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Size for speed Saints sign veteran Reed, trade Kennison to Bears
Posted: Tuesday February 22, 2000 11:30 AM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The New Orleans Saints have signed free agent wide receiver Jake Reed to a two-year contract, while trading receiver Eddie Kennison to the Chicago Bears for a fifth-round draft choice. The Minnesota Vikings released Reed, a nine-year veteran, on Feb. 10 as part of cost-cutting moves designed to get them under the $62.5 million salary cap before the opening of free agency. The Vikings had tried to trade Reed, who lost his starting job to Randy Moss in 1998 and was relegated to spot duty last season after dropping several passes, but found no takers. He was due a $1 million roster bonus on March 1. Reed, a Grambling State graduate, "is big and strong and will complement the style of offense we are going to run," Saints general manager Randy Mueller said in a statement. Kennison, a four-year NFL player and a former LSU standout, was obtained by the Saints last season from the St. Louis Rams in exchange for a second-round draft choice. He caught 61 passes for 835 yards for the Saints. The Saints had hoped Kennison would strengthen their punt-return game, but he averaged only 7.4 yards per return. The trade surprised Kennison and his agent, John Hamilton, who had said his client was looking forward to a breakout season in New Orleans, especially after the signing of quarterback Jeff Blake. "We needed some draft picks so we could acquire some young talent and fill out our roster," Mueller said. "There was a little market for Eddie because of his speed. He's a good player, but he didn't quite fit our system."
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