Countdown to New Orleans Saints Kickoff: A History of No. 12

The 2017 regular season starts on a Thursday night, when the Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 7. Saints fans must wait until Sept. 11 to watch their team play, when the Saints travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in the first Monday night football game of the year.

The game is just a dozen days from now, and today Canal Street Chronicles takes a look back at some of the Saints players that have worn the No. 12.

Bobby Scott (QB, 1973-1981)

New Orleans drafted Scott in the 14th round of the 1971 draft, the same draft that they selected Archie Manning with the 2nd overall pick, who Scott would back up at quarterback for his entire NFL career. Scott didn't see his first official NFL action until 1973, when he appeared in six games, losing his only start.

Scott would finally get a chance to be a primary starter in 1976, when Manning would miss the season with injury. Unfortunately, Scott suffered a knee injury when he got tangled up with a television cable along the sidelines, costing him a portion of the season. Still, he did start 8 games during the year, but could only manage a record of 2-6, while throwing for a career high 1,065 yards with 4 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

Scott appeared in 41 games over his Saints career, starting 14, with a record of 4-10. He threw for a total of 2,781 yards, with 15 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He left New Orleans after the 1981 season, playing one final professional season with the New Jersey Generals and Chicago Blitz of the USFL.

Billy Joe Hobert (QB, 1997-1999)

Hobert was signed as a free agent by New Orleans during the 1997 season, after he was released by the Buffalo Bills when he publicly admitted that he did not properly prepare to play a game. He started the final four games for the Saints that season, going 2-2 while throwing for 891 yards with 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Hobert would open the '98 season as the Saints starting quarterback, but an injury suffered in an opening day victory would keep him out for the remainder of a season in which the Saints would start four different starting quarterbacks. He would return in 1999, but would be in and out of the lineup due to injury and ineffectiveness. Hobert would start seven games, but only managed a record of 1-6. His career statistics with New Orleans include 2,031 yards passing with 13 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a 4-8 record as a starter.

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Marques Colston (WR, 2006-2015)

Colston was a 7th round draft pick out of Hofstra by the Saints in the 2006 draft. He worked his way up the depth chart during preseason, and would not only wind up a Week 1 starter, but led the Saints with 1,038 yards and 8 touchdowns, earning a spot on the NFL's All-Rookie team. A favorite target of quarterback Drew Brees throughout his 10-year career, Colston was a key to the Saints prolific passing attack, and a team leader on the Saints 2009 Super Bowl championship team. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving barrier in six of his first seven seasons, and went over 900 yards in eight of his first nine years. Only a broken thumb suffered in 2008, causing him to miss five games, interrupted the streak.

Colston retired after the 2015 season as one of the greatest players in team history. His 711 receptions, 9,759 yards and 72 touchdowns are all franchise records. He also holds the Saint records for most 100-yard receiving games (28), as well as his 6 seasons of over 1,000 yards receiving.

Other Saints players to wear No. 12: Tom McNeill (1967-69), Babe Laufenberg (1986), Kevin Ingram (1987), Jake Delhomme (2002)