The Saints cut a veteran player right before his $3 million salary became guaranteed because he wouldn't take a pay cut

• The Saints cut Latavius Murray, a backup running back, on Tuesday.

• According to a report, Murray had refused to take a pay cut from his $3 million salary.

• The timing was especially brutal, as Murray's salary would have soon become guaranteed.

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Veteran running back Latavius Murray is searching for a new team days before the NFL season begins.

The New Orleans Saints cut Murray, 31, their backup running back, on Tuesday.

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ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Saints had asked Murray to take a pay cut and released him when he refused.

Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL player and current Fox Sports analyst, noted that the timing was harsh: If Murray, a vested veteran - a player with four years of experience - had been on the roster past 3 p.m. on Tuesday, his salary for 2021 would have become guaranteed.

ESPN's Mike Triplett reported that Murray had $3.15 million in salary and bonuses for this season.

As Acho and Schefter pointed out, Murray is coming off the most efficient season of his career, averaging 4.5 yards per carry for 656 rushing yards. In 2019, Murray filled in for the injured Alvin Kamara and produced 307 total yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.

In other words, Murray likely was not interested in taking a pay cut given how he had produced when his number was called.

Several people in the sports world said it was the latest example of why athletes must sometimes take care of themselves before the team.

Mike Golic, a former NFL defensive tackle and ESPN analyst, once described a similar scenario during his career. Heading into his ninth season in the NFL, Golic was recovering from knee surgery while on the Miami Dolphins, which had just drafted two defensive tackles.

Golic wanted to test his knee during minicamp to see how he was progressing from surgery. The Dolphins made him sign a waiver that said his knee was healthy enough to play. Golic signed it, giving the Dolphins the permission they needed to cut him, since NFL teams can't cut injured players. Golic never played in the NFL again.

While Murray seems likely to find a backup role on another team, it is a reminder that roster spots are tenuous for even productive players.

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