NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints signed veteran cornerback Jerametrius Butler and center Marquay Love on Tuesday, two days after the free agents took part in the team's three-day minicamp on a tryout basis.
The Saints needed an additional defensive back during minicamp because Mike McKenzie and Jason David, the starting cornerbacks in 2007, were limited by injuries during practice.
McKenzie is recovering form reconstructive knee surgery at the end of last season while David had a strained groin.
Butler, who is 5-foot-10, 181 pounds, has spent seven seasons in the NFL, his first six with St. Louis before moving to Buffalo last season. The former fifth-round draft choice out of Kansas State has played in 71 regular season games, starting 32. He has 218 tackles, nine interceptions, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries.
He led the Rams in interceptions in both 2003 and 2004, but missed all of 2005 with a knee injury.
Butler also has played on special teams, with 20 career tackles on kick coverage.
Love, who played defensive tackle during his college career at Houston, has minimal NFL experience. The 6-foot, 307-pound lineman was converted to a center after joining Miami as an undrafted free agent last year but was waived at the end of training camp.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
