CSC All-Time Saints Team: Center

by Saintsational on Jun 16, 2009 6:00 AM CDT in CSC All-Time Saints Team Comment 16 comments

I am going to leave yesterday's Dome Patrol poll open another day in the interest of fairness but I would say it is safe to assume all four of them will be joining our all-time team as a unit. Sorry to those of you who don't agree but support is pretty overwhelming.

So we will move on with our selection process. In light of recent news about the 2009 Saints I figured what better time to discuss the teams all-time centers from days gone by. Below is a list of centers I've deemed worthy of inclusion in our discussion of Saints greats at the position. Once again, there aren't really any stats so decisions will inevitably come down to more than just numbers.

The poll will open at 6am Central tomorrow morning and will be open for exactly 48 hours, ending on Friday, June 19tth.

I now open it up for any other nominations or players that you feel I've not included. Talk it out in the comment section. It's a lot more difficult to find information about offensive lineman so there very well may be a glaring omission. I would also love to hear some personal rumination from our readers who've actually watched these guys play.

Joel Hilgenberg

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 250

D.O.B.: 7/10/1962

College: Iowa

NFL Experience: 10 Seasons

Seasons with Saints: 1984-1993

Notables: One-time Pro-Bowler (1992)

Jerry Fontenot

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 300

D.O.B.: 11/21/1966

College: Texas A&M

NFL Experience: 16 Seasons

Seasons with Saints: 1997-2004

Notables: 48th most career games played (240).

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No doubt it's Hilgy.

I still and will always believe he was just as good as if not better than Jay. Jay just was lucky to be on a better Bears team.

by WhoDat_OH on Jun 16, 2009 6:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I vote for Hilgenberg

…but John Hill and Steve Korte deserve at least to be nominated.

This is OUR year!

by MtnExile on Jun 16, 2009 7:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

three more nominations

As previously mentioned, Jerry Sturm was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Denver Broncos and a member of the inaugural team in New Orleans. He is considered one of the most versatile offensive linemen of his era, having played all five positions during his NFL career at one time or another.

John Hill manned the middle of the line for 10 seasons, starting more games for the Saints than any other offensive lineman in team history, outside of Stan Brock and Jim Dombrowski. Yes, more than Hilgenberg or Fontenot. Even more than Willie Roaf. He was an integral part of an offensive line that paved the way for both Chuck Muncie (the team’s first 1,000 yd rusher) and George Rogers (who still holds the team record with 1,674 yds rushing in his rookie season). Archie Manning was a two-time Pro Bowler and NFC Offensive Player of the Year behind Hill’s pass protection. He absolutely deserves to appear on this ballot. I would personally vote for him based on longetivity alone, no questions asked.

Though his career in New Orleans was short-lived, LeCharles Bentley deserves mention, as well. He was a two-time Pro Bowler himself, both at center and right guard. That’s one more trip to Honolulu than Hilgenberg, Fontenot and Hill combined … in 500 less career games. I don’t think you can rightly blame him for wanting to leave the Saints. He was an UFA and the team was in complete disarray at the time. On top of which, he received a ridiculously lucrative contract offer from the Browns, his favorite team growing up in Ohio. Had he not torn his patellar tendon, we may very well be talking about one of the greatest centers in the entire NFL over the last decade.

I noticed MtnExile’s mention of Steve Korte and have no problem with his nomination, as well. Though not as decorated, Korte was another guy that played both the center and guard position in an era when you seldom see that level of versatility. He’s also has one of the coolest sounding voices in the history of local sports broadcasting lol.

by coldpizza on Jun 16, 2009 8:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

they will all be included

thank you guys!

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by Saintsational on Jun 16, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

John Hill

I have to vote for John Hill. He is my State Farm agent here in Raleigh, N.C.

by carolinasaintsfan on Jun 16, 2009 10:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

everbody now!! its a small world after all

by asaint on Jun 16, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

GET AN INTERVIEW!

This is OUR year!

by MtnExile on Jun 16, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah!

Get an interview!!

Seriously though, if you have an email address, email it to me. Please.

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by Saintsational on Jun 16, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no one better mention faine

i vote for john hill, as bad as things were for Archie, he may not be alive today if not for hill. with hilgenburg a close second

by r c a on Jun 17, 2009 10:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Faine didn't play long enough

…but he’s a damn good center. I wish we still had him.

This is OUR year!

by MtnExile on Jun 17, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, i miss him too...

another 5 years with the saints he could have been the running. that’s my biggest worry the up coming season, center. we have no depth. i wonder if nesbit is gonna compete with goodwin for the starting job? i don’t think he’s gonna have a shot at unseating nicks.

by r c a on Jun 17, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs