Tanner Waived...again
 

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints waived three injured players Monday: receiver Andy Tanner, offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe and safety Ty Zimmerman. All three could potentially land on injured reserve.

The Saints' roster is now officially down to 83 players. They'll need to make eight more moves to get down to the required 75 players by the NFL's 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT deadline on Tuesday.

Recently-signed veteran tight end Travis Beckum also is apparently being cut. He indicated he had been cut following practice, tweeting: "Short stay with the Saints. Still a blessing to have that opportunity, now even more excited about my next one. God is great!"

Tanner's release isn't a surprise, but it still will likely rank among the Saints' most difficult cuts this year. He's been with the team since 2010, spending parts of the past four seasons on the practice squad. With his practice-squad eligibility finally expired, the former undrafted rookie from Division II Midwestern State had to crack the full 53-man roster this year.

Tanner suffered an undisclosed injury in practice last week.

"He's someone that you don't ever take for granted," Saints coach Sean Payton said of Tanner earlier in camp. "He's a guy you don't bet against. He's a grinder. He's tough. He knows what to do. Shoot, he has a lot of traits that endear himself to the team. He has the respect of his teammates, and they have seen him work, and they have seen him be successful. Defensively, guys will talk about who is tough to cover. ...I think he'd be one of those guys they would bring up."

Nsekhe joined the Saints in January after bouncing around with the St. Louis Rams, Indianapolis Colts and the Arena Football League. But he was injured off and on throughout training camp.

Zimmerman signed this year as an undrafted rookie out of Kansas State. But he's been out the past two weeks with an undisclosed injury.


New Orleans Saints waive Andy Tanner, Ty Nsekhe, Ty Zimmerman - ESPN



But is he ever really gone?

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

He probably gets IR'ed I would imagine, just as a show of respect. Don't be shocked if he's back next year for one more try.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

I read somewhere earlier this year that nobody on the defense has been with the Saints longer than Tanner has been trying to make the team.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

He was on the official roster for a brief moment in time. I have a lot more respect for someone that gives it all they got as opposed to someone like Owens or Moss.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Poor guy just can't seem to catch a break. Would have been tough sledding regardless with the receivers we currently have.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Tanner is a good WR wont be surprised if he ends up back in NOLA if someone, god forbid, goes down

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

I wonder what he lacks thats keeping him from making the team

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Maybe he catches on with another team. My heart goes out to him.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Big heart but lacks the physical tools and talent required at this level.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Disagree. Talent in front of him has always been an issue.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

If he were good enough, his superlatives would be different. How would you describe Cook?

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Tanner = Preseason booty call. Good enough when there is nothing else, but not talking to her when the regular season is around.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

He's had 4 years to prove himself. Enough already.

But, he'll probably get IR'd and come back next year and be Rookie of the Year at age 27

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Sucks for Tanner. I really thought last year he would have ended up somewhere like patriots when they were losing receivers. Tanner looked awesome in preseason last year

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

NFL talent.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

He already stated that this year would be his final attempt. It is time he moves on with his life.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

If he lacks NFL talent, then so does Lance Moore. Because they are basically the same player. Tanner's always been caught in a numbers game, nothing more nothing less. If 23-year-old Lance Moore wandered into Saints camp now he wouldn't have a chance in hell of making the team.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

apples & oranges

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

If that was the case, he would not have lasted 4 years with New Orleans.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

i think the saints did him a favor. he has time to catch on with some one else i hope.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

John Fox suggested Benson hire Payton. Payton returns the favor and suggests to Fox about Tanner. Welker's days are numbered.

I know it doesn't work that way but maybe.....

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Damn. I always wanted to see him crack the 53.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

He lasted on the practice squad. If he had true NFL talent he would have been picked up by one of the other 31 teams or would have made the 53 man roster. The practice squad is just what it is named. It is a squad (now with ten players) that take place in practices. They are simply regular season versions of camp bodies. Sure, occasionally one makes the roster, but that normally takes fewer than four seasons. I fail to see the fascination with him.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

He could have caught on anytime over these past four years if anyone thought he was worth it. But I agree, the Saints did do him a favor. They finally sent him on his way for life after football.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Last week I heard, pretty sure it was Pat Kirwan, say that practice squad rosters usually contain several WR's and CB's who are only there to help prevent wear and tear on the active players. WR's and CB's are constantly going downfield in practice and they need relief. He said the big deal with the expansion of the roster to ten means they can carry a QB and another player that may have a legitimate shot at making the 53 man roster.

Basically, most WR's and CB's on a practice squad are simply practice fillers with little or no chance of making a roster of 53.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

And he also mentioned that they're there to star on the scout teams!
So we'll probably have a speedy WR and a tall possession type WR on the PS.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Bye bye. See you soon.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Only if you're needing to buy some insurance.

;)

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Lance and Tanner attended the same training camps for three years. One always made the active roster, one couldn't beat out Arrington, Morgan, Meachem, Roby, Hakim, etc.
Again, we gave him 4 years to prove himself, and every other team has had 4 years to sign him, and it never happened. It's not a numbers game when almost 200 wide receivers take the field each year and he never been one of them.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Who? 2 pages on who?

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

He didn't have the speed or strength but he ran good routes and had pretty good hands. A lot of people can relate to not being the most gifted but working hard to try and keep up. And despite being cut, he just kept trying, he kept coming back. Most people like the underdog.

You're absolutely right, he didn't have the talent to make the squad so he shouldn't have but a lot of us were hoping his dedication might pay off one day.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Tanner is little and slow. I'd like to see him race Wes Welker. I assume Welker would kill him in a 40 right?

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

To be fair, how many of those years was he hurt? IMO, he had his opportunity but got hurt and its been an uphill battle since.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Other than this year, I don't believe he was ever hurt. He always ended up on the PS, not IR, which would have paid a lot more

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

That's why despite his play I always liked and respected Jason David.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Had to look it up but Tanner was hurt the same game that Chamberlain got hurt. Also found out, he actually made the roster last year but ended up getting cut because of defensive injuries in the first game. They cut him on Sept. 12th to sign Jay Richardson.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

I see your logic. But I don't think there is anything wrong with people pulling for a guy who is a long shot. You make it sound as though you think the people that were pulling for him are stupid. Some people like to root for the underdog. Nothing wrong with that. He was 4 year practice squad member who some people enjoyed rooting for. I was one of those people.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

Tanner ran a 4.57 and Welker ran a 4.65. Both are slow. Welker was willing to forfeit his future heath to get blasted. Do we wish the same for this kid that can't make our squad?

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

I pulled for him too that first year or two. But the writing was on the wall after that. I am as much for a good story as anyone, but above all else, I am a Saints fan and I want the Saints to be as good as they can be. If you can't cut it here is your ribbon and thank you for participating.

Re: Tanner Waived...again
 

I still say Preston Parker was better than Tanner last preseason. I root for underdogs like when Pierre a undrafted rookie outshine Antonio Pittman a third round pick that year to make the roster. Pierre was playing with heart and like his life depended on it on special teams and at running back. Tanner has heart but thats about it. Plus we already have enough possession receivers.