Saints release veteran linebacker Curtis Lofton

NEW ORLEANS (AP) The New Orleans Saints released veteran middle linebacker Curtis Lofton on Monday.

The roster move came as the Saints worked to reduce player payroll below the 2015 salary cap before the beginning of the new league year Tuesday.

Lofton, a seven-year veteran, was due $2.65 million in base salary next season.

When the Saints posted the move on a daily list of transactions that the NFL releases to media, the club noted that Lofton had failed a physical.

Lofton did not miss a game last season, and has never missed a game in his career, starting all but one.

In a post to his account on the social media site, Twitter, Lofton said he will always cherish his relationship with Saints fans, thanked the Saints for giving him a chance to play in New Orleans and promised that he would not be discouraged.

''I will take my passion, my love to compete and love for this great game elsewhere,'' Lofton wrote. ''I can assure you that whatever team I end up with will get one hell of a ball player.''

Lofton began his NFL career in with Atlanta, which made him a second-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2008.

He left Atlanta for New Orleans as a free agent in 2012.

During three seasons with the Saints, Lofton was credited with 392 solo or assisted tackles, along with three sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Lofton led the Saints in tackles in each of his three seasons with the club.

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