That's it. That's the piece of news that finally made me add an expletive to the "what the..." I have gotten caught repeating to myself out of habit as the Saints have trimmed a lot more than fat in cutting their roster down to size. Boston Scott did everything that could have possibly been asked of a 6th round pick in the rushing, receiving, and return game to keep his spot as a Sean Payton prototype on a 53 man roster that now has all of one running back that's up to speed with a pretty damn intricate system. The recent pickup of a proven veteran like Mike Gillislie should help to complement the superstardom of Alvin Kamara while Mark Ingram impatiently awaits unloading every one of his frustrations on prospective tacklers come Week 5. Still, two running backs (three, assuming Jonathan Williams is activated from the PS) ain't all many available bodies, and - pending Scott clearing both waivers (fingers crossed) and a spot on the practice squad - the Saints as an organization are still as thin in the return game as they were prior to the summer their head coach spent emphasizing it. It just seems like a weird risk to take when you consider the priorities of the person taking it. In fact, you could argue that a late round pick being cut from a position with which they achieved historical success last season is the most questionable move the Saints have made. If only because it's so specific to the one aspect of special teams that's keeping the Saints from being a truly complete team, risking the loss of a 5'6 running back is the most surprising call Sean Payton has rung in. Sure, Devaroe Lawrence being traded to the Browns after having lived in the pocket all preseason was disappointing, but also an undeniable sign of unforeseen depth on the defensive line. Natrell Jameson being cut was a shock to the system of fans that are woefully unfamiliar with having to say goodbye to young defensive backs that flashed even a lick of potential, but also a credit to how unbelievably far the secondary has come. Nate Stupar getting chopped with the second swing of the axe was disheartening, as he looked like Lawrence Taylor with cocaine literally on the brain during his last audition, but it's a good thing that the ability to bully the backups of backups no longer guarantees you a spot on the Saints' roster. What's not a good thing is that Tommylee Lewis, who has had ball security issues in the past, is the only player currently left on the roster that was consistently asked to catch kicks throughout training camp. Hopefully the potential return of Boston Scott, who was likely strategically waived at a point in which most teams are as set for Sunday as they could possibly be, resolves that. Not because he's a great developmental player (though he is), but rather because a team that's as detailed-oriented and thorough in its construction as it has ever been under Sean Payton lacks only a reinforcement in the return game. Like a true championship contender, the Saints have given themselves no room for moral victories or hedged bets, as they kept only those that can best help them right now and made future considerations a thing of the past. Hell, look no further than Taysom Hill's special teams contributions for proof that you need to be able to help this team win today to remain on it. The biggest issue in New Orleans was/is that they had too many quality and proven young players to hold on to those that might have needed some seasoning during a season that's far too promising to be spent salting away spots that are laughably more difficult to fill now than they were a few years ago. It doesn't take too deep of a stare into the rearview to remember that there are far, far worse problems to have than not enough options awaiting kicks. Though, with the amount of chips that the Saints have already pushed into a pot that they fully expect to collect come February, I presume that one will still be addressed too.
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