METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints' two starting cornerbacks in Sunday's finale at the Atlanta Falcons weren't on the roster to start the regular season -- Sterling Moore and B.W. Webb.
That's mostly a result of New Orleans' relentless barrage of injuries at the position. Dating to the summer, they have lost cornerbacks Delvin Breaux, P.J. Williams, Keenan Lewis, Kyle Wilson, Damian Swann and Ken Crawley to injuries.
But that's also a testament to a scouting department that picked the right in-season replacements -- and, of course, to the veterans themselves.
"I think they hit at the corner position. Sterling and Webb were great acquisitions," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "Those guys are going to be starting this weekend, and I think those were important signs for us."
When the Saints tweeted out Payton's comment, some of the two starters' teammates endorsed the statement.
GREAT https://t.co/qs5ua5ZmAN
— Kenny Dwayne Vaccaro (@KennyVaccaro4) December 29, 2016
AGREED https://t.co/pqs6nysGgJ
— Zach Strief (@ZachStrief) December 30, 2016
Moore, who signed in Week 1, has been with six teams in six years since he began with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2011. The 5-foot-10, 202-pounder immediately provided a veteran presence and has started 12 games this year with two interceptions and 12 pass defenses.
It's hard to believe the Saints wouldn't want Moore back in 2017. But then again, it's surprising that he didn't stick with teams like the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills in recent years.
Webb, who signed in Week 2, has been with four teams since being drafted by the Cowboys in the fourth round in 2013. Webb has started seven games this year, with one interception and 11 pass defenses.
As NOLA.com's Josh Katzenstein pointed out, the Saints have featured five players this year who weren't on the roster at the start of September -- Moore, Webb, defensive end Paul Kruger, kicker Wil Lutz and guard Jahri Evans (who has had a great year after the Saints released him in February, then brought back).
