Hartley wins Saints' kicking battle; Toon to IR

Metairie, LA – Veteran kicker John Kasay was one of 16 players waived or released by the New Orleans Saints on Friday as the team announced its preliminary 53-man roster for the 2012 season.

The 42-year-old Kasay made 28-of-34 field goal attempts for the Saints last season -- his 21st in the NFL -- while replacing an injured Garrett Hartley, but Hartley prevailed in a camp competition between the two.

Kasay, who had spent the previous 16 campaigns with NFC South rival Carolina, also made all 63 of his point-after tries last year and finished with 147 points, two more than his former career high set with the Panthers in 1996. The lefty stands sixth on the league's all-time list for fields goals made (461) and is eighth overall in points (1,970).

New Orleans also placed four players on injured reserve, including 2012 fourth-round pick Nick Toon. The rookie wide receiver has been sidelined all season with a sprained foot.

Toon will be joined on the IR list by running back Joe Banyard, safety Jose Gumbs and cornerback Marquis Johnson.

In addition, starting defensive end Will Smith and linebacker Ramon Humber were put on the reserve/suspended list. Smith received a four-game penalty as part of Commissioner Roger Goodell's crackdown on the Saints' bounty program, while Humber is facing a three-game ban for an undisclosed violation of league policy.

The Saints also released two vested veterans in wide receiver Greg Camarillo and tight end Derek Schouman in addition to Kasay, while waiving linebackers Kadarron Anderson, Ezra Butler and Lawrence Wilson, quarterback Sean Canfield, defensive ends Braylon Broughton and Alex Daniels, tight end Michael Higgins, cornerback Nick Hixson, safety Jerico Nelson, guard DeOnt'ae Pannell, offensive tackle Aderious Simmons, wide receiver Andy Tanner and center Matt Tennant.

Tennant was a fifth-round choice of New Orleans in 2010 and appeared in 28 games as a reserve offensive lineman the past two season.