Saints by the Numbers: No. 1

Numbers don't just identify a player, they are part of a player's identity.

This is the first entry in a new series examining each number worn by every player who has ever pulled on a jersey for the New Orleans Saints. It will be part analysis, part opinion, part compilation and part trivia. You'll also get the chance to vote for the best player to wear each number. By looking at the history of these numbers, we'll hopefully get a better sense of how the Saints add up.

We'll start with number 1. Since the league adopted it's uniform number rules in 1952, numbers 1-9 have been exclusively for quarterbacks, kickers and punters. It has been worn by just three Saints in club history.

Garo Yepremian 1979

An Armenian-American kicker, Yepremian had a great stint with the Dolphins, winning two Super Bowls with them, before leaving in 1979 to join the Saints for one year.

Benny Ricardo 1980-1981

Played two seasons with the Saints.

Martin Gramatica 2007-2008

With the team through part of their "glory years." Sent packing after two seasons thanks to young phenom, and NFCCG-hero-to-be, Garrett Hartley.

Best #1: Benny Ricardo

Played in more games than Gramatica and Yepremian combined, and outscored them both too. Not much competition here.

Worst #1: Martin Gramatica

He played in 8 games over two seasons, and missed out on a ring by one year.