Making moves to beef up defense that had holes in it last season, the Saints on Sunday signed free agents cornerback Randall Gay of the Patriots and defensive end Bobby McCray of the Jaguars.
Gay, a former LSU cornerback from Brusly, signed a five-year, $17.6 million contract. McCray, 6 feet 6, 262 pounds, signed a five-year contract worth a reported $20 million, including a $5 million signing bonus. He will join the rotation at defensive end with Will Smith and Charles Grant. Gay got a $3.75 million signing bonus as part of $5.4 million in guarantees in the first two seasons..
Also over the weekend, he Saints traded for Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Earlier, the team re-signed guard Jamar Nesbit, center Jonathan Good win, wide receiver Terrance Copper, kickers Martin Gramatica, defensive tackle Brian Young, middle linebacker Mark Simoneau, wide receiver Devery Henderson and running back Aaron Stecker.
"New Orleans was our first choice other than New England," said Gay's agent, Albert Elias. "If we could not stay there, and that became apparent on Saturday that it was not going to work out, then New Orleans was our first choice. They showed the most interest in him and it was the best situation for him."
The Saints will give Gay, who was used primarily as a nickel back last season by the Patriots a chance to compete for a starting job. Gay will have $750,000 base salary for 2008 and could earn another $1 million if he plays 70 per cent of the Saints' defensive snaps.
The Patriots were among the three teams that pursued Gay, who played last year under a $1.3 million second-round restricted free agent tender.
Elias said Gay was sad to leave the Patriots and credited the team for helping him cash in because of the way it developed and deployed him during his four seasons in New England. The agent stressed there were no hard feelings with the Patriots and said Gay parted with coach Bill Belichick and the team on good terms.
The Lions, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Jets also showed interest in Gay.
Gay recorded 83 career tackles during his career with the Patriots, had five interceptions and recovered three fumbles, including two he returned for touchdowns. He played in all 19 games for the Patriots in 2007 after his two previous seasons were cut short by ankle and hamstring injuries.
Former Saints wide receiver Donte Stallworth signed a seven-year contrct for $35 million with $10 million guranteed with the Browns. He will be wearing his fourth uniform in 27 months.
