[CBFF] CT - Haynes - cut by Bears on Saturday - now a Saint

[Jerry Madsen]

Haynes - cut by Bears on Saturday - now a Saint
By John Mullin
Tribune staff reporter

September 3, 2006, 9:04 PM CDT

Former Bears defensive end Michael Haynes wasn't out of a job long. A
sizable chunk of the NFL lined up Sunday to offer the 2003 first-round
pick a new home, and Haynes landed with the New Orleans Saints.

A half-dozen teams submitted claims on Haynes, whom the Bears waived
Saturday. And the Saints, behind only Texas in the claiming order, got
the former Penn State All-American, who is signed through 2007.

"He is a healthy, great kid who needs an opportunity," agent Brian
Mackler said. "This is a great opportunity for him and for the
Saints."

The Saints play a 4-3 defense in which 290-pound Charles Grant and
282-pound Will Smith start at end, with 282-pound Tony Bryant as the
No. 3.

Haynes is naturally in the 285- to 290-pound range, whereas the Bears
want their outside rushers about 25 pounds lighter.

At various times the Bears had been open to dealing Haynes. "But
nothing really materialized that we felt was in our best interests,"
general manager Jerry Angelo said.

Haynes is the second Angelo first-rounder cut in the last year,
joining Marc Colombo. But Angelo also drafted Pro Bowl selections
Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris and Nathan Vasher.

Injuries undid picks like Colombo, Curtis Enis and Rashaan Salaam and
have hindered Cedric Benson's development.

One day after cutting them and watching them clear waivers, the Bears
signed defensive end Jamaal Green, tackle Mark LeVoir, running back
P.J. Pope, guard Tyler Reed and linebacker Rod Wilson to the practice
squad.

jmullin at tribune.com

Copyright (c) 2006, The Chicago Tribune

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