If the New Orleans Saints are looking to boost their defense this offseason, someone may have just volunteered for the job. Linebacker Dan Morgan has filed to be reinstated with the NFL. The Saints still have the rights to Morgan, although he never technically took the field for New Orleans. He played his entire NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, but the Saints signed him as a free agent before the 2008 season. He retired prior to the season’s start. The Saints’ defense during the 2008 season definitely wasn’t something to brag about. While their offense led the league in both total offense and passing, their defense ranked at number 23 in total defense, 23 in passing defense and 17 in rushing defense. Fans can be there to see the Saints defense try to improve with New Orleans Saints tickets from http://www.stubhub.com/new-orleans-saints-tickets/.

Morgan spent his college years at Miami. He became the team’s first true freshman linebacker to start after Ray Lewis did the same thing in 1993. He had 105 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble that season. The next year, he again started at weakside linebacker for all of the games and was named to first team All-Big East. In 1999, he had a similar season, further bolstering his draft prospects. The next year, he made the switch to middle linebackers and ended the season with numerous awards as well as a record of 11-1. When the 2001 draft came around, it was already anticipated that Morgan would be taken high in the draft. It was the Carolina Panthers who nabbed him in the first round, taking him as the 11th pick overall.

His first year with the Panthers, he started at weakside linebacker, but switched to strongside midway to the season. He missed five games because of a broken left leg, but started the remaining 11, tallying 67 tackles, one sack, one pass defended and one interception. The next season, he started and played in eight games, ending with 53 tackles, one sack, two passes defended and two interceptions. In 2003, He started in 11 games and had 66 tackles and one pass defended as well as taking his team to the Super Bowl that season. The next season proved to be his career best. He had 12 starts, 101 tackles, two sacks, four passes defended and two interceptions. 2004 also marked his first Pro Bowl appearance. He had another top season in 2005, having 75 tackles, three sacks and two passes defended. The next two seasons, Morgan saw little playing time and finished the 2007 season with three starts.

The lack of playing time for Morgan near the end of his time with the Panthers was mostly due to a series of concussions that took him out of the game. Morgan is claiming that he is feeling back to normal with the year off. He was originally slated to play outside linebacker for the Saints although he has more experience at middle linebacker. If the team wants him back at outside linebacker, he will have to compete for a starting spot with Scott Fujita, Troy Evans, Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Scott Shanle.