NFL CAREER – Bolstering their defensive backfield, the Saints acquired Gay early in the free agency period, signing the fifth-year cornerback as an unrestricted free agent. The former New England Patriot has plenty of big-game experience, making two trips to the Super Bowl in his four NFL seasons and playing in six postseason contests (four starts) in addition to 39 regular season games, 14 of which saw him in the starting lineup. As a rookie, he was the Pats’ leading tackler in their Super Bowl XXXIX victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, making 11 solo stops. A young yet proven player, Gay has shown he can play tight man-to-man coverage as well as function in zone defense, amassing 83 career tackles along with five interceptions, 14 pass defenses, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries, returning two of the fumbles for touchdowns.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by Saints to a four-year contract (UFA-NE), 3/4/08; Signed by New England Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent, 4/29/04.

2007 – Played in all 16 games for New England, starting three, and set career-bests with three interceptions and seven pass defenses…Totaled 33 tackles (30 solo) and also forced a fumble that he recovered and returned for a touchdown…Started at cornerback vs. San Diego, Sept. 16, and racked up three solo tackles and a pass defense… Picked off a Carson Palmer pass at Cincinnati, Oct. 1 in the fourth quarter for his first interception since 2004…Also recorded four tackles and a pass defense…Created the first forced fumble of his career on a Derek Anderson completion to Kellen Winslow against Cleveland, Oct. 7, then recovered the ball and raced 15 yards for a touchdown…Stepped in front of a Cleo Lemon pass for his second interception of the season and sprinted upfield for a gain of 31 yards at Miami, Oct. 21…Grabbed his third interception of the season at Buffalo, Nov. 18, picking off a J.P. Losman pass and ran the return back 21 yards, setting up the first Patriots’ touchdown in the first quarter…Played in a reserve role at cornerback and registered two tackles with a pass defense in the comeback win at Baltimore, Dec. 3…Broke up a Kyle Boller pass intended for Derrick Mason on third down, forcing the Ravens to punt in the second quarter…Registered four tackles (three solo) in the win over Pittsburgh, Dec. 9… Started at cornerback and tallied a season-high eight tackles (five solo) in coverage while registering a forced fumble in the Patriots’ 31-20 win over the Jaguars in the AFC Divisional Playoff, Jan. 12...Knocked down two passes against the N.Y. Giants in Super Bowl XLII. 2006 – Played in first three games before being placed on injured reserve on Sept. 27 with a hamstring injury…Made one tackle on defense and another on special teams. 2005 – Played in five games with two starts and recorded 11 tackles (10 solo), a pass defense and three special teams tackles...Placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, Nov. 15…Played in a reserve role at cornerback and safety in the season opener against Oakland, Sept. 8, and collected two solo tackles and tied for the team lead with three special teams stops…Started at safety and collected a season-high six tackles (five solo) against Indianapolis, Nov. 7. 2004 – Started nine of 15 games as a rookie and earned the starting nod at left cornerback in all three playoff games...Started more games than any other Patriots rookie and was the only first-year player to start all three playoff contests...Collected 38 tackles (34 solo) and two interceptions and also returned a fumble for a touchdown...Tied for third on the team with 18 tackles (16 solo) in the playoffs... Saw significant action in the secondary and registered two solo tackles and an interception against Miami, Oct. 10... Grabbed his first career interception when he picked off a Jay Fielder pass and returned it 10 yards in the first quarter…Made his first career start at free safety and tallied two solo tackles and a fumble recovery against N.Y. Jets, Oct. 24)…Registered his first career touchdown with a 41-yard fumble return for a score in the third quarter against Cleveland, Dec. 5, scooping up a William Green fumble caused by Richard Seymour and scampering to the end zone…Led the team with 11 solo tackles, while collecting a pass defense and a forced fumble in the Patriots’ 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX...Batted down a pass intended for Todd Pinkston in the first quarter and forced L.J. Smith to fumble and the loose ball was recovered by Eugene Wilson in the first quarter.

COLLEGE – Started 16 of 42 games for the Tigers, recording 123 tackles (86 solos) with three sacks for 32 yards, six stops for losses of 37 yards, two interceptions and 28 pass deflections...Finished his senior season with 31 tackles (22 solos), two sacks for minus 25 yards, four stops for losses of 29 yards and eight quarterback pressures...Also deflected 13 passes...Started 11 games as a junior at left cornerback and the Auburn clash at free safety...Recorded a career-high 64 tackles (46 solos) with a stop behind the line of scrimmage, four quarterback pressures and eleven pass deflections...Played in every game as a sophomore, starting vs. Arkansas at nickel back...Recorded 25 tackles (17 solos) with a seven-yard sack, two interceptions and four pass deflections and a forced fumble...Played in five games as a reserve cornerback as a freshman, making two tackles.

PERSONAL – Randall Jerome Gay, Jr., was born on May 5, 1982 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...Nickname is “Blue”...Attended Brusly (La.) High, playing football for coach Brady Perry...First-team All-District as a junior and senior...First-team All-Metro both years...Lettered four years in football, three in weight lifting, two in baseball and one in track...Played in only eight games as a senior due to a knee injury but still managed to rush for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns...Also caught three touchdown passes and ran back two punts for scores...Majored in marketing at LSU…Randall and his wife, Desha, have a son, Randall III.