Report: Saints Not Interested In Derrick Brooks

Saints coach Sean Payton shot down the idea that the Saints might be interested in signing former Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks in the wake of Dan Morgan’s retirement. Jeff Spain of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Payton dismissed any idea of adding a veteran linebacker to the team’s roster. It’s a bit unclear if Payton was speaking specifically about Brooks, Spain writes only that he was asked about veteran linebackers, but the coach said he is content with the team’s depth at the position. Brooks has been out of work since the Buccaneers released him on February 25th. He told USA Today last week that he still intends to play and has been in contact with teams that have asked him to stay patient while they figure out what they already have on hand. The Saints currently have Scott Fujita, Jonathan Vilma, Mark Simoneau, Scott Shanle, Marvin Mitchell, Troy Evans, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Anthony Waters and Jonathan Casillas. Stanley Arnoux, a fourth-round draft choice from Wake Forest, will miss the 2009 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon.