{'byline': 'by Jeff Nowak', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': 'WWL Radio Sports', 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': 'wwl', 'path': 'wwl/local-sports/saints/saints-cut-special-teams-ace-j-t-gray-heres-why'}], 'syndicated_items': '', 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v44', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2025-09-01T19:06:19.559+00:00', 'lead': [{'data': {'_version': 2, 'autoPlay': False, 'contentId': 'PLZL325trddHb1l-tZSEHLRS5qQx_pT85w', 'videoType': 'Editorial', 'isPlaylist': True, 'origSource': 'https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZL325trddHb1l-tZSEHLRS5qQx_pT85w', 'videoValid': True, 'videoSource': 'playlist', 'playerCaption': None, 'videoLocation': 'article', 'videoPlaylist': '', 'playerHeadline': None, 'playerBorderTop': False, 'autoPlayNextVideo': True, 'componentVariation': 'youtube', 'playerBorderBottom': False, 'playerBorderTopCTA': 'Watch', 'previousTypeRelated': False}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/youtube/instances/cmf1h2r9y00113b7tslf1562j@published'}], 'slug': 'saints-cut-special-teams-ace-j-t-gray-heres-why', 'tags': ['Football', 'NFL', 'New Orleans Saints'], 'feeds': {'msn': True, 'rss': True, 'postup': True, 'facebook': True, 'newsfeed': True, 'sitemaps': True, 'frequency': True, 'smartNews': True, 'apple-news': False, 'smart-news': True, 'most-popular': True, 'reversechron': True, 'google-news-feed': True}, 'hosts': [], 'adTags': {'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/ad-tags/instances/cmf1h19mg000a01tepzj86v8a@published'}, 'byline': [{'hosts': [], 'names': [{'name': 'Jeff Nowak', 'slug': 'jeff-nowak', 'text': 'Jeff Nowak'}], 'prefix': 'by', 'sources': [{'text': 'WWL Radio Sports'}]}], 'teaser': 'Saints make ‘challenging’ decision to cut special teams ace J.T. Gray', 'authors': ['Jeff Nowak'], 'content': [{'data': {'text': "Kellen Moore used the word challenge or challenging eight separate times today regarding the team's latest roster decision, which was to cut ties with longtime special teams standout J.T. Gray.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1h19mg000e01teh95s1u8d@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The Saints head coach confirmed the move on Monday, though it was unclear who would be filling the open roster spot.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1h6pqr001t3b7tksu5oagj@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<iframe width="100%" height="500px" frameborder="0" src="https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?&amp;feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.amperwave.net%2Fv2%2Ffeed%2Faudacy%2Fea48257ada49a05b05792a88aac9b221&amp;theme=dark&amp;playerDisplay-download=false&amp;playlistDisplay-playlistDownloads=false"></iframe>\n', 'isIframe': True, 'componentVariation': 'html-embed', 'fbInstantArticleHtml': '<iframe width="100%" height="500px" frameborder="0" src="https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?&amp;feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.amperwave.net%2Fv2%2Ffeed%2Faudacy%2Fea48257ada49a05b05792a88aac9b221&amp;theme=dark&amp;playerDisplay-download=false&amp;playlistDisplay-playlistDownloads=false"></iframe>\n'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/html-embed/instances/cmf1hlpvi004b3b7tl8mkirc7@published'}, {'data': {'text': '“Roster-wise we had some challenging things to navigate the last 24 hours. We released J.T. Gray, which was one of the hardest things so far in this year and so that was really challenging,&quot; Moore said. &quot;He’s a really good special teams player, he’s a really good player. He’s done a lot of good things here and it was a really, really challenging decision that we had to make.”', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1h7do700213b7tp0zh3jph@published'}, {'data': {'text': "Moore didn't specify a reason for the decision besides maintaining roster flexibility. He said Gray's hamstring injury in camp didn't really affect the decision beyond the limited work he was able to get in during practices, and noted that Gray is fully healthy now.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1h86en00293b7tosfr3w4u@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'There will be a corresponding move in the coming days. The only signing reported as of Monday was that of DT Coziah Izzard, who was signed to the practice squad after spending this training camp with the Chiefs.