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The New Orleans Saints made several roster moves today as the team prepares to host the Oakland Raiders on Sunday at the Superdome. The Saints announced that they have placed K Martin Gramatica, FB Olaniyi Sobomehin and CB Tracy Porter on the reserve/list, waived TE Buck Ortega and signed four players to the 53-man roster: K Taylor Mehlhaff, TE Sean Ryan, DT Montavious Stanley and DE Jeff Charleston.
Mehlhaff, 5-10, 184, was the team's sixth-round draft choice (#178 overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Wisconsin product was a first team All-American and All-Big 10 honoree as a senior. He finished his undergraduate career making 50-of-65 field goals (76.9 percent) and made 145-of-148 extra points. In the preseason with the Saints Mehlhaff split the kicking chores with Gramatica and converted two-of-three field goal attempts and all four extra points.
Ryan also begins his second stint with the Saints, having originally signed with New Orleans two weeks ago. The 6-5, 260-pound product of Boston College is now in his fifth season in the NFL, having played for the Dallas Cowboys (2004-2005) and the New York Jets (2006-2007). Ryan spent the 2008 preseason with the Miami Dolphins after having signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Dolphins this past off-season. A veteran of 35 career regular season games Ryan has nine career receptions for 90 yards.
Stanley, 6-2, 302, is a third year player out of the University of Louisville who was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by Dallas. Stanley spent time in 2006 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and on the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys and was claimed on waivers by the Atlanta Falcons on August 28, 2007. The native of Albany, Georgia has appeared in 17 regular season games and made six starts and has collected 39 tackles, ½ a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Charleston, 6-4, 265, is in his second season in the NFL. The product of Idaho State originally broke into the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Houston Texans in 2006 before being waived at the conclusion of training camp. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts on January 4, 2007 and went on to play in 13 regular season games with the Colts last season, where he also made three starts. Charleston has accumulated 42 career tackles, one sack, two passes defensed and a forced fumble in regular season play and also appeared in the Colts' AFC Divisional Playoff game last season.
