NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints released veteran receiver Lance Moore on Friday. Before the move was announced, Moore all but confirmed it with a note on Twitter, writing, "Thank you New Orleans for an amazing nine years. Who Dat Nation, the best on earth!!!" Cutting Moore, who was due $3.1 million in base salary next season, marked the latest of several cost-cutting moves by the Saints as they seek to create space under the NFLs salary cap to work out a long-term extension with star tight end Jimmy Graham. In the past month, the Saints have cut defensive end Will Smith, safety Roman Harper and cornerback Jabari Greer, who were all starters on New Orleans 2009 Super Bowl team. In addition, the Saints have said they would not bring back free agent linebacker Jonathan Vilma, a former defensive captain who has been hampered by knee injuries in recent seasons. "Just like some of the decisions we made on the defensive side of the ball a few weeks ago, this move today is just as difficult," general manager Mickey Loomis said. "Lance was very important to our productivity on offence and our success as a team overall. ... You couldnt ask for more from Lance both on and off the field and we wish him the best of luck." Meanwhile, there were signs of more moves to come. Running back and return specialist Darren Sproles, due $3.4 million in base salary in 2014, wrote on Twitter: "Thank you New Orleans for your support over the past 3 years! I will always be forever grateful. #WhoDat" The NFL did not release any formal transactions involving Sproles and the Saints did not immediately comment on the significance of Sproles Twitter post. Sproles joined the Saints as a free agent in 2011, setting an NFL record for total yards in a season with 2,696. Last season, Sproles, who routinely catches passes out of the backfield, accounted for 604 yards and two touchdowns receiving to go with 220 yards and two TDs rushing. He returned 29 punts, with his longest return going for 28 yards, and ran back 12 kickoffs, none for more than 32 yards. Moore entered the NFL with Cleveland as an undrafted free agent out of Toledo in 2005 and joined the Saints practice squad later that season. "Lance Moore made a significant contribution to our teams success," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "While his production on paper is obvious, it only tells half the story. Lance came to us an undrafted rookie who went to NFL Europe and spent time on our practice squad. He went on to produce outstanding results on the field for us as a result of his work ethic, reliability and commitment to get better every day. Hes been one of the pillars of what we have built here as an organization." In 2008, he was New Orleans leading receiver with 79 catches for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns. While he was hurt for much of the 2009 season, he returned in time to help the Saints win their only championship. He made a difficult catch and dived for the pylon on a 2-point conversion that gave New Orleans a 24-17 lead over Indianapolis in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. The Saints went on to win by two touchdowns after Tracy Porters late interception return for a score. Moore had his last 1,000-yard season in 2012, when he made 65 catches for 1,021 yards and six TDs. Last season, however, Moore began to lose playing time to rookie receiver Kenny Stills and finished with 37 catches for 457 yards and two TDs, his lowest output in four seasons. Moore was due $3.1 million in base salary in 2014, so releasing him provides New Orleans more flexibility under the salary cap as it seeks to re-sign star free-agent tight end Jimmy Graham to a long-term extension. . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. . Louis Cardinals won the World Series last season, but after losing first baseman Albert Pujols to free agency and manager Tony LaRussa to retirement, they opened the 2012 season in 12th spot in the TSN.
http://www.cheapbillsjerseysonline.com/ ... online.com) - Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies withstood 18 Dallas 3-pointers, as Memphis took control in the third quarter and fended off a Mavericks rally en route to a 114-105 win in a Southwest Division showdown. . Cox started the season with San Francisco, but was released by the team on Nov. 12 before being signed by Seattle, where he appeared in two games and tallied three tackles before being released on Dec. . The Incheon-based tea, of the Korea Baseball Organization said the deal for the 35-year-old Scott included a $50,000 signing bonus. Scott reached the major leagues with Houston in 2005 and hit 23 homers or more for Baltimore each year from 2008-10. OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- When it came down to it, Jacoby Jones decided he just wanted to stay with the Baltimore Ravens. The 29-year old wide receiver signed a four-year contract with the Ravens Thursday after agreeing to terms on the contract Wednesday. "I wasnt even thinking about the money," Jones said. "Its the fact that this is probably the only place that will let me be myself." He later joked, "The city, the state, the organization, the coaches, they know I kind of dont have it all together up here, up top -- some loose ends -- and they all accept that." The former "Dancing with the Stars" participant was in the midst of a meeting with the New York Giants Wednesday when he made the decision that he wanted to return to the Ravens. After meeting with the Giants, Jones got in a car to head downtown and meet New York executives for dinner. During that car ride, Jones said he told the driver to head to the airport, that he wanted to come back to Baltimore. Jones agreed to terms with the Ravens later in the day. "Couldnt be more excited," coach John Harbaugh said. "Once again, we keep adding our guys on our offence. Our offence is getting better by maintaining the guys that we haave here right now.ddddddddddddquot; Jones is the third offensive player to re-sign with Baltimore since Feb. 28, joining tight end Dennis Pitta and left tackle Eugene Monroe. Jones signed with the Ravens in 2012 after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Houston Texans. With Baltimore, he has been a weapon on special teams. He has five returns for touchdowns the last two years, including a 108-yard return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII. But he also started nine games at wide receiver in 2013, and Harbaugh envisions him continuing to play a role on offence going forward. The Ravens hired Gary Kubiak in January to be their offensive co-ordinator. Kubiak was Jones coach in Houston during his time there. "Its just a great opportunity for us," Harbaugh said. "Jacoby is a playmaker, but hes not just a playmaker. I think everybody understands what he brings to the table in terms of ability to break open a game at any time, but hes also a quality receiver. "Hes a special teams player, but hes also a guy that can do the things that you need to do to move the chains when you need to move them. . And without question, we believe that his best football is in front of him." ' ' '
