Veteran free-agent wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim on Friday afternoon backed out of a contract agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs, a deal that would have reunited him with head coach Dick Vermeil. It is believed that Hakim, who had recently visited with New Orleans officials, will now sign with the Saints. "Az and his agent got together and they really felt his best situation was not here for him," Vermeil said following Friday's mini-camp practice, a session in which Hakim did not participate. "Then he and I discussed it. I told you all along that I wanted what was best for him, and I think he's going to end up in New Orleans." Hakim, 28, played the first two seasons of his NFL career under Vermeil, with the St. Louis Rams, who chose him in the fourth round of the 1998 draft. The two men forged a solid friendship and that relationship continued even after Vermeil temporarily retired from the NFL. Various media outlets, including ESPN.com, reported earlier this week that Hakim, who had verbally agreed to a one-year contract last week, had signed the deal. Asked Friday if Hakim had, indeed, signed the contract and then been released when he reconsidered it, Vermeil replied, "Almost."