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For the second week in a row, the Saints add a Pro Bowl wide receiver to their roster.
They hope this one will have an impact this season.
The Saints signed a one-year contract Monday with veteran Brandon Marshall, 13.
The signing took place less than a week after the team 's signing by Dez Bryant, who tore the Achilles tendon during Friday' s training, putting end to his season even before he started.
Now the saints are turning to Marshall, one of three receivers that the saints have prepared last week. Bryant and Kamar Aiken were the other two.
"He's well circulated, smart, experienced and has already integrated several systems," said Saints coach Sean Payton. "He did a good workout, good length, size and another big target."
The Saints will be Marshall's seventh team. Marshall has had a 1,000-yard season with four different teams, but not as successful in the last two seasons.
He played for the last time with the Seattle Seahawks, who signed it in May but released him after six games this season. During his brief stay in Seattle, Marshall captured 11 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. Last season with the New York Giants, he captured 18 assists in five games before being operated on ankle.
Choosing the fourth round by the Denver Broncos in 2006, Marshall has also worked with the Miami Dolphins, the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets. He has been named to the Pro Bowl six times and won the title of MVP of the game in 2012. He was the first All-Pro team in 2012.
As with Bryant, the Saints are hoping that the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Marshall will be able to help consolidate a body of receivers whose main producer is Michael Thomas.
Thomas has captured 78 passes for 950 yards and seven touchdowns this season, including an eight-run performance in Sunday's 51-14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The team's next leaders in the receptions are midfielder Alvin Kamara (55 shots) and halfback Ben Watson (27).
Rookie Tre "Quan Smith and veteran Ted Ginn with 12 receptions each in second and third place. Ginn has been in the reserve of the wounded since mid-October. Cameron Meredith and Tommylee Lewis are also in the casualty pool.
Payton said after Sunday's game that he expects Ginn and Lewis to return soon.
Payton likes Marshall's size, especially when the Saints enter the red zone.
"I thought size was important, but experience and someone we feel have strong hands (too)," said Payton.
Marshall's best season came with the Bears in 2012, when he caught 118 passes for 1,508 yards and 11 touchdowns. The most touchdowns he's scored in a season has been with the Jets in 2015, when he was 14 years old.
In 2008 with the Denver Broncos, Marshall captured 18 assists in a match, the second total in the history of the NFL. He has had six seasons with at least 100 receptions, more than any other player in the history of the league.
Marshall's alma mater is in central Florida, like rookie Smith.
Follow Rod Walker on Twitter, @rwalkeradvocate.
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