When you have as many unrestricted free agents as the Saints have this year, every day of the offseason is going to be a busy day.
Thursday was just such a day. They re-signed Jermon Bushrod, saw Remi Ayodele sign in Minnesota and shipped Reggie Bush off to Miami to get things started, hopefully took 10 minutes to inhale some lunch and then got back to the grind. Their work paid off in new contracts for three players and a pink slip for another.
The linebacking corps will return three 2010 regulars after the team agreed to terms with Danny Clark, Scott Shanle and Jo-Lonn Dunbar. Shanle, who started 14 games last season and recorded 76 tackles, reportedly drew interest from the Rams and Bengals before re-signing with the Saints. Dunbar was a restricted free agent after starting half of the 2010 season. Sean Payton announced both those moves and Clark tweeted that he was excited to be rejoining the team as well.
Clark started 10 games last year so it should be quite an interesting training camp as the Saints sift through these three players as well as second-round pick Martez Wilson to find regular wingmen for Jonathan Vilma. The Saints also re-signed special teamer/safety Chris Reis.
Not everyone will be back for another go on the bayou, however. Scott Cody of WWL-TV reported that defensive back Randall Gay was released by the team on Thursday. The move doesn’t come as much of a shock. Gay had $3.5 million coming to him under his contract and didn’t stand a chance of making it to the season with that money coming his way.
UPDATE: Florio reports Shanle will get $4 million over two years, per a league source.