posted June 2, 2006 - print me!
neworleansprofootball.com

LB Tommy Polley, LB Jay Foreman, TE Billy Miller

Three new faces arrived before minicamp on Friday, a pair of veteran linebackers with starting experience and a veteran tight end with starting potential.

LB's Tommy Polley and Jay Foreman and TE Billy Miller arrived on the roster.

"We need to make sure that we get enough guys in here after we lost James Allen," Saints head coach Sean Payton said. "We need to get enough guys in here to get a look at to make sure there's depth at that position. That's an area we'll keep addressing."

LB Tommy Polley, 28, 6'3, 230 pounds, is a big, fast linebacker entering his sixth season. Polley has four seasons with the Rams and spent last season in the Ravens defense, where he collected 71 tackles and four sacks. He is very fast and has great playmaking ability all over the field, especially as a pass rusher. He has tantalizing athletic ability but like some Saints linebackers in the former scheme, couldn't make enough plays because he would become engulfed by blockers and had to make more tackles in pursuit than on impact.

LB Jay Foreman, 30, 6'1, 240 pounds: Quick, instinctive linebacker has been productive at times, including a pair of seasons with the Texans when he collected over 100 solo tackles. Foreman is not overpowering at the point and has had problems shedding blocks if caught. Quicker than fast, Foreman has played in the 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. Once a rising star with the Bills and now struggling to get back into the league after being released by the Raiders after training camp 2005 and seeing only one game with the Giants this past season as a fill-in at middle linebacker. The former Nebraska product probably has a shot to make this roster and could be a capable fill-in starter, depending on how age as affected his quickness.

TE Billy Miller, 29, 6'3, 254 pounds: Pass receiving product of USC is a former Bronco, Texan and Brown. In his first two seasons with the Texans, Miller flourished as a starter, collecting 91 passes for 968 yards and six touchdowns. But Miller's inconsistency, lack of blocking proficiency and questionable attitude doomed this talented pass-catcher at each of his pro teams. Miller has a shot to compete for serious playing time considering his experience and the Saints' uncertainly at the position. TE Ernie Conwell and Zach Hilton, last year's starters, each have questionable starting ability for a complete season.

The Saints released undrafted rookies QB Joel Klatt, TE/LS Troy Bienemann and LB Chris Moore.

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