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1h9hkp002h3b7tfypg2mow@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The move seems to have drawn some immediate reaction, though it requires a bit of interpretation. Saints running back Alvin Kamara simply posted &quot;WTF&quot; in the minutes after the move was first reported, while retired safety Tyrann Mathieu posted &quot;HOW!! &amp; WHY?&quot;', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1haelm002p3b7tvc80lcub@published'}, {'data': {'text': '&quot;We always go through every transaction with the whole team,&quot; Moore said. &quot;Any time we sign someone, any time someone leaves our program we communicate it, you know, this was arguably the most challenging one or one of the more challenging ones we’ve had this offseason.”', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1hfdu4003c3b7tmd1bac41@published'}, {'data': {'tag': None, 'fill': None, 'items': [{'uri': 'www.audacy.com/_components/article/instances/cmf19c95o001h01wzlg1ev4rh@published', 'url': 'http://www.audacy.com/wwl/local-sports/saints/heres-when-saints-will-debut-their-gold-alternate-jerseys', 'lead': 'youtube', 'pageUri': 'http://www.audacy.com/wwl/local-sports/saints/heres-when-saints-will-debut-their-gold-alternate-jerseys', 'feedImgUrl': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/Screenshot20250722at91745AM2d2a55238c4a74c779f43aaf74c93cbe7-232f9fe1-e135-4253-a5cf-a6a2f6698109.jpg?crop=16:9', 'urlIsValid': True, 'contentType': 'article', 'canonicalUrl': 'http://www.audacy.com/wwl/local-sports/saints/heres-when-saints-will-debut-their-gold-alternate-jerseys', 'overrideImage': None, 'overrideTitle': None, 'primaryHeadline': "Here's when Saints will re-debut their gold alternate jerseys", 'ignoreValidation': False}], '_version': 2, 'articles': [{'uri': 'www.audacy.com/_components/article/instances/cmf19c95o001h01wzlg1ev4rh@published', 'url': 'http://www.audacy.com/wwl/local-sports/saints/heres-when-saints-will-debut-their-gold-alternate-jerseys', 'lead': 'youtube', 'pageUri': 'http://www.audacy.com/wwl/local-sports/saints/heres-when-saints-will-debut-their-gold-alternate-jerseys', 'feedImgUrl': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/Screenshot20250722at91745AM2d2a55238c4a74c779f43aaf74c93cbe7-232f9fe1-e135-4253-a5cf-a6a2f6698109.jpg?crop=16:9', 'urlIsValid': True, 'contentType': 'article', 'canonicalUrl': 'http://www.audacy.com/wwl/local-sports/saints/heres-when-saints-will-debut-their-gold-alternate-jerseys', 'overrideImage': None, 'overrideTitle': None, 'primaryHeadline': "Here's when Saints will re-debut their gold alternate jerseys", 'ignoreValidation': False}], 'missingItems': False, 'sectionFront': 'local sports', 'componentVariation': 'inline-related'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/inline-related/instances/cmf1hn8a4004l3b7tvq2t9wvg@published'}, {'data': {'text': "Gray has been with the Saints since 2018 when he signed as a UDFA out of Mississippi State. He had limited impact as a defensive player, but has been named All-Pro as special teamer three times, and led all players in special teams tackles a year ago. Moore said the team would certainly be glad to Gray back on the practice squad, but didn't anticipate the opportunity. An obvious landing spot would be in Denver, where head coach Sean Payton and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi would certainly understand Gray's value.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1hc4zj002x3b7taf6zefev@published'}, {'data': {'_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1hlcps00423b7tu2ygmws1@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Who will be the next Saints special teams ace? Time will tell, but there are players on the roster now responsible for filling that role. Potential options could be rookie safety Jonas Sanker, or second-year linebacker Isaiah Stalbird, both of whom have been standouts on those units during the preseason.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1hdr4n00343b7tjw5lg8yo@published'}, {'data': {'text': '“There’s a few guys who obviously have done some reps in preseason and then throughout training camp as well, there’s a number of guys who have done it as well and so yea, it’s a big-time opportunity,&quot; Moore said. &quot;I mean, we need guys to step up in those roles. That’s going to be a huge, critical aspect of it … from a special teams perspective for us and so, you know, we’ve got some big-time opportunities for those guys.”', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1hgsqw003m3b7t53tttpzl@published'}, {'data': {'_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmf1hi8sz003u3b7t3ac6unef@published'}], 'feedImg': {'data': {'alt': 'J.T. 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