Saints By The Numbers
Nothing better to do, so I figured I'd give this a shot. Here's a list of what I consider to be the best and/or most significant players in franchise history to ever wear each jersey number (0-99). There were several difficult decisions, including (but not limited to) Steve Walsh over Toby Gowin for 4, Edd Hargett over Richard Todd for 14, Jim Everett over Billy Kilmer for 17, Dalton Hilliard over Eric Allen for 21, Clarence Chapman over Mario Bates for 24, Reggie Bush over Johnnie Poe and Fred McAfee for 25, Tommy Myers over Mel Gray, Steve Gleason and Bennie Thompson for 37, Jim Kovach over Jeff Faine for 52, John Hill over Jerry Fontenot for 62, Elois Grooms over Jon Stinchcomb for 78, Dave Parks over Donte Stallworth for 83, Henry Childs over Hoby Brenner and Wesley Walls for 85, Wayne Martin over Darren Howard for 93 and Jim Wilks over Charles Grant for 94. However, no number was more difficult to assign than 34. In the end, Ricky Williams wound up beating out Tony Galbreath, Craig Heyward, Jess Phillips and Mike McKenzie for the slot.
I'm not 100% comfortable with a few of these and I'm sure this list will lend itself to its fair share of debates. Nothing wrong with that. Let's hear what you think.
| 0 | Obert Logan |
| 00 | Ken Burrough |
| 1 | Benny Ricardo |
| 2 | Aaron Brooks |
| 3 | Bobby Hebert |
| 4 | Steve Walsh |
| 5 | Heath Shuler |
| 6 | Tommy Barnhardt |
| 7 | Morten Andersen |
| 8 | Archie Manning |
| 9 | Drew Brees |
| 10 | Brian Hansen |
| 11 | John Fourcade |
| 12 | Marques Colston |
| 13 | Kerry Collins |
| 14 | Edd Hargett |
| 15 | Charlie Durkee |
| 16 | Ken Stabler |
| 17 | Jim Everett |
| 18 | Jeff Blake |
| 19 | Tom Dempsey |
| 20 | Russell Gary |
| 21 | Dalton Hilliard |
| 22 | Lorenzo Neal |
| 23 | Dave Whitsell |
| 24 | Clarence Chapman |
| 25 | Reggie Bush |
| 26 | Deuce McAllister |
| 27 | Walt Roberts |
| 28 | Gene Atkins |
| 29 | Sammy Knight |
| 30 | Les Kelley |
| 31 | Jim Taylor |
| 32 | Vaughn Dunbar |
| 33 | Tyrone Hughes |
| 34 | Ricky Williams |
| 35 | Earl Campbell |
| 36 | Reuben Mayes |
| 37 | Tommy Myers |
| 38 | George Rogers |
| 39 | Brett Maxie |
| 40 | Robert Massey |
| 41 | John Gilliam |
| 42 | Chuck Muncie |
| 43 | Ashley Ambrose |
| 44 | Dave Waymer |
| 45 | Jack Holmes |
| 46 | Danny Abramowicz |
| 47 | Kevin Houser |
| 48 | Andy Livingston |
| 49 | Frank Wattelet |
| 50 | Jake Kupp |
| 51 | Sam Mills |
| 52 | Jim Kovach |
| 53 | Vaughan Johnson |
| 54 | Winfred Tubbs |
| 55 | Mark Fields |
| 56 | Pat Swilling |
| 57 | Rickey Jackson |
| 58 | Joe Federspiel |
| 59 | Keith Mitchell |
| 60 | Steve Korte |
| 61 | Joel Hilgenberg |
| 62 | John Hill |
| 63 | Brad Edelman |
| 64 | Dave Lafary |
| 65 | LeCharles Bentley |
| 66 | Conrad Dobler |
| 67 | Stan Brock |
| 68 | Kyle Turley |
| 69 | Tom Ackerman |
| 70 | Jammal Brown |
| 71 | Richard Cooper |
| 72 | Jim Dombrowski |
| 73 | Frank Warren |
| 74 | Derland Moore |
| 75 | Bruce Clark |
| 76 | Dave Rowe |
| 77 | Willie Roaf |
| 78 | Elois Grooms |
| 79 | Emanuel Zanders |
| 80 | Brett Perriman |
| 81 | Doug Atkins |
| 82 | Bob Pollard |
| 83 | Dave Parks |
| 84 | Eric Martin |
| 85 | Henry Childs |
| 86 | Jeff Groth |
| 87 | Joe Horn |
| 88 | Willie Jackson |
| 89 | Wes Chandler |
| 90 | Jared Tomich |
| 91 | Will Smith |
| 92 | James Haynes |
| 93 | Wayne Martin |
| 94 | Jim Wilks |
| 95 | Austin Robbins |
| 96 | Michael Simmons |
| 97 | La'Roi Glover |
| 98 | Willie Whitehead |
| 99 | Tony Elliott |
This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.
