Getty Images

It was a bit of a surprise when the Saints brought wide receiver Joe Morgan back after cutting him during last season.

And this time, he swears he’s not going to take the chance for granted.

“I’ve been trying to work on Joe, and not just the football aspect of it,” Morgan said, via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. “I’ve got to work on things that are going to take me further in life.”

Neither the Saints nor Morgan have offered any specifics about his problems, though he had off-field incidents prior to a 2013 DUI arrest. He was cut after a Week 14 loss during which coach Sean Payton was seen chewing him out on the sidelines.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d be back,” Morgan said. “But at the same time, I just stayed ready because you never know what the future holds. And as you see right now, I’m standing here trying to do things the right way.”

Morgan said much of his problem was one of youth, and allowing trouble at home to follow him to work.

“And if anything, it was a maturity issue. And I’m night and day from that. I’ve learned a lot,” he said. “I mean, it’s an eye-opener when you get fired. You learn it can happen at any moment and don’t take things for granted. I’m blessed to have this opportunity, and I’m not going to do anything that’s going to hurt that chance.”

Of course, he’s going to have to play to his best abilities to have a chance to make the roster, as the Saints have a number of young wideouts with promise. But when he’s been on the field, he’s made some big plays.

And he says he now knows how to concentrate more on making them than whatever else is going on in his life.