METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints were forced to withdraw Willie Roaf, who is coming off major knee surgery, from the NFL expansion draft list after the seven-time Pro Bowl tackle failed to pass a physical.

The physical was administered by an independent doctor approved by the NFL who concluded that Roaf would not be ready to play by June 1, the mandatory date outlined by league officials for players eligible in the expansion draft.

Roaf underwent reconstructive surgery on his right knee on Nov. 27.

"Willie took a physical, but he did not pass," Saints coach Jim Haslett told the New Orleans Times-Picayune on Wednesday. "So we took him off the list."

Each NFL team was required to submit a list of five players eligible to be selected by the Houston Texans in the Feb. 18 expansion draft.

The Saints replaced Roaf with safety Richard Newsome, who joins quarterback Jeff Blake, linebacker Darrin Smith, guard Wally Williams and guard-center Tom Ackerman on the expansion list.

The 31-year-old Roaf has five years left on a six-year contract worth $28.75 million, but is due to be paid $4.5 million of a $6.5 million signing bonus by mid-March as part of a contract extension.

A nine-year veteran, Roaf had missed just four of a possible 128 games in his career before the surgery.

"The issue in not how good his knee is now or by June 1, but will he be ready to go by the start of training camp in mid-July?" said Roaf's agent, Peter Schaffer. "Willie Roaf is rehabbing to the best of his ability, with a positive, strong desire to play football in 2002. That's his focus. The doctors we talked to say his knee is going to be better and stronger than ever. He had standard surgery on his ACL. Nothing else matters."

Saints officials said they want to see sufficient progress before paying Roaf his signing bonus, according to the Times-Picayune.

Roaf is scheduled to count $3.45 million toward next season's salary cap. Saints officials are expected to make a decision regarding Roaf's status by March 1.

Information from SportsTicker was used in this report.