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If the Saints were the type of team that cuts veterans like this frequently then I could understand, but they don't. They aren't savages like New England. They usually give players every opportunity to catch on with a new team when they know that player isn't part of their vision going forward.This is a good explanation. I guess my point in my previous post was more a question of why fans vilify players for playing this game, but when the org does it, it’s ”just how it works”. I understand it’s a business and both parties are going to do what is in their best interest. It just seems like when a player does it, they are thrown under the bus.
In this case, i think the org could have handled this situation more professionally. You want players to feel like they are going to be treated better when they sign on with the Saints.
This was an unusual situation and I honestly think the Saints were blindsided by Murray's decline. It's obvious that he was part of SP's vision for the offense this season. With his contract I thought he could've been cut to get under the cap but they kept him. They didn't ask him to take a pay cut back then. But once it was apparent that he had lost some juice and was being outperformed by a younger (far cheaper) player, they had to make a decision. They still wanted him but at a pay level more commensurate with his current skill/value. If their cap situation was better then maybe they could carry his contract but the cap situation isn't ideal and they needed cap space to make some moves.
And by most accounts the Saints are a player friendly organization. The only negative things I've heard came from disgruntled ex Saints with an axe to grind.