CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

Can't find link, Read on message board from trusted source. Trying to find link but I'm a "Walk-On Internet Searcher" kinda guy...

But this is good.
Also Carter was cut for financial reasons. Being a 7 year vet he'd get a guaranteed salary for making roster.
If we cut him and re-sign him we save about 1/2 million in guaranteed base salary.

[Edited on 1/9/2003 by tweeky]

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

I saw that too. It quoted Loomis as saying they might even re-sign Carter if nothing else worked out.

Carter\'s release leaves the Saints with three running backs: McAllister, James Fenderson and veteran Fred McAfee, a special-teams standout who has four carries in the past four seasons.

As a seven-year veteran, Carter\'s $530,000 base salary would have been guaranteed if he had made the 53-man roster to start the season.


This was on there too.

TRADE WINDS: Saints\' officials pursued a trade for Pittsburgh Steelers running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma\'afala over the weekend, but an agreement was never reached and now he\'s a free agent. The teams were discussing a sixth-round pick before the Steelers terminated his contract Sunday. Fuamatu-Ma\'afala, 5 feet 11, 254 pounds, was a sixth-round pick in 1998. Also, the Miami Dolphins released running back Robert Edwards, who was the subject of recent trade talks with Saints\' officials.

I found this at the Times-Picayune from this morning.

[Edited on 1/9/2003 by JOESAM2002]

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

Here\'s another reason they might have cut Carter.

This by Len Pasquarelli at ESPN. It\'s that first sentence that I think might explain it.

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

I don\'t like this one bit. Carter certainly hadn\'t been impressive in his career thus far. But the guy had talent. You can\'t argue that. He looked good to me in the limited time we saw him in preseason. Edwards isn\'t a bad player, but he almost lost his leg his injury was so bad. He was out of football for 3 years! That\'s a giant risk for your major backup. Give me talented and young over injured and old any day.

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

um dat all of the above posts said that we would probably re-sign carter and that cutting him momentarily was a money thing or did i read all that wrong?

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

I understand that - but if we\'re going to have one guy signed and one guy as a free agent - one guy suited up and one guy watching from home - who would you rather it be? THe old injured guy who has played 4 days in a Saints uniform or a younger, in my opinion, more talented player who has been with us for longer?

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

Q: Why was Ki-Jana Carter cut?

A: \"He was going to be inactive this week anyway. We had to keep other bodies up because of the injuries that we have. We will just go with James Fenderson who knows the offense better right now as a backup this week.\"

Q: Would you be committed to Carter\'s whole salary this year if he had made the roster?

A: \"Yes, anytime a vested veteran is on an opening day roster, then you are committed to his salary for the whole year.\"

Q: What is your thought process on the backup running back position?

A: \"We are still looking. It might be Carter next week. There are a handful of players who were waived that are pretty good players. We will just take it day by day right now.\"

Q: Is it a high priority?

A: \"I think it is a high priority. The guy this week probably would have been inactive anyway because of the injury situation. James does know the offense and he will do a good job if he has to play. We just felt comfortable going that way this week.\"

Q: Does James Fenderson playing special teams make him more of a viable option?

A: \"Ki-Jana doesn\'t really play special teams. He can play a couple if he had to. James is one of our better special team players, so that plays into it some. We lost Mel Mitchell, who was probably one of the better special teams players. James can replace him on a lot of those things.\"

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

i\'m all for carter over edwards

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

Don\'t be surprised if we sign both.

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

that would be cool too

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

I am up for signing carter and a healthy young player with potential. Don\'t want to see two aging injured guys. that is notlooking to the future.

Other question is why would carter be inactive this week? I heard it had to do with a league rule due his injury status. If that is so why would he be inactive for the 1st game of the seaason and not the first game he\'s signed as a player?

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

FW, the answer is simple. carter is a vested veteran. If he were on the roster for the 1st game of the season, the Saints would have had to guarantee his salary for the whole year. By waiting they don\'t. They risk loseing him to another team but they save money possibly.

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

Joesam, I understand about having to pay him a full year salasry if he is on the team to start the year. That in itself was a smart move by the saints.

Haslett said if he was on the team he would be inactive this week anyway. In other words if he was on the team he would not be able to play. My question is why would he not be able to play if he was on a team this week? Its a mute point but I never heard this rule before.

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

You are right, and neither have I.

CBS?:Saints to sign Robert Edwards Monday
 

Very good point - that explains it... sort of... won\'t we now have to pay edwards his whole salary?