As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the game
being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that players from
different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided to defy that
notion.
Considering that the New Orleans Saints were founded in 1967, the task
becomes quite challenging. Today, I have taken on the daunting task of
compiling an All-Time Saints team. The Saints have a star-crossed legacy.
For their first 20 seasons (1967-1986), there were no winning seasons, just
one non-losing campaign (8-8 in 1979) and nine double-digit loss seasons.
In that span, they were known as “The Ain’ts.” The Jim Mora era brought
winning seasons but no playoff success. In 2000, the Saints won their first
playoff game. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and
the surrounding area. Then Sean Payton and Drew Brees arrived. The
Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009, have been a consistent contender
and have developed a national following.
There are some rigid criteria in making this team. The player needed to
have played at least four seasons as a Saint. Since the free agency era
began 30 years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals
don’t make this list. Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making
this team. This is football, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame
is the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number
of All-Pro seasons are a top consideration with longevity also helping
immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare eras, I’m not going to
convolute this discussion.
Generational reminders
All eras matter. Being on the Saints in the Mora or Payton era does not get
you a hall pass on this team. Playing for the Ain’ts era does not disqualify
you either.
To further the challenge, we are constructing the roster in two-deep format,
which means some worthy players get left off the list. So, if you want to
make a case for a player being on the team, don’t just tell me he should be
there and why, tell me who you would remove. Before you make a case to
put someone on the list, ask yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that
position?”
OFFENSE
QB -- First team: Drew Brees. Honorable mention: Aaron Brooks.
Brees is the most impactful professional athlete regardless of sport in New
Orleans history. He came back from a career threatening shoulder injury to
become a future Hall of Famer. Brees’ impact on the community in the
wake of Hurricane Katrina is nothing short of legendary. Brees holds
numerous Saints and NFL records. He led the franchise to their lone Super
Bowl title in 2009. Brees is a 13 time Pro Bowler, five-time All Pro (one
as a first-teamer), two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Super
Bowl MVP. Seeing Brooks on this list might make some people cringe.
However, even his detractors must acknowledge that he held many Saints
records playing just six seasons until Brees broke them. The fact that
Brooks had 12 fourth quarter comebacks and 18 game-winning drives in
six seasons is enough to get him on this team as Brees’ backup.
RB -- First team: Mark Ingram, Deuce McAllister. Honorable mention:
Dalton Hilliard, Pierre Thomas.
In a sense, McAllister’s legacy involves a “what might have been” element.
He is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher with 6,096 yards. He achieved
those numbers in just 97 games. McAllister was a two-time Pro Bowl
performer and member of the 2009 Super Bowl champions. Ingram
recently completed his ninth season, first as a Baltimore Raven. Ingram is
second in franchise history in rushing yardage. He is a three-time Pro
Bowler but also improved his receiving and blocking skills that were not
required in college. Hilliard had just one season out of eight in which he
went over the 1,000 mark but his numbers would have been even better
if not sharing carries. He is the franchise’s fourth all-time leading rusher,
caught 249 passes and is third in touchdowns. Thomas might be the most
complete running back in franchise history. He is fifth in franchise history
in career rushing yardage and with 327 receptions, no Saints running back
has caught more passes. Thomas was a member of the 2009 Super Bowl
champions.
FB -- First team: Wayne Wilson. Honorable mention: Craig Heyward.
Though fullbacks have gone the way of the landline, Wilson and Heyward
would fit perfectly in today’s game. Wilson was a punishing runner but also
a useful receiver and solid blocker. In eight seasons as a Saint, Wilson caught
179 passes for 1,517 yards and 14 touchdowns. He rushed for 2,462 yards
and 14 touchdowns. As for Heyward, any fullback nicknamed “Ironhead”
belongs on this team. Like Wilson, Heyward was a pretty complete fullback
between blocking, receiving and rushing. At 5-11, 265, he was a bowling
ball. He was a Saint for five seasons.
WR -- First team: Marques Colston, Michael Thomas. Honorable
mention: Eric Martin, Joe Horn.
Colston went from seventh-round draft choice to Brees’ favorite target for a
decade. Colston was one of the most unheralded receivers in the NFL if
that’s possible for catching 711 passes for 9,759 yards and 72 touchdowns.
