Toon to wear Dad’s No. 88 for Saints
 

MADISON — Wide receiver Nick Toon eschewed the No. 87 his father wore at the University of Wisconsin, except for a touching tribute to his dad during his final home game against Penn State last season.

Nick wanted to establish his own identity with the Badgers and he did that, catching 171 passes for 2,447 yards in his career.

But after getting drafted in the fourth round by the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, Nick Toon has decided to wear his father’s number to start his NFL career. Al Toon was a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who played eight seasons as No. 88 for the New York Jets, following his Badgers career.

It was hard to gauge who was more anxious during the wait to be selected, the father or the son.

“Probably equally as hard (on both),” Al Toon said. “Obviously, I know because I’ve experienced it. Coming from my perspective, there’s a lot of anxiety in the wait.

“I knew once he knew his destination, he knew where he was going to go, then you can start thinking forward. He’s going to be No. 88. They already told him that, so he’s excited about that.”


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very cool!

Very Cool !

... following in his old man's footsteps and giving his Dad props, gotta' luv it.

every time I see a headline that goes "Toon to_____________________" it makes me think of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?.

88 lets see who else wore 88 in the saints history? it just sounds so familiar

You might be thinking of lynn swan #88 steelers. Thats what entered my mind 1st.
Im missing something thou. Did he pick it or was he given #88 by the Saints ?

""He’s going to be No. 88. They already told him that, so he’s excited about that.”"

This sugest he was given the number.

Nice I like that. Let's hope the kid turns out to be a stud!

Al Toon squared.

88
Ben Hart (S) 1967
Dave Szymakowski (WR) 1968
Fred Hyatt (WR) 1973
Andy Dorris (DE) 1973‐76
Joel Parker (WR) 1977
Brooks Williams (TE) 1978‐81
Don Bass (TE) 1982
Eugene Goodlow (WR) 1983‐86
Mike Waters (TE) 1987
Mark Pattison (WR) 1987‐88
Floyd Turner (WR) 1989‐93
Derrell Mitchell (WR) 1994
Hendrick Lusk (TE) 1996
Andrew Hastings (WR) 1997‐99
Willie Jackson (WR) 2000‐01
David Sloan (TE) 2002
Talman Gardner (WR) 2003‐04
Nate Poole (WR) 2005
Jeremy Shockey (TE) 2008‐