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nice work, coldpizza
Can you link us to the place you found your database of players by roster number? I’d love to see where Danny Abramowicz is and figure out how Ashley Ambrose made the list – didn’t he only play for us for one year?
"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub
oops there he is wearing #46 - I was just looking at the roster numbers in the 80's for receivers
"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub
by Hans Petersen on Jun 26, 2009 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions
here's an alphabetical listing of all-time Saints that lists uniform number, too
so you can look up your favorite players that might have been left off coldpizza’s list.
It comes from the Saints official website
"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub
by Hans Petersen on Jun 26, 2009 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions
yup, you said it
"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub
by Hans Petersen on Jun 27, 2009 7:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Link to the Past
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nor/1967_roster.htm
The link is specific to 1967, but it can lead you to everything you need to know for All-the-years of Saints seasons
I think Mike Mckenzie
deserves to be on this list. If not at number 34, then number 43, which was his number his first year with us. I’d definitely take him over Ashley Ambrose ANY DAY.
Rog Smoove
I mainly went by the number
each player wore most commonly as a Saint, as well as how good the player was throughout his career. Hence, Earl Campbell, Jim Taylor, etc., making the list. There were a few exceptions based on significance, such as John Gilliam — although he did go on to have a solid career and likely would have made it regardless — and Tom Dempsey, who beat out Guido Merkens based solely on one amazing FG. I honestly can’t see McKenzie beating out either Ricky Williams or Ashley Ambrose. Nothing against McKenzie, he just wasn’t a better player than those two, imo. HansDat, I used the 2008 Saints media guide to compile the list.
If you want to nitpick DBs
I think a better case could be made for Carl Lee over Brett Maxie at 39, based on their careers. Maxie’s closer to Lee than McKenzie is to Ambrose. Close enough to disregard the edge in statistics in favor of tenure, anyway.
If I felt compelled to squeeze McKenzie in
I’d probably stick him at 43, bump Ambrose to 33 and leave off Hughes. I just don’t readily identify McKenzie with 43. Same reason why I didn’t stick Hilliard at 40 to fit Allen in at 21. It’s too convoluted an approach.
I feel where you're coming from on that 1
it does cause a problem with trying to stick players with former number and things of that sort, but (there’s always a “but”) I was a Saintling when Ashley Amborse was roaming our defensive backfield and I don’t remember him being pro bowler. On the other hand, a few years ago, Mike Mckenzie didn’t give up a touchdown until the end of the season. I definitely think that he should’ve made the pro bowl that year and I would honestly take him over Ashley Ambrose. In reality, I’ll even go out on a limb and say that I’d take him over Ricky Williams…How ya like that one?