Despite those numbers, he never received Pro Bowl honors but was a
pivotal member of the 2009 Super Bowl champions. Thomas recently
completed his fourth season and while his astronomical numbers (470
receptions) are a product of today’s game and having Brees throw him the
football, put him first-team now. Thomas has been to three Pro Bowls and
is a two-time first-team All Pro. The Saints had a pedestrian passing game
for much of the mid-1980s to early 1990s but Martin was a vital cog.
Though not an imposing target or long on speed, he knew how to get
open. Martin’s 532 career receptions for 7,834 yards were franchise records
that stood for the better part of two decades. Horn was not a model teammate
but we don’t pretend that criteria matters. Horn played for the Saints for
seven years, made four Pro Bowls and was just one of three Saints to
surpass the 7,000 yard receiving mark.
TE -- First team: Jimmy Graham. Honorable mention: Hoby Brenner.
Graham’s first five seasons were with the Saints and he was a Pro Bowler
in three of those years. Graham had a rare combination of size and speed.
His 356 career receptions put him fifth in franchise history, first among
tight ends. Brenner played through many highs and lows in franchise
history from 1981-1993. Brenner had a Pro Bowl season in 1987 and
was equally adept as a receiver and run blocker. Brenner’s game would
translate quite well in today’s game, especially with Brees as quarterback.
OT -- First team: Willie Roaf, Stan Brock. Honorable mention: Zach
Strief, Jon Stinchcomb.
You could make a case for Roaf or guard Jahri Evans as the best offensive
lineman in Saints history and not be wrong. Roaf is in the Hall of Fame.
Roaf spent 10 of his 14 seasons in New Orleans. The term “shutdown” is
often reserved for cornerbacks but when it comes to blindside tackles,
Roaf’s name belongs in that discussion. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler
and nine-time All Pro (six as a first-teamer). The fact that Brock never
got a Pro Bowl nomination in his 15 NFL seasons (13 with the Saints) is
a travesty. Brock was the epitome of reliability through many peaks and
valleys, starting 182 of 186 games in New Orleans. Strief was an
under-appreciated cog during the Payton-Brees era. Strief never made
the Pro Bowl but 12 years of quality pass protection for one of the best
quarterbacks in NFL history. Enough said. Stinchcomb became an
integral part of the offensive line when Payton arrived as head coach.
He started 86 consecutive games and made the Pro Bowl in 2009, the
year the Saints won the Super Bowl.
OG -- First team: Jahri Evans, Jim Dombrowski. Honorable mention:
Carl Nicks, Brad Edelman.
Evans has a Hall of Fame resume. Evans spent 11 seasons in a Saints
uniform. He was a member of the 2009 Super Bowl champions, six-time
Pro Bowler and five-time All Pro (four as a first-teamer). He was equally
great as a run and pass blocker. Dombrowski never earned any Pro Bowl
honors but for 11 seasons, the No. 6 overall pick in the 1986 draft was
both versatile and reliable. Nicks was only a Saint for four seasons
(2008-2011) but was very impactful, making the Pro Bowl twice,
becoming first-team All Pro in 2011 and starting for the 2009 Super
Bowl champions. Edelman was a consistent starter for seven seasons
and opened up holes for some of the league’s best rushing attacks.
Edelman reached the Pro Bowl in 1987.
C -- First team: Joel Hilgenberg. Honorable mention: John Hill.
Hilgenberg and Hill were Saints for a decade, 1984-1993 for Hilgenberg
and 1975-1984 for Hill. Hilgenberg’s best years were from 1987-1992
when he became a stalwart starter. Hilgenberg reached the Pro Bowl in
1992. Pro Bowl recognition was hard to come by for any Saint in Hill’s
time but started in 134 of 138 games in which he appeared.
DEFENSE
DE -- First team: Wayne Martin, Cameron Jordan. Honorable mention: Will
Smith, Jim Wilks.
Martin making just one Pro Bowl in 11 seasons is an outrage but with the
“Dome Patrol” linebacker corps garnering so much attention, it’s easy to
overlook Martin. He was a disruptive pass rusher with 82.5 career sacks.
Jordan's legacy is still in progress but no reason not to put him first-team right
now. He recently completed his ninth NFL season and has 87 career sacks,
fourth in franchise history. Jordan is a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All
Pro (one as a first-teamer). Wilks never earned any Pro Bowl honors but two
things got him on this team -- longevity and versatility. He played both nose
tackle and defensive end for 13 seasons. Wilks recorded 45.5 career sacks. He
was also the 305th pick in the 1981 NFL draft. Smith died in a road-range
related automobile accident in 2016 but it does not detract from his fine career
in a Saints uniform. Smith played ten seasons, recorded 67.5 sacks and was
a member of the 2009 Super Bowl champions.
