With no more chances for practice squad, Green looks to stay with Black & Gold

Up to this point, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Skyler Green’s NFL career hasn’t exactly been one to remember.

Since being drafted by Bill Parcells’ Dallas Cowboys in the 4th round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the New Orleans native has played for three different teams and has yet to find a permanent spot on an NFL roster.

In fact, in his three years in the league, the 24-year-old has not caught more than three passes total.

With Dallas, Green was set to be a kickoff and punt return specialist and contribute in other ways to special teams. At the end of the preseason, he was cut and signed to the practice squad.

Despite having a brief stint on the Cowboys’ active roster and being the team’s return man on the Madden 2007 video game, Green was waived before season’s end and signed on with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Green made the Bengals’ roster in the 2007 season, catching three passes for 33 yards before being waived. He finished the remaining nine games on the Bengals’ practice squad.

In January 2008, the Saints signed Green, placing him on the practice squad before the start of the regular season. However, with injuries to return men Reggie Bush and Courtney Roby affecting the team, Green was signed to the Saints’ active roster on Dec. 20 and participated in the team’s final two games against the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers.

Green averaged 133 yards on just four kickoffs and had one of the longest returns for the Saints all season, 60 yards against the Lions.

That performance was followed up with a 42-yard burst through the Panthers’ special teams the following week, but he also had a costly fumble during that game.

Even with the success, Green understands his roster spot isn’t guaranteed. However, he is looking forward to the challenge as he seeks a permanent home in the NFL.

He admits it has been an adventure to be in different NFL cities, but he is tired of being the journeyman.

“I don’t want to move around anymore,” he said. “I want to be a New Orleans Saint for as long as I can be and hopefully do spectacular things to where they want to do a contract extension.”

Since he is entering his fourth year in the NFL, the Higgins High School alumnus is no longer eligible for the practice squad. This preseason is his most crucial since it could be his last chance at an NFL roster.

In order to catch his coach’s eye, Green has been making it a point to get into playing shape. With 11 receivers vying for only five or six roster spots, Green knows there is little room for error during the 2009 preseason.

Entering training camp, Green is expected to compete with Roby for the kickoff return duties.

As for punt returns, he accepts the fact that someone else has already claimed that spot.

“I know for a fact Reggie Bush is going to be our punt return guy,” he said. “I’m working on a backup opportunity. For me, if I go out there and show them that I can be that explosive guy, I think I’ll have a great chance being the kick return guy.”

Before the start of Saints training camp two weeks ago, Green was anxious to get back out on the field and prove to head coach Sean Payton that despite his 5-foot-9-inch frame, he is cut out for the NFL.

“Behind that big play card, he knows what he is doing,” Green said of his coach. “He’s a great offensive-minded coach, and it’s real fun to play for him. I’ve been trying to get my mind right just to get myself in the best shape I could possibly get in. I just have to fight my way through training camp because that is always the toughest part.”

However, Green said he is going to enjoy his time in camp. His reputation as a “speedy” receiver prompted a challenge from Bush, a race that has yet to happen.

“At one point in time we were all talking about having a race, but it fell through,” he said. “I might be able to take him. But we never raced so I couldn’t say right now.”

Despite what happened in the past, the former LSU Tiger is ready to put it all behind him and make an NFL career for himself.

Having two former Tiger teammates in wide receiver Devery Henderson and cornerback Randall Gay on the Saints’ roster makes life in the NFL a bit easier.

“It helps out a lot having those guys,” he said. “Being with Devery in the receiving corps, we are a close-knit group. We watch each other’s back and look out for each other and I think that is going to go a long way for our football team.

“I think I am going to have a real good chance this year because I’ve learned the playbook a lot more,” he added. “We’re going to have a lot of fun this year.”