myhousekey Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 We knew the day would come eventually. Nothing but the best of luck to one of my all time favorite Saints. Saints release RB Deuce McAllister For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 The New Orleans Saints have announced the release of running back Deuce McAllister. McAllister, the first-round draft choice of the Saints in 2001, played in 97 regular season games over eight seasons in New Orleans and is the franchise’s record-holder for touchdowns scored with 55, rushing yards with 6,096, rushing attempts (1,429), rushing touchdowns with 49 and ranks eighth in receptions with 234. His 27 career 100-yard rushing games are the most in team history and he is the only Saints runner to gain 1,000 yards in a season four times, including two Pro Bowl seasons in 2002 and 2003. “Deuce has meant so much to our organization since we selected him in the first round of the 2001 draft,” said Owner Tom Benson. “He has represented our club with dignity and class, and obviously been a great player – one of our best all-time. He’s earned the respect of everyone in our community for not only what he’s done on the field, but for what he’s done for those who are less fortunate. Saints fans should celebrate his career and his accomplishments, and what we wish for him now is continued success.” A long-time fan favorite, McAllister missed significant time due to injuries in recent years after first tearing the ACL in his right knee in October 2005 and then suffering an ACL tear in his left knee in the third game of the 2007 season. “Deuce has had a career defined by both his accomplishments and his exemplary character,” said Owner/Executive Vice President Rita Benson LeBlanc. “He has meant so much to our fans and the region, that we celebrate everything he has accomplished both on and off the field. He will always be part of the Saints’ family, and Deuce will continue to be held in the highest regards within our organization.” He fought back to help lead the Saints to an NFC South division title in 2006, rushing for 1,057 yards and 10 touchdowns. McAllister also started both playoff games for New Orleans that season, running for 161 yards in the two contests and scoring touchdowns rushing and receiving in the Divisional round victory over Philadelphia. “Decisions like this are always very difficult ones to make,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. “Deuce has epitomized hard work, leadership and productivity throughout his career and has been a source of great pride for all of us associated with the team. His records and accomplishments on the field speak for themselves about the type of player he was in a Saints uniform. He truly ranks as one of the greatest players in our club’s history, and we are very respectful of everything he has meant to the Saints and our community.” “Deuce McAllister epitomizes what you look for in a football player,” said Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. “Deuce played a major role with this team in our drive to the NFC Championship game. He has suffered setbacks with his injuries and that has been unfortunate for him and for us as he has played a critical role in our offense. Today, we start the process of trying to replace him and find that player that embodies what Deuce McAllister has meant to this team.” McAllister again came back after a lengthy rehabilitation process to run for 418 yards and five scores in 2008. He broke the team’s all-time touchdown record in a November win over Green Bay, passing Dalton Hilliard with his 54th trip to the end zone and later became the first Saint to gain 6,000 career rushing yards. Not only a leader on the field, McAllister has also been heavily involved in community and business efforts both in New Orleans and in his hometown of Jackson, Miss. over the course of his career. His Catch 22 Foundation has aided countless less fortunate families and children and has been heavily involved in the recovery of the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Katrina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I would expect to see Deuce take out a full page ad in the local paper thanking the city and fans like Bledsoe did when he left New England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myhousekey Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 I would expect to see Deuce take out a full page ad in the local paper thanking the city and fans like Bledsoe did when he left New England. The city/fans should do the same, thanking him for everything he gave us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muggsy Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 two bruisers on the FA market now, should be interesting to see where they both end up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muggsy Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 if I were a Saints fan(and i'm not), I would rather see Reggie Bust cut before Duece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I say it from the heart, this is a sad, sad day for Saints fans. Deuce will always be my favorite player to ever wear a Saints uniform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbimm Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Just saw a clip on the news of Deuce addressing the media on his release. I will try to find a text version of his comments but all I can say is that he may be the classiest professional athlete I have ever had the honor to watch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 He would be the ultimate complement to Westbrook in the Eagles offense. A perfect fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westvirginia Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 He would be the ultimate complement to Westbrook in the Eagles offense. A perfect fit. They might have gone to the SB if they had had him last year. He is one of those guys that seems to be able to get into the end zone when needed. I agree that would be a good fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Deuce press conference. Deuce also said in the press conference that he would try to play somewhere else, but that New Orleans would always be home to him. He also said that at some point he could see himself working with the Saints again in a different aspect when his career is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myhousekey Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 He is one of those guys that seems to be able to get into the end zone when needed. You can say that again....Wish I could find a better of this infamous td run vs the Eagles in the playoffs a couple of years ago. He was hit at the 5 and just kept driving forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westvirginia Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 You can say that again....Wish I could find a better of this infamous td run vs the Eagles in the playoffs a couple of years ago. He was hit at the 5 and just kept driving forward. He's certainly not as prolific, but I kinda see him in the same vein as Emmit or Marcus Allen or even Bettis. Some guys just have a nose for the end zone and he was one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I didn't like Deuce at first because he kicked out asses his first year as a starter. I think it was 120 yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 run of over 60 yards. After Katrina and after Reggie Bush arrived that changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAYER Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 two bruisers on the FA market now, should be interesting to see where they both end up... if I were a Saints fan(and i'm not), I would rather see Reggie Bust cut before Duece He would be the ultimate complement to Westbrook in the Eagles offense. A perfect fit. You guys are funny I love Duece the greatest man to ever put on a Saint jersey. Did you two watch any Saint games last year, when he played a game it took him 2-3 games to recooperate before he could play again. Do you really think the Saints would not try to resign him at a lower salary if they thought he had 12-16 games left in him. I've watched Deuce his whole career and he isn't even a shadow of his former self. He might and that is a pretty big might give you 3-4 quality games in a season. But it will be hard to count on him for two games in a row. His knees just can't take that kind of workload anymore. Sorry to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big F'n Dave Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boat_hacked Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 (edited) QUOTE (westvirginia @ 2/17/09 1:44pm) He is one of those guys that seems to be able to get into the end zone when needed. You can say that again....Wish I could find a better of this infamous td run vs the Eagles in the playoffs a couple of years ago. He was hit at the 5 and just kept driving forward. Here's some highlight clips of the Black and Gold 2006-2007. The 6:00 minute mark is the run I think you're talking about. 