Saints Finish Trimming Roster - Palko, Pittman Among the Waived

Sep 2, 2007, 5:17 GMT

New Orleans, LA - The Saints released 13 players on Saturday, with quarterback Tyler Palko and running back Antonio Pittman among the prominent names facing the firing line on the final 'cut-down day.'

Palko, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Pittsburgh, was looking to make the team as a third quarterback behind starter Drew Brees and backup Jamie Martin. Palko played well enough in camp that the Saints released quarterbacks Jason Fife and Matt Baker well before the last cut, but ultimately, New Orleans opted to keep just two signal-callers on the roster.

Pittman, the club's fourth-round draft choice out of Ohio State, was widely expected to make the New Orleans roster as a backup to Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister. But head coach Sean Payton opted to keep those two players along with long-time all-purpose back Aaron Stecker, leaving Pittman on the outside looking in.

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

Of that group, notables include Jones (fifth round) and Mitchell (seventh round), two more of New Orleans' 2007 Draft picks, as well as Palepoi, formerly on the active roster of the Broncos, Seahawks, and Cardinals.

The team had already cut nine players on Friday: offensive lineman Ben Archibald, wide receiver Derrick Doyle, offensive lineman Brian Ferentz, tight end Ronnie Ghent, linebacker Dhani Jones, defensive lineman Rodney Leisle, offensive lineman Rob Petitti, defensive lineman Scott Scharff, and defensive lineman Brandon Villarreal.

New Orleans will open its 2007 regular season slate this Thursday, when it travels to meet reigning Super Bowl champ Indianapolis.

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