Free agent signings update

April 27, 2008

dchamplin

Just spoke with Richard Shaughnessy, who’s been talking to agents all day long.

So far, four free agent signings are final. This doesn’t guarantee Opening Day roster spots, but these are the teams the following Troy players will look to earn a spot with in camp.

WR Gary Banks has signed with the San Diego Chargers.

“The Chargers, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay were all after him,” Shaughnessy said. “He had five minutes to make a decision and the Chargers looked like the best fit for him.”

DT Chris Bradwell and DB Elbert Mack inked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

LB Marcus Richardson inked with the Houston Texans. He had a similar situation as Banks, with a few teams vying for his services but giving him a few minutes to pick.

This might not be the last of it tonight and some more could happen tomorrow. There’s a couple more guys talking to teams, but Shaughnessy asked me to keep those quiet for the time being until they ink.

Monday Troy/NFL update

April 28, 2008

dchamplin

11:45 a.m. - So far, this is what I’ve got. WR Josh Allen has been invited to a tryout with the New England Patriots. If he does well, they’ll sign him to a free agent deal.
11:55 a.m. - This article says Kenny Cattouse will get a look from the New England Patriots. I misread it at first and thought he inked a deal, but it goes in line with what Shaughnessy was telling me about them wanting to give him a workout - like the deal with Josh Allen.

Look for Marcus Pittman to go with the Steelers or Buccaneers. A couple of teams are talking with Greg Whibbs, but nothing official yet. Jacksonville has shown interest in Omar Haugabook, but nothing official yet. He’s a guy that could be playing in the CFL or Arena League right now, but wanted to try to make an NFL team first.

Check back to the blog later today for more updates that I will hopefully get.

Saints sign four more free agents

The New Orleans Saints signed four players to their roster after their rookie minicamp last weekend, including a Metairie native. Find out who right here.

Following the close of their three-day rookie minicamp, New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Wednesday the signing of three players that took part in the camp on a tryout basis. Signed by the team were quarterback Travis Lulay, defensive tackle Marcus Pittman and wide receiver Carlos Robinson. Loomis also announced the signing of rookie free agent offensive tackle Carnell Stewart.

Lulay, a 6-2, 216-pound product of Montana State, first signed a professional contract with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent in May of 2006. The Aumsville, Ore. native participated in the Seahawks' training camps in '06 and '07 and played for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europa in the spring of '07. In college, Lulay passed for 10,746 yards and 58 touchdowns and left Montana State as the school's all-time leading passer.

Pittman was a two-year starter at defensive tackle at Troy after transferring to the Alabama school from Garden City (Kan.) CC and played in 25 games, amassing 42 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. The 6-4, 290-pound defensive lineman proved his ability to play both defensive tackle positions at the collegiate level.

Robinson is a speedy 6-1, 180-pound receiver who last played in 2006 at Grand Rapids Community College in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. The 23-year-old wideout caught 28 passes for 421 yards and was an all-conference selection for the Raiders in '06.

Stewart, a native of Metairie, played collegiately at LSU and started every game at right tackle for the 2007 National Championship team. The 6-5, 320-pounder switched to offensive line prior to the 2006 season after spending his first three seasons in Baton Rouge as a defensive tackle. The graduate of John Curtis High played in 27 games in his college career with 14 starts, 22 of the games coming after his shift to the offensive side of the ball.

In a corresponding roster move, the Saints waived offensive linemen Nate McManus and Akim Millington as well as receiver Evan Moore and quarterback T.C. Ostrander, each of whom were signed as rookie free agents after last month's draft