2006-2007 highlights scroll down til you see the youtube highlights Edited February 18, 2009 by boat_hacked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Do you really think the Saints would not try to resign him at a lower salary if they thought he had 12-16 games left in him. Why on earth would the Saints re-sign McCallister? He'd have zero role on the team. I think they are letting him go because they know they have a younger more talented version of him already on the roster in PT. With Bush, Thomas and Stecker, McCallister would be relegated to perhaps a carry or two per game. I doubt Deuce would want that, and I think the comments he made yesterday that "it was a mutual decision and best for both parties" accurately reflects this reality. But that in no way means he has nothing in the tank, and I do indeed think his goal-line presense and 4-6 carries per game would do wonders for Westbrook. His days as a feature back are over, but he certainly can take on a defined role with the right team. The Saints just don't happen to be that team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbimm Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Why on earth would the Saints re-sign McCallister? He'd have zero role on the team. I think they are letting him go because they know they have a younger more talented version of him already on the roster in PT. With Bush, Thomas and Stecker, McCallister would be relegated to perhaps a carry or two per game. I doubt Deuce would want that, and I think the comments he made yesterday that "it was a mutual decision and best for both parties" accurately reflects this reality. But that in no way means he has nothing in the tank, and I do indeed think his goal-line presense and 4-6 carries per game would do wonders for Westbrook. His days as a feature back are over, but he certainly can take on a defined role with the right team. The Saints just don't happen to be that team. His comments yesterday also included him admitting that his knees are in really bad shape. I see 4-6 carries a game to be his max and even at that I would expect him to miss significant time to injury. The fact is that he is a shell of his former self! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myhousekey Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Got an email from a buddy of mine who works for the Saints this morning... Guess who beat me to work this morning: From the Times Pic: "Meanwhile, McAllister will continue to train at the Saints' facility, where Payton has extended him a prime parking space at the front of the building." You definitely get the feeling Deuce will be back in the Saints organization in some way or another when his playing days are over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 His comments yesterday also included him admitting that his knees are in really bad shape. I see 4-6 carries a game to be his max and even at that I would expect him to miss significant time to injury. The fact is that he is a shell of his former self! If that is the case, why didn't he use yesterday's news conference to formally retire? He obviously feels he has something left to offer a club that needs him in a limited capacity, no? He doesn't strike me as a player overcome by so much emotion that he wouldn't realize that his effectiveness is on the downside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbimm Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 If that is the case, why didn't he use yesterday's news conference to formally retire? He obviously feels he has something left to offer a club that needs him in a limited capacity, no? He doesn't strike me as a player overcome by so much emotion that he wouldn't realize that his effectiveness is on the downside. How many players have we seen over the years that "thought" they had enough left only to be injured or released from the team that gives them another shot. Don't get me wrong I loved Deuce as a Saint. Problem is that I watched every game the Saints played this season and his burst and speed just aren't there anymore. At times you could almost feel the pain yourself watching him try to run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 if I were a Saints fan(and i'm not), I would rather see Reggie Bust cut before Duece Only if you totally ignore how almost every 30+ year old running back holds up in the NFL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Problem is that I watched every game the Saints played this season and his burst and speed just aren't there anymore. At times you could almost feel the pain yourself watching him try to run. Realize that conventional thinking says that it takes almost 2 years to fully recover from ACL surgery. Deuce went under the knife for his second surgery in 2007, so I look at anything he did last year with a grain of salt. And that being said, he was able to compile 6 TDs and 546 yards of offense in a very part-time role. His stats would have been even better had it not been for the meteoric rise of PT, which I feel was what ultimately led to his release this week. I would expect, at just 29 and another year of recovery behind him (sans the recent procedure to clean out the knee from leftover scar issue/particles), that he could adequately serve as a change of pace/short-yardage back for a team with that need. He had 107 carries this year for a 3.9 average. That's just over 6 carries a game, mostly in short-yardage scenarios (which obviously hurt his average). that's all that would be asked of him in Philly's offense....and his leadership qualities would be a benefit all of their own. I can't imagine NO wanted to pay him what he'd require, or needed to keep him with the emergence of PT...but, IMO, he can definitely help another team in a role similar to the one he most-recently had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myhousekey Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 I would expect, at just 29 .. I believe Deuce is actually on the other side of 30 now. Born 12/27/78. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitzkek Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 If that is the case, why didn't he use yesterday's news conference to formally retire? He obviously feels he has something left to offer a club that needs him in a limited capacity, no? He doesn't strike me as a player overcome by so much emotion that he wouldn't realize that his effectiveness is on the downside. It's called money. Millions of reasons to trick a team in believing he can play just a little while longer. He is a classy person and was a great player, but I wouldn't want him on my team now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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