rotoworld.com:

Saints released CB Mike McKenzie.
The 33-year-old is recovering from a fractured kneecap after spending last offseason rehabbing a torn ACL. The move was expected after the signing of Jabari Greer and saves the Saints $4.575 million in cap room. Greer and last year’s second-rounder Tracy Porter are the likely starters at corner with Randall Gay in the nickel role.
Source: ESPN.com

Yeah, he’s 33 next week. Torn ACL in 2007, broken knee in 2008. He was due to make over $4M this year. The restructuring conversation probably happened (PayLoo: “Mike, we’d like to offer you $1M to play this year.” Mike: “I think I’ll take my chances on the open market. Thanks anyway.”) Too bad. Looks like this is the end. I wanted him to get a ring this year.

I’m torn here….Yea we knew a big cut was coming but not Madd Max… I do understand the business side a little but why not J. David. In late Feb PayLoo commented on this subject and said everything was on track with him, that rehab was going good for the kidd. I love my saints to the death and I hope this works out. So does this still mean we are looking for a CB/FS in the draft……

so excited to be the first person to break the news (as sad as I am). And also, I am very ecstatic that my name gets mentioned in a story by saintsational…..Thank you for that fello fanatic

I guess he didn’t want to restructure, or maybe they couldn’t agree on the restructured amount. You’re right, he was the one and only bright spot in our secondary before his injuries. He would have been a big cap hit and probably not worth that amount of $ with the uncertainty around his knee. Why him and not Jason David? Well, it’s probably because David is healthy and, like Jeff Duncan said earlier today, the Saints think he’ll probably be able to contribute in a Gregg Williams defense. They’ll know when camp gets here and deal him then, if he doesn’t show promise. Personally, I believe Jason will be better in G-Dub’s defense.

It makes sense to release Mike. That said, I’ll miss seeing his dreadlocks. He was a great player and leader on a mediocre defense. Best wishes, Mike.

This is unfortunate, I loved Mike Mckenzie. I think this means that Malcom Jenkins is now in our drafting plans, for sure.

I think that business played a huge part in this decision on both sides. Saints needing to free up cap space and Mike wanting to make all he can. I personally loved McKenzie. I thought he was a damn good corner and like we all agree, one of the most popular and well liked guys on the Saints defense. Age, knee problems, cap space, all that as a manager, kinda leaves you in a position that you have to approach him and say hey, can you agree to restructure your contact and lower your salary. From Mike’s point, he says well yea I could but I have talent and can play so I feel I should make no less than this. Both sides are caught between a rock and a hard place so ultimately no deal is reached and this is the result. I’m sure both sides are professional and understand the business aspect of things so I’m confident there are no hard feelings on either side. I truly hope Mike enjoys success elsewhere and knows that us fans wish nothing less than the best for him and will be sad that he couldn’t continue to play for the black and gold.

This is one of those tough calls that had to be made. Yes, he was the best corner we had for the past few years. However, he has a bad knee and is not getting any younger. We just signed a younger, faster corner to go with a second year corner who played well before getting hurt. We have a little depth and I don’t see MM happy as a back-up. This will give him a chance to go be a starter somewhere, if his knee allows. I don’t see that happening, ACL and broken kneecap on same knee. That’s not easy to come back from as a normal person, yet alone play corner in the NFL.

I wish him well.

Thanks for the memories!

they needed cap room from somewhere and since he´s had knee issues not all too surprising but still sucks. Would have liked to have seen Greer, Sharper, Porter + Mike together in action.