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Saints' Sagapolutele Sidelined


The New Orleans Saints' depleted defensive line has taken another hit.

Defensive tackle Pio Sagapolutele suffered a torn triceps tendon in Saturday's preseason game at Green Bay and is expected to be sidelined 10-12 weeks.

The loss of Sagapolutele leaves the Saints without three of last year's four starters on the defensive line.

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Saints:

  • Team page
  • 1998 schedule

    Forum: Will the injury hurt the Saints?


  • Right end Joe Johnson, who was designated as the team's franchise player, is a holdout due to a contract dispute. Johnson turned down a five-year, $21 million offer and is unwilling to play for a $3 million tender this season.

    Left end Darren Mickell retired at the end of the 1997 season, leaving left tackle Wayne Martin as the only defensive line starter from a year ago.

    The 28-year-old Sagapolutele signed as a free agent with New Orleans in 1997. He had two sacks in 14 games in his first season with the team.

    The 6-foot-6, 297-pounder was the starting right defensive tackle on New England's Super Bowl XXXI team. He spent the first five years of his seven-year NFL career with the Cleveland Browns.

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