NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints re-signed defensive tackle Brian Young and linebacker Mark Simoneau today, the same day they were eligible to become free agents.

"Both Mark and Brian are excellent, hardworking players who have proven to be key contributors on our defense," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.

Although Simoneau has started the past two seasons, he may slide into a back up role next season behind Jonathan Vilma, who was acquired today in a trade with the New York Jets.

Last season, Simoneau's 97 tackles ranked second on the team.

Young was a reliable interior defensive lineman during most of his four seasons with the Saints until injuries and an illness sidelined him for nearly half of 2007. He was briefly the Saints' sack leader last season after getting to quarterbacks three times in three games during the first half of the season.

He was sidelined soon after when team physicians found he needed arthroscopic knee surgery. As he was trying to come back, he came down with pneumonia and was place on injured reserve.

Young has started all but one of the 56 games he's been in uniform, making 250 tackles to go with 11 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.