the QB up into the pocket. Thats his first job, close the back end of the pocket. He will be on the field more than we think. Yes grant will see more time at DT. I love this move. We addressed to arears of need, DT and DE, and we did it with Youth. The retirement home sign is coming down over saints defense. Nice

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

Depth yes, beast no. We need another beast!

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

Good move because the Saints will do what the Giants did with their 3 DE's in the playoffs and Super Bowl. On passing downs Grant will move inside to provide speed over guards, McCray should not be a drop off at DE in those situations. Along with Will Smith and whosoever at DT should be able to apply pressure on passing downs. So we should be in the 10 plus with a pass rush it should help the secondary that much more.

Re: Saints sign Bobby McCray
 

He did start for one of the beter d's in the leauge.