SNAP DECISION

Kevin Houser had special plans to commemorate his setting of the Saints' record for consecutive games played early this season. It won't happen now. The team released the nine-year veteran deep snapper Monday, leaving him four games shy of the franchise mark of 148 held by tackle Jim Dombrowski. Along with the release of Houser, a seventh-round draft pick in 2000 who was the longest tenured player on the team, the Saints announced the signing of free agent Jason Kyle, a 14-year veteran who spent the past eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers. "It's disappointing because it would have been such a cool thing to do (breaking the record), and it was something we'd really been looking forward to. I guess you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch." However, Houser said he had no ill feelings toward the Saints . In fact, they were just the opposite. "When we look at everything we've done, and by we I mean my wife (Kristen) and myself, being able to touch the lives of so many thousands of people, it's been a great run," Houser said. "I'll think of how wonderful Mr. and Mrs. Benson have been to me, how grateful I am to management for sticking with me for nine years, how much I loved being part of the organization and how we've been able to build so many great relationships and being able to see this city bounce back after Katrina. "There's nothing better than being able to run out on the Superdome floor on game day representing the Saints , the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. But this is a business where you put your best foot forward on the field, and if I'm not part of that plan, then I've got to move forward." Still, Houser said, being released caught him off-guard, although Saints Coach Sean Payton had spoken during offseason training activities about the possibility of defensive end Rob Ninkovich at the position. A release from the Saints quoting Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis gave no reasoning for the move, only thanking Houser for his nine years and wishing him the best in the future. "This is a business, and year-in, year-out, day-in, day-out, you've got to be at your best because it could be your last. I came out of the OTAs excited about training camp and helping the team do whatever we needed to do to win a championship." Houser added that he did not feel his performance level had lagged. "I'm not saying I've never had a bad snap, because I've been lucky enough to have some very good athletes behind me," he said. "But I can say with confidence that in nine years, I never had a snap that cost us anything in a game, and there was no reason to believe that wouldn't continue." Houser said he did not talk to Loomis on Monday but was informed of his release by phone call from Payton. The call came while Houser and his family were at Niagara Falls celebrating the 40th wedding anniversary of his in-laws. "Anytime you deal with Coach, he's very matter-of-fact," Houser said. "He let me know his respect for me, and I expressed my gratitude for playing for him for the past three years. We wished each other luck, and that was about the extent of the conversation." The release apparently was not about money, and Houser pointed out he had never had a contractual issue with the team. Houser made the league minimum of $745,000 last year, while as a 14-year veteran, Kyle made $910,000 last season with the Panthers. "Jason is a quality veteran player, and we saw in him a chance to upgrade our kicking game," Loomis said in the release. "I've known him since we drafted him in Seattle (in 1995) and going up against him twice a year for the last eight seasons with Carolina, he has always been impressive." In addition to Seattle and Carolina, Kyle, who was a linebacker at Arizona State and has 55 career special teams tackles, has had stints with Cleveland, St. Louis and San Francisco. Houser said his immediate plans were to reflect on his time with the Saints before deciding on whether to continue his playing career. "My wife and I love New Orleans," he said. "It's the place where we want to raise our kids, and I'd realistically thought I would retire here. "I'm keeping my options open. The Saints just signed a 14-year veteran, so there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to continue, too."