The New Orleans Saints have released running back veteran Latvius Murray, the team announced Tuesday.
The Saints asked Murray to take a pay cut on Monday, and he refused, sources told ESPN's Adam Schaffter.
Murray, 31, was to pay $3.15 million in salary and bonuses this season. That, along with the emergence of an unfinished second year running behind Tony Jones Jr., led to the decision of the Saints.
Murray had been an excellent running mate for Saints star Alvin Kamara over the past two seasons, after Murray signed a four-year $14.4 million contract in 2019. Murray tallied 1,293 rushing yards, 411 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns in those two seasons.
Murray was particularly valuable when Kamara missed two games with injuries in 2019, scoring at least 150 yards with two touchdowns in each game as a Har-down back.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder Murray began his career with the Raiders and Vikings, making the Pro Bowl in 2015. He has 4,991 rushing yards, 1,294 receiving yards and 45 touchdowns in his career spanning seven years.
Murray initially avoided the Saints' cut this off-season, when the team had to cut more than $110 million to fit under the NFL's lower salary-cap numbers. But he fell behind Jones in the pecking order as training camp went off preseason. The Saints also signed the veteran running back Devonta Freeman during camp, though he didn't make the 53-man roster.
Jones (5-foot-11, 225 pounds) last season appeared as an unfinished rookie out of Notre Dame in just one game for the Saints, with three carries for 13 yards. But he led the team with 106 rushing yards and a TD with six catches for 42 yards in two preseason games.
The Saints also have options in the backfield with veteran Dwayne Washington, who plays primarily in special teams roles, and Ty Montgomery, who plays primarily as wide receivers.
New Orleans officially announced the signing of veteran cornerback Desmond Truffant in the same move on Tuesday.