I’ll start by pointing out that Hilgenberg only played one season at guard and it wasn’t his Pro Bowl campaign. I don’t have any problem with him being nominated as a guard, as he was an excellent offensive lineman, in general … but it should be something to take into consideration. Bentley, on the other hand, DID make the Pro Bowl as a guard … but only once. He also played for a much shorter time than Hilgenberg, both as a Saint and overall. Like Hilgenberg, Korte was primarily a center. Moving on to the others I feel deserve consideration:

Jake Kupp – Joined the Saints about halfway through their inaugural season and played all the way through to the Hank Stram regime. There weren’t a whole lot of guys worthy of keeping around that long back then. Kupp was an exception. He’s also one of the few players to come FROM the Falcons TO the Saints. So, for the two or three of you that think of Bobby Hebert and/or Morten Andersen as traitors, here’s your antithesis.

Kupp played 12 seasons in the NFL for four different teams, including 8 1/2 for the Saints. Until Willie Roaf, he was the only Saints offensive lineman to ever make the Pro Bowl, garnering that recognition during a 5-9 season. Meaning odds are he was actually that good, not just riding a wave of popularity based on the team’s success. He’s also the only true guard in the Saints Hall of Fame, as Dombrowski spent several seasons in the beginning of his career at LT.

Conrad Dobler – One of the fiercest competitors of his generation, Dobler was a three-time Pro Bowler with the St. Louis Cardinals, before coming over to the Saints in a trade. Steelers HOF linebacker Jack Lambert called Dobler the most physical offensive lineman (not just guard) he ever faced. What makes that all the more notable is the fact that Dobler played alongside HOFer Dan Dierdorf. So, while he may have been the beneficiary of talent around him, he was also out making a name for himself as one BAMF, to paraphrase Samuel L Jackson’s wallet.

Dobler was basically Bill Romanowski without the HGH. He is commonly considered to be one of the “dirtiest” players to ever play the game.

The simple truth of the matter, “unsportsmanlike conduct” wasn’t very well-defined, nor enforced in the 1970s. Dobler just went out of his way to take advantage of the liberties he was extended. Case in point … Dobler broke a finger during training camp, while he was with the Saints. So, he got it taped. Not a finger-to-finger stabilization job, though. He taped his entire hand. Repeatedly, until it was his arm was a club. Then he proceeded to play with it like that for an entire season, smacking opposing defensive linemen around with his makeshift pugil stick.

Think I’m making this up?

The guy was a beast. And that’s putting it mildly. If you want more photographic proof, feel free to Google image. There are several dozen pictures of him going at it in the trenches, close ups of his numerous scars, etc. God bless the world wide sports museum.

Kyle Turley – I really think we should have filled the other tackle position first, being that we have no idea whether or not Turley will wind up there or not. In my mind, the offensive line is little more than a shell game, especially when dealing with versatile players. Slide ‘em around until you find the best combination of five and go with that. Being that Turley will theroretically be battling Stan Brock for a roster spot at tackle, I feel he should be given the same amount of leeway now, that Hilgenberg is being given in hindsight. They both played guard for but a brief while, so it’s only fair. Of course, Turley’s reputation is pretty much etched in stone and still fresh on everyone’s minds, so I don’t think I need to elaborate on too much here.

If a picture paints a thousand words, here’s War and Peace:

Brad Edelman – Another pure guard who did his time. Played his entire eight year career as a Saint, including the 1987 playoff team. Edelman was named to the Pro Bowl that season, giving him just as many (or more) trips to Hololulu as a guard, than any of these guys. Both played and started more games than Pro Bowl-less Steve Korte, who is already nominated.

Jermane Mayberry – Also a one-time Pro Bowler, albeit for the Eagles. Only played for the Saints one season, but had a longer career than a few of these guys. Figured he was worth a mention, at least.

Chris Naeole – Ditka’s first pick as a Saints coach, and one of the few player from that regime still playing in the NFL. Fairly productive for a guard during his four seasons here, including the 2000 playoff season. Ricky Williams had a couple of 1,000 yard seasons running behind Naeole, Roaf and Turley. Has carved out a decent career for himself in Jacksonville since.

Louis Oubre – Will forever be remembered for two things: a recurring case of turf toe and his introduction of the “Who Dat?” battle cry to the Black & Gold Nation, in 1982. The phrase has actually been around a lot longer than that, but it was Oubre — a St. Augustine High School native — who began chanting it in the visitor’s locker room at Candlestick Park, following the team’s upset of the defending Super Bowl champion 49ers that year.

The Saints were on a three-game winning streak under Ken Stabler’s guidance at the time, causing a stir of excitement not seen since the Nolan years. Aaron Neville, Allen Toussaint and several Saints players got together later that week and recorded the now-famous 45 RPM single, which was little more than the “When the Saints Go Marching In” standard, interjected with bridges of “Who dat say dey gonna beat them Saints?!” as well as dated references to that year’s squad. True to form, the team would go on to lose their next four straight games, to finish at or below .500 for the 16th straight season.

How does that qualify Oubre as an All-Time great guard? Easy. He helped us forget we what team we were rooting for.

for round 2, but I gotta go with Dombrowski now. It was gonna be him and Bentley, but that gorilla’s gotta be on the team.

Great ESPN article on Dobler, if anyone’s interested.