DT -- First team: Derland Moore, La’Roi Glover. Honorable mention:
Elois Grooms, Elex Price.
Moore was a fixture on some horrific Saints teams but his longevity counts
even more considering he battled through injuries and many discouraging
seasons. Moore was a Pro Bowler in 1983 and recorded ten sacks after
the stat became official in 1982. Glover played 13 seasons with four
different teams but his best years came with the Saints (1997-2001).
Glover was a Pro Bowler and All Pro in two of those seasons. Price
played during some of the earliest and darkest days of the franchise from
1973-1980. Price was considered a valuable team player in that he accepted
his role in going from starter to rotation player. In a sense Grooms’ impact
is hard to measure since he played in the pre-stat oriented era (1975-1981).
Grooms, however, was an enormous force against the run and pass.
OLB -- First team: Rickey Jackson, Pat Swilling. Honorable mention:
Scott Shanle, Mark Fields.
Jackson played 13 of his 215 seasons in New Orleans but other than
Brees is the most impactful in Saint in franchise history. He and Swilling
were part of the legendary “Dome Patrol” linebacker unit. Jackson is a
Hall of Famer. Jackson was under-recognized nationally because he
starred at the same time as New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor. At
the time of his retirement, Jackson was No. 3 in NFL history with 128
sacks and No. 2 with 28 fumble recoveries. Jackson was a six-time Pro
Bowler and six-time All Pro (four as a first-teamer). Swilling was a
nightmare when combining his speed off the edge with the Superdome
crowd noise. Swilling played 13 seasons with three teams but his seven
years with the Saints were his best. Swilling’s 76.5 sacks rank No. 3 in
franchise history. Swilling was a five-time Pro Bowler, four-time All Pro
(two as a first-teamer) and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1991.
Shanle washed out with two teams before becoming a seven-year starter
for the Saints. Shanle was reliable and understood the game at a high
level. His 343 tackles rank 12th in franchise history. Fields played six
seasons with the Saints and was a standout linebacker in that span. He
recorded 23 sacks in a Saints uniform and had one Pro Bowl season.
ILB -- First team: Sam Mills, Vaughn Johnson. Honorable mention:
Joe Federspiel, Jonathan Vilma.
Mills and Johnson were part of the “Dome Patrol,” which was one of the
best linebacker units in NFL history. Both were punishing hitters. At 5-10,
230 pounds, Mills was built like a fire-hydrant and other than Brees,
probably the most inspirational Saint in franchise history. Mills made up
for his lack of stature by being well-prepared. Mills was a five-time Pro
Bowler and three-time All Pro (one as a first-teamer). Johnson was the
largest (6-3, 245) of the “Dome Patrol” but the last heralded. However,
he was equally valuable. Johnson was seldom out of position and made
four consecutive Pro Bowls from 1989-1992. Federspiel played for the
Saints from 1972-1980 and rarely came off the field. Big plays were
minimal in those days but Federspiel recorded five interceptions and
ten fumble recoveries. Vilma was acquired in a trade from the New York
Jets and had an impactful six seasons with the Saints, making two Pro
Bowls. Vilma’s leadership, however, was his most significant impact.
Vilma also played a pivotal role on the 2009 Super Bowl champions.
CB -- First team: Dave Waymer, Johnnie Poe. Honorable mention:
Toi Cook, Fred Thomas.
Waymer and Poe went through many peaks and valleys in franchise
history but eventually got rewarded. Both were part of the 1987 Saints.
Waymer made just one Pro Bowl in his ten seasons but was versatile
enough to play both cornerback and safety. Waymer remains the Saints
all-time leader with 37 interceptions. Poe played for the Saints seven
years, capping his career with the 1987 team. He played cornerback like
a receiver as his 17 interceptions rank sixth in franchise history. Poe
returned two of those thefts for touchdowns.Cook spent seven seasons
(1987-1993) on some of the best defenses in franchise history. Cook is
sixth in franchise history with 16 interceptions, two returned for
touchdowns. He also added four sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Thomas played eight seasons with the franchise (2000-2007) and
though undersized at 5-9, he was a ferocious competitor. He recorded
77 pass deflections.
