C.J. Spiller Released by Saints: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

The New Orleans Saints announced Wednesday that they released veteran running back C.J. Spiller after NFL Media's Rand Getlin first reported the news Tuesday. 

John Hendrix of the Sun Herald provided reaction to the news from Saints defensive back Delvin Breaux, who posted on Twitter before deleting the post:

Spiller spent his first five years in the league with the Buffalo Bills before joining the Saints last season. He caught 34 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 112 yards in 13 games, including two starts.

Once a 1,244-yard rusher with the Bills in 2012, Spiller became nothing more than a passing-down option in New Orleans after a broken collarbone limited his 2014 season to just nine games.

He added 34 catches for 239 yards behind those substandard rushing marks coming off the bench behind Mark Ingram, Tim Hightower and Khiry Robinson. 

Even with the departure of Robinson, Spiller found himself deep on the depth chart heading into the 2016 season. In fact, he was inactive in Week 1 against the Oakland Raiders, as Ingram and Hightower were supported by Travaris Cadet, who recorded a receiving touchdown on Sunday. 

Spiller had been nursing a lingering knee injury since his arrival in New Orleans, but he was "feeling healthy," per NOLA.com's Josh Katzenstein on Sept. 6. 

But Saints head coach Sean Payton chalked Spiller's absence up to a crowded depth chart, which included six different running backs, per Herbie Teope of NOLA.com:

"

It was just one of these games we knew (Travaris) Cadet was going to have a big role in his position and it really came down to the numbers. (Daniel) Lasco is playing on all special teams, it's really one of the challenges with six running backs on the roster. It was just that game and how we were going to approach that game with our personnel groupings. That will be something we look at week to week.

"

This is a sudden and unceremonious ending to his Saints career after he signed a four-year, $16 million deal with the team as a free agent prior to the 2015 season, via Spotrac. 

According to USA Today's Tom Pelissero, he will receive his guaranteed 2016 salary of $1.7 million just months after he received a $1.55 million guaranteed bonus in March. 

The 29-year-old's time as a free agent isn't expected to last, though. Getlin believes it "won't be long" until a team that is in need of some rushing depth takes a look at Spiller. 

However, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noted Wednesday that "the best option at this point" is for Spiller to wait, adding that there aren't "a lot of RB openings." Rapoport also noted that Spiller will "likely be the minimum" when he does sign.

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.