Rog Smoove
Are you talking as a Saint
or for their entire careers? As a Saint, I can buy into McKenzie over Ambrose. Not Williams. He led the team in rushing all three years he was here, despite playing in less than 80% of the games during that stretch. As a career, neither one. Ambrose had a 42 interceptions in 192 games, McKenzie 27 in 133 games. Not only is that considerably more, that’s more per game. Williams led the entire league in rushing in 2002 and represents an entire Saints draft class (on the “significant” tip). I think McKenzie was one of the best CBs we’ve ever had and one of the best in run support the NFL has seen over the last decade. I just don’t think he best represents either number he wore while in New Orleans. Even with Williams out of the equation, I’d go with Galbreath over McKenzie. I would take Mike over Ironhead, though. And that’s saying a lot, because Heyward was one of my favorite Saints of all-time. You’re obviously entitled to your opinion. I just disagree with it, based on the criteria I was using.
By the way
Ambrose was a Pro Bowler and 1st team All-Pro for the Bengals. McKenzie wasn’t either with the Packers. Not that I think interceptions and Pro Bowls are what anyone should be basing greatness on. I’m just pointing it out, as you brought up the Pro Bowl. Truth be told, neither are a hair on the butt of Eric Allen, in terms of a career and he isn’t even on the list.
I just want to say that
You know your stuff and I respect that A LOT. I love the Saints just as much as you do, and man I am soo interested in hearing all of this great vintage information about the history of my team. My point of Ricky was just that I really didn’t like him too much— non-statistically. I remember when Duece was our punt returner…When he was in that role, both my dad and I were both saying “I cannot wait for the saints to get rid of Ricky Williams and give the ball to this guy”. All that to say is that I’m basing a lot of my feeling towards Ricky on just that, “feelings”. When he was drafted, I was asking myself..“How could we give every draft pick for a RB that wasn’t even first off the board?” I form opinions on players based on what I think about them and I was just always really impressed with Mike Mckenzie as a Saint and I do think he was snubbed a few times for even pro bowl consideration. CB is definitely a position where the general public doesn’t do a good job of assessing there productivity and every year a few good ones get overlooked. Just look who Ocho Cinco said was the best CB he’s faced…Leigh Bodden, who I don’t think has ever been to a pro bowl, but is obviously pretty good for Ocho Cinco to pick him over all the other great guys he faced that year
Rog Smoove
You are very correct
that CB is a difficult position to judge as a fan. The mere fact that interceptions are the most telling stat of prolificity readily available attests to that. If you’re a TRUE shutdown corner, opposing QBs are going to avoid your side of the field like the plague, thereby not giving you the opportunity to make those types of plays. I honestly appreciate McKenzie and everything he brought to the team. In hindsight, his coming here from the Packers was probably one of the top 2 or 3 trades the Saints have ever made, in terms of productivity. Certainly moreso than giving up an entire draft for Ricky Williams. But I think you could say that about anyone. I personally wouldn’t be willing to give up that many picks for Drew Brees today, even if we were still starting Danny Wuerffel. Horrible, horrible trade value wise. Productive player while he was here (and healthy), though.
I personally never cared much for Archie Manning. A lot of that stemmed from my dad (and the rest of the stadium) booing him, chanting “we want Bobby (Scott)”, watching him consistently underthrow WRs sidearmed, listening to his dorky, slow southern drawl during interviews, etc. In hindsight, I realize he was better QB than most people were willing to give him credit for, just as I’m convinced Aaron Brooks will someday be thought of fondly, once he’s far enough removed from the fire. That being said, if John Carney had worn number 8, I’d probably be taking a ton of flack for choosing him over Manning to represent that number. That despite Carney being a better professional kicker than Archie ever was a professional QB. And yes, I realize that’s a piss poor analogy. I would have gone with Joe Horn or someone more prominent, if other positions could wear single digits. My point is, sometimes you just have to accept that your personal biases don’t best exemplify the general consensus, especially when you’re dealing with players of Archie (or Ricky’s) collegiately-driven “legendary” status.
I disagree on Ken Burrough
I think Heath Shuler should have that number, because he was less than zero.
This is OUR year!
Or Bill Bixby
Judging by the circumference of his eyes. “Coach Ditka, don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry”.
wow
you really named off 101 saints players… how long does an act like this take, I’m sure you put significant amounts of research into this? Impressive, really…
know what you believe in and why you believe in it

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