METAIRIE (AP) — The New Orleans Saints released five players Monday, the day before league rules required rosters to be trimmed from 80 players to 75.The remaining players fighting for the final spots on the Saints’ 53-man regular season roster will get their final chance to play in the preseason on Thursday, when the Saints host Miami. They’ll have to share snaps with a few regulars, head coach Sean Payton said.Payton said he intends to play tight end Jeremy Shockey, running back Deuce McAllister, safety Josh Bullocks and cornerback Mike McKenzie in the preseason finale against Miami because those regulars missed games earlier in the preseason, or have yet to play at all.”Those guys will be guys that we want to see X number of snaps from just because they haven’t had as many (plays) as some of the other players have had,” Payton said.The five players waived were wide receiver Todd Blythe, safety Curome Cox, fullback Kevin Dudley, center Rob Hunt and punter Waylon Prather. None of those players were on the active roster last season or drafted last spring.Final cuts should come Friday, when Payton said he expects to cut 22 more players. Some could be re-signed to the eight-man practice squad if they clear waivers.Last season, Payton sat out most starters in the final preseason game.He said Brees probably will not play. Reggie Bush was limited in practice because of a right leg bruise from Saturday night’s 13-0 exhibition victory at Cincinnati. But Payton declined to discuss specific injuries or who he intends to hold out of the preseason finale.League rules do not require Payton to say anything publicly about injuries until the Wednesday before the w. 7 regular season opener at home against Tampa Bay.Last week, Payton said Shockey was going to play in Cincinnati, but then notified the four-time Pro Bowl tight end that he would be held out.—-Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at [email protected]