The New Orleans Saints are only fifty days away from the first game of their 2017 regular season. Just 50 days from today, the Saints will venture north, to Minneapolis, MN. to play the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night football.
Canal Street Chronicles resumes our series, "Countdown to New Orleans Saints Kickoff" by continuing to look back in time. Today, we look back at some of the Saints players that have worn the number 50.
Jake Kupp (OG, 1967-1975)
Kupp was originally a member of the Dallas Cowboys for two years before being traded to the Washington Redskins. After one season with the Redskins, he was left unprotected in the 1967 expansion draft, where the "new" New Orleans Saints selected him. Kupp would play just five games as an original member of the Saints before he was released, then signed to play with Atlanta for the remainder of the season. He returned to the Saints in 1968, where he would play out the remaining 8 years of his career.
The 1969 season was Kupp's finest. He, along with running backs Andy Livingston and Tony Baker and wideout Danny Abramowicz were the first New Orleans offensive players to ever make the Pro Bowl, as the Saints finished 6th in the league in offensive production. Kupp continued his outstanding play on New Orleans' offensive line, being named an offensive captain in four separate seasons. After his retirement in 1975, Kupp was voted onto the franchise's 25th and 40th Anniversary teams, and in 1992 was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.
Ken Bordelon (LB, 1976-1982)
Bordelon, born and raised near New Orleans, attended college at LSU and played every season of his seven year NFL career with the hometown New Orleans Saints. He started 28 of the team's 32 games in 1979 and '80, but appeared in 82 out of 85 contests through his Saints career. Known best for his abilities in pass coverage, Bordelon's most memorable moment came in an epic Monday night home game against the Oakland Raiders in 1979, when Bordelon intercepted a Ken Stabler pass and returned it for the only touchdown of his career.
Curtis Lofton (LB, 2012-2014)
The Saints pried Lofton away from their bitter rival Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 2012. Lofton started all 48 games for the three years he played in New Orleans, and was the team's leading tackler in each of those seasons. His 7 passes defensed in 2012 equaled a career high, as did his 2 quarterback sacks the following year. He forced or recovered 7 fumbles during his stay in New Orleans. Lofton left the Saints after the 2014 season to play one year with the Oakland Raiders.
Stephone Anthony (LB, 2015-current)
Anthony was drafted by the Saints with the 31st overall pick in the 1st round of the 2015 draft. A pick that New Orleans obtained from the Seattle Seahawks, along with Pro Bowl center Max Unger, when the Saints traded All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham to Seattle. Anthony was plugged in immediately as the team's starting middle linebacker, a spot he held for all 16 games of his rookie season. For the year, Anthony led the team with 112 total tackles, a team record for rookies, and also notched a quarterback sack to go along with an interception and 5 passes defensed. He also forced 2 fumbles and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown, the Saints lone defensive touchdown of the 2015 season. Anthony's achievements earned him a spot on the NFL's All-Rookie team.
Last season was a struggle for Anthony, as a preseason leg injury and struggles to adapt to a new position, outside linebacker, limited him to only 3 starts in 10 games of action. The 2017 season finds Anthony at a bit of a crossroads, as he must prove that his rookie performance was not a fluke, in the midst of New Orleans continuing to rebuild their linebacking unit.
Other Saints players that have worn No. 50: Jack Del Rio (1985-86), Phillip James (1987), John Johnson (1995), Ink Aleaga (1997), Kevin Mitchell (1998-99), Corey Terry (2000), Phil Clarke (2001), James Allen (2002-05), Marvin Mitchell (2007-10), Olin Kreutz (2011)
Poll
Who was your favorite Saints player to wear No. 50?
This poll is closed
-
27%
Jake Kupp
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14%
Ken Bordelon
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40%
Curtis Lofton
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17%
Stephone Anthony