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The New Orleans Saints will need to find a long snapper for 2017. According to head coach Sean Payton, the team is placing veteran Jon Dorenbos on NFI due to a need for immediate open heart surgery.
Per a source familiar with the situation, the Saints doctors uncovered something serious with Dorenbos after further medical testing. According to Payton, it’s an aortic aneurysm from a pre-existing condition, and the catch by Dr. John Amoss has saved his life.
The recently turned 37-year-old has been in the league since 2003, and was making a ton of friends easily on his new team, speaking highly of the city, organization, and wowing his teammates with magic. He popped up on Thursday’s injury report with an illness, but it would appear it’s far greater than that.
Dorenbos, who was just acquired on Aug. 28 from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2019 7th Round pick, was the team’s fifth long snapper in the mix since Justin Drescher was not re-signed. The Saints went with Jesse Schmitt early in the offseason, added Chase Dominguez and veteran Thomas Gafford, re-added Drescher again, and then traded for Dorenbos.
Payton did mention in his Friday morning press conference that the Saints will be working to rescind the trade due to this being a pre-existing condition.