On Friday, Mike Karney will be wed. He will also officially be divorced from the New Orleans Saints.Though "the writing's been on the wall," in Karney's words, since the Saints started showing interest in other fullbacks this offseason, and though the news trickled out on Thursday in the wake of the team's contractual agreement with fullback Heath Evans, it is Friday, Karney's wedding day, that it will become official. It will be the day the Saints formally release him from the team.
"...I wasn't surprised or caught off guard. And I respect the decision that Sean (Payton) and Mickey (Loomis) made collectively. I have no hard feelings, and I'm happy that they didn't string it out."At least the news wasn't broken to Karney on his wedding day; he was prepared. It's not like there will be a shortage of interest in him, an excellent lead-blocker (second-team All-Pro in 2006) and personality who is only meeting his demise in New Orleans because the Saints don't run much in a traditional fullback-tailback formation anymore. And at least the Saints made the move now, as Karney noted, rather than letting it drag on and hurting his chances of finding another team in need of a fullback.
"I have great memories of being a New Orleans Saint," Karney said. "I had some great games. I felt I stood tall through the victories and the losses and I was part of taking an organization to the NFC Championship Game, which had never been done in the history of the organization, and I met a lot of great people, established a lot of great relationships. The fans have been outstanding. Their support for me has been out of this world. It's sad in that respect, but it's time to move on, it's time for a new life."
Still, it's the guy's wedding day, and he suddenly has no idea who will be writing his checks or what city he and his new bride will call home. I hope the cake isn't topped with a fleur-de-lis.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-06-2009 @ 12:40PM
DAN said...
he is vary classy guy and i wish him the best of luck , ps. green bay should take a look at this guy , when we had a leed blocker for grant we did a lot better in the run then zone blocking.
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3-06-2009 @ 1:03PM
IronCity4ever said...
This guy would flourish in Pittsburgh. Put him in front of Willie Parker and blow through the O lines and he (Willie) will have 1500 yards.
Thats another detail we're missing, dudes like Danny Krieder and this guy.
Go Steelers
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3-06-2009 @ 1:45PM
livingdeadgoo1 said...
good for you mike getting away from that loosing team in n.o. they will always stink.....
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3-06-2009 @ 1:52PM
shalebrook said...
He is classier than the orgasnization who had the poor taste to let him go on his Wedding day!
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3-06-2009 @ 2:10PM
Big blue said...
The only things that came out of this guy's mouth were positive things. This guy is "top shelf"...He won't be without a team very long. One of the BETTER organizations will pick him up in no time....Good Luck to YOU
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3-06-2009 @ 4:19PM
Adam said...
I never understood why people keep saying fullbacks are a dying breed. A good fullback opens up a lot of options, whether it's a lead block, running, pass protection or catching, and you can see when a team lacks that, like the Eagles who sucked hard on 3rd and short.
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3-06-2009 @ 4:24PM
majohnson964 said...
The NFL is a business and tough decisions need to be made all the time. Good luck to one of the classiest guys to wear a Saints uniform. Another team will be very fortunate to have him.
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3-06-2009 @ 4:45PM
cat1bb1 said...
Hopefully the Eagles will go after him!
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3-06-2009 @ 4:49PM
geezerearl said...
Hope he finds a new team. What a great way 2 spend a honeymoon.Wondering who his new employer
will be. Suspect N.O. could have found another day 2 release him.
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3-06-2009 @ 6:29PM
blblbl3 said...
The Giants should pick him up and put him in front of Jacobs. It'd be like a Mack truck clearing the way for a semi.
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3-06-2009 @ 7:53PM
wmjasmith6 said...
The browns need a hard nose player of his caliber.
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3-06-2009 @ 9:56PM
Tobby Smith said...
hey livingdeadgoo1;
Your an dumbass...its LOSING not loosing. Learn to spell you band wagon jumping cowboy fan.
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3-10-2009 @ 10:40AM
florida112367 said...
tooooby smith stinks toooooo
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3-07-2009 @ 5:17AM
bigdad2644 said...
I agree that he is a great guy,very classy,but lrt's face it,if the saints don't want you ,you're probibly done playing football.If he was still a great player the saints would have kept him.They already got rid of McCalister,why would they get rid of a great power back? I think the man is a great guy,please don't get me wrong. I just don't see any other team picking him up.
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3-08-2009 @ 12:39AM
Mardigrasman said...
Mike will be picked up without a doubt. He is a classy guy with a solid work ethic and talent. Perhaps bidad could read the article above a little more carefully. Teams often part ways with very talented players when they change offensive schemes.
FYI: if you want proof that there were no hard feelings toward the Saints, I'll give it to you. I was at the wedding and, in addition to the traditional wedding cake, there was a helmet shaped cake in Saints colors, complete with fleur de lis & his number.
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3-24-2009 @ 6:19PM
ZaZapper said...
To all the deadheads on this thread. The Saints told this guy WEEKS ago he was going to be released. The CONTRACT ends Friday. They showed tremendous class to release him way before the draft to give him the best opportunity to find another team. They just don't run much and trading a fullback in this league of overpaid recievers and quarterbacks is nearly impossible. So they did the right thing to let him go when they did. Saying they were classless just shows your lack of intelligence and knowlege of the situation.
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