Wide receiver Lance Moore wasn’t impacted by the June 15 deadline for restricted free agents to sign their tenders because the Saints were unable to lower his one-year offer. His 2009 salary was too high for the team to drop the tender amount yet still give Moore a 10-percent raise, which is required for tendered restricted free agents per NFL rules.
If that sounds complicated, it’s because it kind of is.
Anyhow, Moore signed the tender on Friday, Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis announced. The deal is worth $1.759 million.
Moore, 26, caught just 14 passes in seven games last season, after leading the Saints in receiving the previous year. Hampered by numerous injuries, Moore plummeted down the depth chart. Assuming Robert Meachem’s toe heals and Devery Henderson is recovered from sports hernia surgery, Moore will enter training camp as New Orleans’ No. 4 receiver. He is also behind Marques Colston.
To make room on the 80-man roster, the Saints waived undrafted rookie Christian Ducre. Ducre could barely earn the primary backup running back job for the Mississippi State Bulldogs last year, so he did well just last this long.