The Facts: The Saints have released Johnson. The eighth-year veteran has been unable to compete for a roster spot throughout the summer because of a lingering ankle injury, and he became expendable when New Orleans traded for Jeremy Shockey this week.
Diehards Line:Johnson joined the Saints in free agency last year, and he re-signed with the team this offseason. But the ankle injury, which he suffered while training on his own in February, unexpectedly turned into a months-long issue. When healthy, Johnson showed signs of being one of the league's best young pass-catching tight ends, but his career has been plagued by various injuries. In his best season, Johnson caught 82 passes for 825 yards and two touchdowns with the San Francisco 49ers in 2004.