Mon May 19 20:43:00 2008

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Linebacker Morgan retires

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New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Veteran linebacker Dan Morgan has decided to retire, the New Orleans Saints announced Monday.

Morgan, just 29, signed with the Saints in March, as he was released by the Carolina Panthers in February after missing significant time over the past two seasons.

The seven-year veteran missed the final 13 games of the 2007 season with an Achilles tendon injury, and did not play in the final 15 the previous year after suffering a concussion. But his new start did not turn out as planned.

"When we signed Dan, he was committed to making a fresh start, and he was making every effort to rehabilitate the leg injury that he suffered last year," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "But it wasn't responding as well as he had hoped it would. We wish him well in his continued recovery, and he will be remembered for the excellent player he was during his career."

Morgan was Carolina's first-round draft choice in 2001 out of Miami, and started 59 games for the Panthers. Morgan made 109 tackles in the 2004 season, when he was named to the Pro Bowl, and his 452 tackles rank third in franchise history.