The Big Fat Cut Breakdown: New Orleans Saints Move To 75

The first major roster cuts loom for all NFL franchises today as teams must get to the 75 player maximum requirement by 4:00 PM, the Saints are underway in doing just that.

For the Saints that means parting ways with promising young talent and veteran players alike — Darren Sharper and Clint Ingram are the biggest fish perhaps on the proverbial chopping block.

Both veteran players underwent knee surgery this off-season and so far have been unable to practice with the team to date.

Do you keep them, put them on the PUP list or place them on injured reserve?

That’s the question for the Saints franchise heading into the 2010 season for both players and although the PUP list (Physically Unable To Perform) seems like the best option it will mean both players will be ineligible to play until after week six of the regular season.

Neither is in danger during this cut to 75 but the Saints must get ready to cut 22 more after this to hit the 53 man maximum before the season starts in September.

So who got the axe today?

The Saints did not have to release too many players to hit 75 as they only had 77 on the roster entering today, seventh round draft choice QB Sean Canfield and undrafted free agent wide receiver Andy Tanner were shown the door.

Canfield was taken by the Saints in the seventh round (239th) out of Oregon State during this years draft and was given an opportunity to compete alongside Chase Daniel and Patrick Ramsey to become the next backup to Drew Brees.

Unfortunately for Canfield he became the odd man out after being outshined by Daniel and Ramsey both through the preseason and it at least at this point it appears Daniel is the front-runner to secure the number two spot.

Ramsey may still make the Saints final 53 as the Saints have carried two backup’s on the roster before simultaneously carrying Mark Brunell and Joey Harrington in the past.

Canfield’s fate may see him signed to the Saints practice squad if he clears waivers.

Andy Tanner signed as undrafted rookie free agent out of Midwestern State after trying out at rookie mini-camp earlier this year and immediately was inserted in a deep lineup of wide receivers.

He appeared in two preseason games for the Saints but never recorded a single stat and with players like Montez Billings, Courtney Roby, Adrian Arrington and Lance Moore above him never stood much of a chance at cracking the roster.

Get WhoDatDish.com three ways, subscribe to the RSS feed, become a friend of WDD on Twitter,or enjoy the new iPhone and Android app by searching for Who Dat Dish in your phone’s app store, it’s free!