Smyth released by Saints and McAtamney set to join Giants practise squad as NFL roster deadline closes

CHARLIE Smyth has been released by the New Orleans Saints after the NFL roster deadlines passed last night at 9pm.

The Mayobridge, St Mary’s and Down goalkeeper has impressed fans and coaches alike during the NFL’s preseason training and game.

However, it turns out in the end the Saints have opted for consistency over unrefined talent for the season ahead.

What this means now is that over the next 24 hours, Smyth will be shopped out to the other 31 teams in the league who may want to sign the Ulster U20 Championship winner.

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One team that may look to pick up the Irishman is the Green Bay Packers, who have already got an Irishman on their list in the shape of punter Daniel Whelan.

The Packers have dropped their kicker Anders Carlson after only one season as he proved to be inconsistent from far out, an area in which Smyth has excelled time and again.

Smyth could still end up staying in Louisiana as if the 24 hours pass and no team picks Smyth up, NOLA can re-sign Smyth to their practice squad in the NFL International player slot.

The other 31 teams cannot only sign the goalkeeper to their international spot.

Smyth initially signed a three-year deal with the New Orleans side in March after being impressed by Smyth’s quick transition to the sport.

He impressed in training kicking long-range field goals, even by professional NFL standards, between the goalposts.

However, it has been reported by local media in Louisiana that Smyth was finding more difficulty with the short-range kicks.

He made headlines in the NFL world by making the game-winning field goal in the opening preseason game for the Saints against the Cardinals.

Elsewhere, the New York Giants have received an International Player Pathway exemption for Swatragh’s Jude McAtamney.

This means that he will land on the team’s practice squad and not count toward the practice squad limit, provided the team would like him to remain in the practice squad this season.

It is the likely scenario that McAtamney will be given the time to develop as Graham Gano’s understudy in the practice squad.

This is taking into consideration, Gano’s advanced age (37) and the fact that he has also recently come back from knee surgery, which ended his season after six games last year.

This will be an eventful 24 hours for the Irish players in the NFL as they wait to get the full picture of the next steps on their NFL journeys.

All eyes will be on the transactions page on the NFL website as the pandemonium of the NFL waiver wire kicks.

Former Welsh rugby international Louis Rees-Zammit has also been cut from the Kansas City Chiefs roster.