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McAllister eager for even more postseason success
By LARRY HOLDER

METAIRIE, La. --Gov. Deuce McAllister. Has a certain ring to it.

The New Orleans Saints running back and Mississippi icon already owns numerous car dealerships across Jackson and beyond. McAllister created his own chicken sandwich masterpiece named "The Deuce" being sold at McAlister's Deli. His other business ventures along with his well-documented charitable donations make him a logical choice.

Is the easy transition into the governor's mansion in McAllister's future?

"Not right now," McAllister said, in true diplomatic form. "We'll see what it looks like in 10 years.

"Right now I'm just enjoying football. That's probably the most important thing. Football has just opened up a lot more avenues. There's so many opportunities that you just have to take advantage of. There's some things that I'm interested in and have fun in and all the companies are good companies to work with."

What about TV?

"Tiki (Barber) can have it," McAllister said.

McAllister has some unfinished business to attend to on the football field. The first taste of playoff success for the 29-year-old tailback has him hungry for more. The way the offense moved the ball during the preseason, McAllister said the Saints should be able to score at will against anyone.

"It's still all about what we want to do as an offense," McAllister said. "Coach Payton says it's a faceless opponent, we're playing against ourselves. If we can go out there and do what we're supposed to, then it doesn't matter who we go against."

The bruising 6-foot-1, 235-pound running back said he's the healthiest he's been since tearing his ACL in 2005 against the Green Bay Packers. The injury could have slowed him down to the point where his career could have been in jeopardy.

McAllister wouldn't let it.

He rushed for 1,057 yards and 10 touchdowns and picked up an 11th on a fumble recovery in 2006. McAllister also averaged 4.3 yards per carry in regular season.

It was all-world rookie Reggie Bush receiving all the hype, though. McAllister never wavered in his attitude toward Bush. He didn't mind being out the spotlight. Their relationship grew in the process.

"Probably the best thing about us is that we can talk to each other off the field and on the field," McAllister said. "We have fun being around each other whether it's just joking or being serious. It's all for the good of the team."

"It's interesting because he goes out when he's in L.A. and all the cameras are following him. I just help him and tell him to try and be careful. He knows that football is always going to be his ticket."

Bush has displayed continued improvements throughout the offseason and credits McAllister early and often.

"From the time I came to the team, Deuce has welcomed me with open arms," Bush said. "He has been nothing but a great leader for me and a guy that has taught me how to play like a pro and how to handle your lifestyle as a pro. He's been great and has been a big help to me and I couldn't think of a better person to show me how it's done."

Too bad for McAllister that he threw himself back atop the marquee in the NFC divisional playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He broke through for 143 yards on the ground, one rushing touchdown and a game-winning receiving touchdown as he led the Saints to the NFC championship game.

"Deuce McAllister is one of the toughest guys in the league to tackle, to bring down. He's just a horse, so I love the fact," Saint quarterback Drew Brees said.

Having his best game of the season against the Eagles in the Louisiana Superdome in January, McAllister said, brought a sense of fortitude to repeat his feats this season.

"I think it resembles the determination of this city," McAllister said. "They've given everything they've had, and we've given them everything we've had as a team."

Father Time stands as one of his biggest enemies the closer he inches to 30, the age where most NFL teams put their running backs out to pasture. The Saints appeared to be going in that direction.

Taking Bush with the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft was too good to pass up. Then the Saints traded up on Day 2 of this year's draft to take Ohio State's Antonio Pittman in the fourth round. Pittman is of similar ilk to McAllister as he does his damage inside the tackles.

Yet McAllister remains the Saints' top option out the backfield. He understands he's endured some wear and tear and it's something you have to work through.

"You just play the game and try to be as productive as possible," McAllister said. "If you can't be productive, then they can say whatever they want about us being old. But if you're still making plays, then that's the most important part about it. You look at some of the guys like Curtis Martin who still had success. You look at what Tiki Barber did and you look at Jerome Bettis. There's been guys who 'defy the odds' and ignore what the experts say. At the same time, it's all about how you take care of your body and live your life."

But he's not ready to hang anything up. Well there is one thing - a Super Bowl championship banner in the Superdome.

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