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TOP PAYROLLS: The Saints had the highest payroll in the NFL last season, according to a USA Today report last week.

New Orleans' payroll of $95.1 million led all teams. The Saints were followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($88.1 million), Minnesota Vikings ($85.7 million) and Bengals ($85.5 million).

The Saints' figure is reflective of a busy year in free agency and a lucrative contract extension by wide receiver Joe Horn. The deals that put New Orleans on top: free safety Tebucky Jones (seven years, $30 million), left tackle Wayne Gandy (six years, $25 million), Horn (three years, $12.8 million), tight end Ernie Conwell (five years, $8.75 million), cornerback Ashley Ambrose (four years, $7 million) and punter Mitch Berger (five years, $4.5 million).

Quarterback Aaron Brooks ($5.75 million), wide receiver Donte' Stallworth ($2.975 million) and wide receiver Jerome Pathon ($2.5 million) also were paid hefty bonus installments that skewed the total.

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