JOESAM2002

Saints will make roster cuts today


August 31, 2003

NEW ORLEANS - Jim Haslett faces a few difficult decisions today. Many will have nothing to do with developing a scheme to beat the Seattle Seahawks in next Sunday's season opener.

Instead, the New Orleans Saints head coach must trim his 72-man squad to 53 players by 3 p.m. today. They are moves that'll leave more than a dozen players seeking employment in

the NFL.

One likely will be former LSU defensive tackle Kenderick Allen, a player the Saints see as a project and hope can be signed to the team's practice squad on Monday.

"I can't control anything," Allen said. "All I could have done was to come in and have a good camp. I feel that I have done that. I have been working hard and the effort

I have put out has shown."

Perhaps one of the most daunting moves Haslett will have to make will be at the No. 3 quarterback position, where J.T. O'Sullivan and Tory Woodbury have battled.

"J.T. has done an outstanding job and moved the ball fairly well," Haslett said. "But, Tory is a very good athlete and can play some other positions."

Apparently O'Sullivan has held off Woodbury. O'Sullivan, a sixth-round pick in 2002, O'Sullivan completed 13 of 20 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns in four preseason

games. Woodbury, who was claimed off waivers from the New York Jets on July 29, proved to be a versatile athletic, playing on special teams and safety, but completed just

7 of 20 passes for 80 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the preseason.

"The Saints gave me an opportunity to come down here and play quarterback," Woodbury said. "Coach (Mike) McCarthy has done a great job with me. He has giving me a lot of knowledge. Hopefully, I can make this 53-man roster. If not, hopefully, someone else will give me a shot. I feel good about the situation here."

Also likely to be cut today are quarterback Chris Finlen, fullback Jeremy Allen, wide receiver Kareem Kelly, tight end David Sloan, offensive linemen Terence Wagner, Melvin

Paige, Peter Heyer, Scot Osbourne and PJ Alexander, defensive end Greg White, defensive tackles Jovon Bush and John Schlecht, linebackers Travis Carroll and Roger Knight, and

cornerbacks B.J. Tucker and Deveron Harper.

Safety Mel Mitchell, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee will be placed on injured reserve.