METAIRIE, La. ― Danny Clark isn’t in the same locker and he’s not wearing the same number, but he’s more than happy to be back on the same team he was with in 2006.
The Saints brought back the linebacker to help beef up a unit that suddenly turned thin when Jonathan Casillas went on the injured reserve with a season-ending foot injury.
“It was a no-brainer – a ball club that’s coming off the pinnacle of where everyone is trying to be with the capabilities of doing it again,” Clark said. “We’ve got some good players in place. The system is in place. We understand that it’s proven. It was great to be a part of this thing four years ago when this regime came to the city so I’m excited about this city, this organization and the potential of going back again.”
New Orleans cut tight end Tory Humphrey to make room for Clark, who played for the Saints in 2006. Clark recently was released by the Houston Texans.
Clark is entering his 11th season out of Illinois and has played with five teams. He has 604 career tackles and seven sacks. The past two seasons with the Giants, he finished with 70 and 53 tackles, respectively.
“He’s a physical player. He’s a first- and second-down type player that has got good size and carries his pads very well. Certainly his physicalness is something we’ve seen and actually had when he was here prior,” Head Coach Sean Payton said.
But he was cut from Houston’s roster after injuring his right knee against the Saints in the preseason. He didn’t get to play in the final game and Clark said he thinks that’s one of the reasons he was cut.
The opportunity for Clark could be immediate. At least he hopes so. He auditioned for the spot in a way when the Texans practiced against the Saints during training camp.
“I had a couple of big plays in practice and in the game,” Clark said. “That was the joke floating around, like, ‘That’s they got you back here because of what you did in practice.’ You never know. This business is circular. What goes around comes around.
“I think you put some good stuff out there and people are watching. It says a lot about the organization and how we feel about each other.”
Additionally, the Saints picked up guard/tackle combo Roger Allen from Missouri Western and running back Brandon Minor from Michigan for the practice squad. To make room, the Saints released quarterback Sean Canfield and tight end Dustin Mitchell.
