Saints name rookie Terron Armstead starting left tackle

Saints' rookie third-round draft pick Terron Armstead named as starting left tackle.

The Saints' brain trust, head coach Sean Payton, continues to make key decisions late in the season. Payton named rookie third-round draft pick Terron Armstead out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff as the starting left tackle, who will attempt to protect the blind side of Drew Brees in a critical road test against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Payton benched starting left tackle in last Sunday's 27-16 road loss to the St. Louis Rams after the coach said he had seen enough with Brown being beaten by the Rams' pass rush on play after play. Armstead, 6-5, 304 pounds, excited pro scouts as he ran the fastest 40-time by an offensive lineman in the history of the history of the NFL scouting combine, posting a 4.71 clocking. Payton said, "I think Terron's improved during the course of the season, being it taking scout-team reps, some work with the offense. Payton referred to Armstead as a talented, smart player. On the heels of releasing place kicker Garrett Hartley on Tuesday, Payton said, it was "real difficult" to release the six-year Saints' veteran kicker. "He's an extremely talented player, he's going to play in this league, I think, for quite a long time and have success," Payton added. Thirty-six year old veteran kicker Shayne Graham will take over for Hartley. In another move Tuesday, the Saints released veteran corner back Chris Carr and signed veteran safety Eric Frampton, who will see time on special teams. The 10-4 Saints are focused on traveling to Carolina to battle the Panthers with the winner taking the NFC South title and earning a No. 2 seed.