S -- First team: Tom Myers, Roman Harper. Honorable mention:
Gene Atkins, Brett Maxie.
Myers is one of only two Saints defensive players to record at least 30
interceptions. His 36 picks trail only Waymer for the franchise history
lead. Myers was a Pro Bowler and All Pro in 1979 and provided a spark
on some defensive teams that were hard on the eyes. Though pass
coverage was not Harper’s strong suit, he still made a significant impact
against the run and pressuring quarterbacks. Harper had 17 sacks and
numerous quarterback hits. He also recorded 15 fumble recoveries.
Harper made the Pro Bowl twice and was a member of the 2009 Super
Bowl champions. Atkins and Maxie were a solid safety tandem for some
of the best defenses in franchise history from 1985-1993. Atkins recorded
21 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries. Maxie was a tackling machine
and also added 15 interceptions and five fumble recoveries.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K -- First team: Morten Andersen. Honorable mention: John Carney.
Andersen made up for many Saints offenses that could not finish drives
for touchdowns. Andersen is in the Hall of Fame. He is also the Saints
all-time leading scorer, seven-time Pro Bowler and one-time All Pro.
Andersen boomed kickoffs out of the end one for touchbacks and was
accurate from any range on field goals. Carney had two stints with the
Saints (2001-2006, 2009-2010). Carney was a member of the 2009
Super Bowl champions. Carney made good on 82.8% of his field goal
attempts.
P -- First team: Thomas Morstead. Honorable mention: Tommy
Barnhardt.
Morstead recently completed his 11th season with the Saints. He and
Brees are the lone players remaining from the 2009 Super Bowl winners.
Morstead owns a career 46.9 yard gross punting average. Though he has
made just one Pro Bowl, Morstead has a career that is Hall of Fame
worthy. Barnhardt played for five teams in 14 years and had three stints
with the Saints (1987, 1989-1994, 1999). With New Orleans, he carried
a 42.5 yards per punt average.
RETURN -- First team: Michael Lewis. Honorable mention: Tyrone
Hughes.
Lewis played six seasons with the Saints with 2002 being his best. That
season, Lewis set an NFL record for combined kick-punt return yardage
with 2,432 yards total (1,807 kickoff, 625 punt). He is currently the
Saints' all-time career leader in punt returns (142) and punt return
yardage (1,482). Hughes spent his first four NFL seasons with the
Saints. Hughes left as the franchise career record holder for kickoff
return yards (5,717), punt return yards (1,060) and touchdown returns
(5).
HEAD COACH -- First team: Sean Payton. Honorable mention:
Jim Mora.
The Saints have had some big names such as Hank Stram, Mike Ditka
and Bum Phillips but none duplicate the success they had with their
previous teams. Sean Payton and Jim Mora, however, brought relevance
to the franchise at different times. Payton recently completed his 14th
season and is the longest tenured Saints coach. Payton’s name is tied to
Bountygate but who cares, his career record is 131-77 and brought the
franchise its only Super Bowl title in 2009. Payton took over as head
coach one year after Hurricane Katrina and the Saints were coming off
a 3-13 season. In his tenure, the Saints have been a consistent contender
and Payton has brought an innovative mind and risk-taking approach.
Before Mora arrived in 1986, the Saints had mostly a sad history and
no winning seasons. One year later in 1987, the Saints went 13-2 for
their first winning season in franchise history. Mora guided the Saints
to a 93-74 record. Though his teams went 0-4 in the playoffs, Mora
deserves recognition for bringing a winner to New Orleans. Just an
aside, imagine if you combined the Mora era defenses with the
Payton offenses? They might have a fistful of Super Bowl rings.
TEAM -- 2009. This choice is pretty cut and dried. Though this was
not the only Saints team capable of winning a Super Bowl, it was the
only one that did. Led by an explosive passing game with Brees
throwing to Colston, Devery Henderson and Jeremy Shockey coupled
with the two-pronged rushing attack of Thomas and Bush, the Saints
offense was a nightmare. The Saints led the NFL in scoring (510
points). Defensively, it was a serviceable unit that gave up yards but
forced timely turnovers. This team gets the nod, however, because
winning that Super Bowl four years after Hurricane Katrina devastated
New Orleans and the surrounding area galvanized the Saints fan base.
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