Football
Associated Press 17y

RB Pittman, QB Palko among Saints' final preseason cuts

NEW ORLEANS -- Running back and fourth-round draft choice
Antonio Pittman was among the last 13 players released by the New
Orleans Saints on Saturday.

Also cut was quarterback Tyler Palko, although he appeared to be
a strong candidate for the team's practice squad, while emerging
rookie running back Pierre Thomas and veteran cornerback Fred
Thomas both remained with the team -- for now.

The Saints, who already have two star running backs in Reggie
Bush and Deuce McAllister, unexpectedly traded up in the fourth
round of last April's draft to get Pittman. Pittman started on last
year's Ohio State squad that spent nearly the entire season at No.
1 before being soundly defeated by Florida in the BCS championship
game.

Head coach Sean Payton said at the time that Pittman was rated
by the Saints as the best player available at the time and too
promising to pass up in the fourth round.

Pierre Thomas, who played at Illinois, was signed later to fill
out the 85-man roster with which the Saints opened training camp.

But Thomas consistently outperformed Pittman during the
preseason, particularly during the past two games. Thomas had 90
yards and two touchdowns in 11 carries in a preseason game at
Kansas City on Aug. 23.

Last Thursday night against Miami, Thomas accounted for 128
yards from scrimmage and the game's only touchdown. He also had a
35-yard return on the opening kickoff in which he impressively cut
outside and then found a seem up field along the sideline.

While Thomas may have earned himself a longer stay on the active
roster with his performance against Miami, Palko may have played
himself off the roster in that same game.

Palko struggled to complete passes, threw an interception and
fumbled three snaps, including one on fourth down and another that
turned into a turnover in Saints territory.

Still, Palko, who in college was among the all-time passing
leaders at Pittsburgh, had some promising performances earlier in
the preseason, making himself a strong candidate for the Saints'
practice squad of up to eight players, which could be announced as
early as Sunday.

Palko was among five quarterbacks practicing with New Orleans
during training camp. He outlasted Matt Baker and Jason Fife in the
battle to be the Saints' third quarterback. Payton said last week
that he was even considering keeping Palko on the active roster. If
he was, he changed his mind after the Miami game.

Meanwhile, the Saints terminated the contract of defensive end
Anton Palepoi, making him an immediate free agent, while placing 10
other players on waivers along with Pittman and Palko.

Also waived on Saturday were safety Curry Burns, guard Tim
Duckworth, fullback Kevin Dudley, defensive end Willie Evans, wide
receiver Tramain Hall, cornerback and fifth-round draft choice
David Jones, linebacker Marvin Mitchell, cornerback Anwar Phillips,
safety Chris Reis and guard Dave Yovanovits.

Once those players clear waivers, the Saints may elect to sign
some of them back on to their practice squad.

While Pierre Thomas and Fred Thomas both remained with the
Saints on Saturday, there remained the possibility that they and
other reserves could be released if the Saints saw an opportunity
to replace them with players cut by other teams.

Fred Thomas is not expected to be a starter this season, but his
experience could prove valuable when the Saints defend passing
downs with five or six cornerbacks in what are known as "nickel"
and "dime" formations.

Pierre Thomas will have more of an uphill battle getting into
games as a running back with Bush and McAllister sharing the
majority of the carries and with veteran running back Aaron Stecker
still on the roster. Thomas most likely will play on special teams
or may often end up a healthy scratch on game days, when teams may
dress no more than 46 of their 53 active players.

However, given the play-making ability the rookie running back
demonstrated in the preseason, Payton might find a way to work him
into the game plan, especially if either Bush, McAllister or
Stecker are slowed by minor injuries or worse.

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