Meet the newest member of the New Orleans Saints, running back Shane Vereen.
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, October 1, 2017 in Tampa. The Buccaneers won the game 25-23. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 23-0. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) rushes past Washington Redskins' Preston Smith (94) for a touchdown as Justin Pugh (67) blocks him during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) runs the ball in traffic during the 2017 NFL week 2 regular season football game against the against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Lions won the game 24-10. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) runs away from New England Patriots defensive end Geneo Grissom (92) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) runs with the ball as Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) moves in for the tackle during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) runs for yardage in action against the the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday Nov.19, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) eludes Washington Redskins free safety D.J. Swearinger (36) en route to a good gain in the first quarter at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on Thursday, November 23, 2017. Credit: Ron Sachs / CNP (RESTRICTION: NO New York or New Jersey Newspapers or newspapers within a 75 mile radius of New York City) EDITORIAL USE ONLY - NO WIRE SERVICE - Photo by: Ron Sachs/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
September 18, 2016, New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) reaches out for the end zone with New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) stopping him during the NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Christopher Szagola/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) prepares to hand off to New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) during a NFL football game between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers Sunday November 12. 2017 at Levi Stadium San Francisco Ca. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the New York Giants 31 - 21. (Bill Nichols Images via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) runs for yardage after a catch in action against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday January 3, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 49-17. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) carries the ball during a regular season Week 12 NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, Thursday November 23, 2017 in Landover, MD. The Redskins beat the Giants 20-10 (Matt Patterson via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) carries the ball during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. New York won 10-7. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) runs for yardage in action against the the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday Nov.19, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) returns a kickoff during a NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Thursday, November 23, 2017 in Landover, MD.(Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) carries the ball after taking the handoff from quarterback Eli Manning (10) during a regular season Week 12 NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, Thursday November 23, 2017 in Landover, MD. The Redskins beat the Giants 20-10 (Matt Patterson via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) carries the ball during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, Calif. San Francisco won 31-21. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) catches a pass as Detroit Lions cornerback Quandre Diggs (28) defends during a NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J. on Monday, September 18, 2017. The Lions defeated the Giants 24-10. (Kirby Lee via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) scores a touchdown during a week 15 NFL football game against Carolina Panthers on December 20, 2015 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) carries the ball during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, Calif. San Francisco won 31-21. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) catches a pass during a week 15 NFL football game against the on December 20, 2015 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) runs with the ball during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, East Rutherford, NJ. The Giants defeated the Chiefs 12-9. (Al Tielemans via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) in action against the Detroit Lions during an NFL game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Brad Penner)
The New Orleans Saints announced that they have signed running back Shane Vereen and have announced that running back Daniel Lasco has been waived/failed physical. The announcements were made by Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis on Wednesday, July 18.
Vereen, 5 feet 10, 205 pounds, is a seven-year NFL veteran who has played for the New York Giants (2015-2017) and the New England Patriots (2011-2014). The Valencia, Calif., native was originally a second round (56th pick overall) draft choice by the New England Patriots in 2011 out of California.
Vereen has played in 79 regular season games with nine starts, and in seven postseason games with three starts. His career regular season totals include 356 rushing attempts for 1,489 yards (4.2 avg.) and eight touchdowns, 221 receptions for 1,864 yards (8.4 avg.) and 11 touchdowns, and 26 kickoff returns for 583 yards (22.4 avg.). In the postseason, he has 26 carries for 129 yards (5.0 avg.) and one touchdown, and 32 catches for 324 yards (10.1 avg.) and two scores.
Vereen played in 37 games for the Giants over the last three seasons. His most productive NFL season came in 2015 where he played in all 16 contests for the Giants and finished second on the team in rushing (260 yards on 61 carries), and receiving (59 catches for 494 yards and four touchdowns). The three receiving totals were all career highs.
While at California, Vereen played in 38 games with 19 starts and was a college teammate of Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan. He had 556 career carries for 2,834 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also hauled in 74 receptions for 674 yards and six scores and 24 kickoff returns for 551 yards. Vereen totaled 210 points as a member of the Golden Bears and his 29 touchdown runs were tied for third on the school's all-time list.
