Saints agree to one-year contract extension with RB Ty Montgomery

The New Orleans Saints have continued to work to retain their pending free agents despite inhabiting some low ring of Salary Cap Hell. Running back Ty Montgomery is the latest player to return to the black and gold, the team announced Saturday. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that it’s a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum, including a $137,500 signing bonus.

Good for him. Montgomery’s first year in New Orleans was largely frustrating; he received just a handful of touches in games while missing time with injuries, and was frequently shuttled between the running backs room and the wide receivers meetings (where his NFL career started with the Green Bay Packers, and why he continues to wear No. 88).

But that ultimately proved fortunate when Alvin Kamara tested positive for COVID-19, forcing everyone he was in close contact with — all of the other running backs and their coach Joel Thomas — into temporary quarantine, except for Montgomery. He responded with his second career 100-plus rushing yards performance in Week 17, sealing a win over the Carolina Panthers.

He’s managed to parlay that impressive spot-start into another payday, and more opportunities with the Saints in 2021. He’ll join Kamara, Latavius Murray, and second-year pro Tony Jones Jr. as the only running backs under contract, though special teams standout Dwayne Washington and fullback Michael Burton are both pending free agents.