Veteran center Kreutz joins Saints

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The New Orleans Saints brought veteran center Olin Kreutz aboard this week to beef up the offensive line.

Kreutz stepped into the void left by the departure of former starter Jonathan Goodwin, who signed a free-agent contract with San Francisco earlier in the week.

The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune said Saturday Kreutz, who played for the Chicago Bears last season, was working with the first unit at Friday's practice.

Coach Sean Payton told reporters Kreutz fielded some generous offers from other teams but opted to join Drew Brees on a potential Super Bowl contender. "He looked at this as an opportunity, and he left a couple of other options on the table that paid a lot more money," Payton said.