Countdown to New Orleans Saints Kickoff: A History of No. 83

The New Orleans Saints are just 83 days away from kicking off their 2017 regular season. They begin this season with a showdown on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings. Canal Street Chronicles resumes our countdown to kickoff with a look at the Saints players that have worn the number 83.

Some player information courtesy of Pro Football Reference.

Dave Parks (TE, 1968-1972)

Parks came to the Saints organization in only their second year of existence after spending his first four years as an all-pro split end for the San Francisco 49ers. He was second on the team in receptions and receiving yards in 1971, and provided a solid secondary receiving option behind Danny Abramowicz over his 5 years with the team.

Keith Poole (WR, 1997-2000)

Poole was a 4th round pick by New Orleans out of Arizona St. in the 1997 draft. After playing little his rookie season, he was a fixture in the Saints receiving corps over the next three years. Poole's high point came in 1999, when he led the Saints with 6 touchdowns receiving, and finished second with 796 yards and 42 receptions. He finished his pro career with a one year stint in Denver.

Donte' Stallworth (WR, 2002-2005)

The Saints made Stallworth, a highly touted receiver from Tennessee, the 13th overall pick of the first round in 2002. He led the Saints with 8 touchdown receptions as a rookie, and finished second in receiving yards. After a big drop in performance his second year, Stallworth rebounded nicely in 2004 with 58 receptions for 767 yards and 5 scores, good for second on the team in all 3 categories.

2005 was his best year as a Saint, and of his entire career beyond, with 70 catches for 945 yards and 7 touchdowns. Deemed expendable by a new coaching regime under Sean Payton in 2006, Stallworth was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Struggles with substance abuse, and a manslaughter conviction caused Stallworth to miss the 2009 season with a prison sentence. He returned to the league, playing his final 3 seasons with 3 different teams through 2012.

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Willie Snead (WR, 2015-present)

Snead was signed as an undrafted free agent from Ball State by the Cleveland Browns in 2014. He spent parts of that year on the practice squads of the Browns and Carolina Panthers before being signed to a contract by New Orleans for 2015. Snead was a training camp sensation. Not just surprisingly making the team but immediately becoming an intregal part of the Saints high powered offense. He was second on the team with 984 yards receiving on 69 receptions and 3 scores in his first season of NFL action. Snead proved that 2015 was no fluke last year, by catching 72 passes for 895 yards and 4 touchdowns in '16; even adding a passing touchdown to his resume'. The Saints are expected to lock Snead down to a long term contract extension this summer.

Other Saints players to wear No. 83: Vern Burke (1967), Len Garrett (1973-75), Andy Hamilton (1975), Tinker Owens (1976-80), Kenny Duckett (1982-85), Carl Roaches (1985), Kelvin Edwards (1986), Dwight Walker (1987), Cliff Benson (1987), Greg Scales (1988-91), Torrance Small (1992-96), Albert Connell (2001), Billy Miller (2006-08).