Countdown to New Orleans Saints Kickoff: A History of No. 14

The New Orleans Saints are just two weeks away from the first kickoff of their 2017 regular season. In 14 days, the Saints will take on the Minnesota Vikings in the first Monday night football game of the year. Canal Street Chronicles continues our countdown to kickoff series today by looking back at some of the Saints players that have worn the No. 14.

Edd Hargett (QB, 1969-1972)

Hargett made the team as a 16th round draft choice in 1969. He spent four seasons with the Saints as a backup quarterback, starting a total of 8 games, with a 1-6-1 record. He threw for 2,727 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions during his career in New Orleans.

Russell Erxleben (P/K, 1979-1983)

Erxleben was selected by New Orleans with the 11th overall pick of the 1st round of the 1979 draft. He was picked two spots ahead of future Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, among other accomplished players in that draft. His first NFL game ended in disaster, when on a botched snap on a punt attempt in overtime of a game against hated rival Atlanta, Erxleben threw a horrible interception that was returned for a 6-yard touchdown resulting in a Falcons victory. The following week, he injured his hamstring, forcing him to miss the remainder of his rookie season.

The next year was no better, as Erxleben missed 3 out of 5 field goal attempts shorter than 40 yards, and averaged less than 40 yards per punt as the Saints became a laughingstock throughout the league in a disastrous 1980 season. His struggles forced New Orleans to relieve him of his placekicking duties with Benny Ricardo, until the Saints went on to draft Morten Andersen in 1982. Erxleben would remain New Orleans' regular punter, averaging over 40 yards per punt for his career, until being replaced by Brian Hansen in 1984.

Richard Todd (QB, 1985)

Todd spent his first eight professional seasons with the New York Jets, before being traded to the Saints in the 1984 offseason. He wore number 11 during his first year in New Orleans, before switching to 14 for the '85 season. Todd had lost his starting job after throwing 19 interceptions the year before, and only appeared in two games in 1985, throwing for 191 yards, with 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He left the Saints after the season, re-joining the Jets as a backup quarterback in 1986, his last year in the league.

Travin Dural entered 2017 training camp as an undrafted local favorite from LSU. He has showcased some of his athletic ability early in camp, but has an uphill battle to make this Saints roster at wide receiver.

Other Saints players to wear No. 14: Karl Sweetan (1968), Tim Riordan (1987), Tom Hodson (1995), Andy Tanner (2014)