Saints add depth at running back, sign former Redskin Betts
The New Orleans Saints needed to act fast as the pool of talent available on the free agent market was waning, and they did. The Saints signed former Washington Redskin Ladell Betts to a one-year deal, worth $755,000 with $250,000 in incentives.
Betts worked out with the team shortly after signing, but he did not wear pads and will not play in the Saints preseason game this week. Betts is coming off knee surgery and will be inserted into the line-up slowly.
"He is coming off an injury, so we need to monitor and be smart about how we practice him, especially in the first couple of weeks back with his ACL," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "His experience was something that we valued and his workout was good."
The Saints saw the need to add depth at running back after Lynell Hamilton suffered a season-ending injury, which was a torn ACL as well. Hamilton cleared waivers and was placed on injured reserve.
"They basically wanted to see how my knee would hold up during the workouts, planting and cutting," Betts said. "I'm assuming they like what they saw. I was able to get in and out of my cuts. They said, 'You look pretty good,' so they decided to bring me on."
The 31-year old veteran is entering his ninth NFL season and will join the competition to back up Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, who are the two top running backs without question. Betts will compete with P.J Hill and rookie Chris Ivory for the final roster spot.
"Those guys are established (Thomas and Bush)," Betts said. "They've been here. They helped this team win the Super Bowl last year. I'm just trying to fit in wherever I can. I like to consider myself a between-the-tackles runner. Hopefully once the coaches see what I can do, they'll use me to my strengths."
Betts spent his first eight seasons with the Redskins, rushing for 3176 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also caught 165 passes for 1505 yards and three touchdowns.
"He is a veteran player, a good all-around football player," Payton said. "He is someone who we think has pretty good balance and understands protections well."
If Betts makes the team, he will turn into a very lucky man, having been picked up by the defending Super Bowl champions. He’d likely play a very small role with the team, in a passing offence and with two dynamic backs ahead of him, but the opportunity to win a championship is there nonetheless.
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