Halo

"If I get another shot (in the future), then so be it. But even before all this occurred, I was leaning toward retiring anyway," McAllister said. "I was hoping to play again, but I may need another surgery on my knee if I go that direction, and I don't want to do that."

After a very brief and overly emotional return to the New Orleans Saints, running back Deuce McAllister has decided to announce his retirement from the NFL.

Deuce was recently brought back to the Saints' squad before the Divisional Round playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals this past Saturday. Coach Sean Payton had plans in the works for some time to have him come back as an honorary captain for the team.

Reconstructive surgeries on his knees in 2005 and 2007 slowed the big man from Ole Miss down a lot, but he showed last year that he could still be productive. The emergence though of Pierre Thomas proved Deuce expendable and the combo of running backs this year meant that Deuce's presence wasn't missed. Well, at least on physically it wasn't for it surely was emotionally.

Drafted in 2001, the Saints are the only team McAllister ever played for. The 31-year old is the Saints' leading rusher with 6,096 yards with records for total touchdowns (55) and rushing touchdowns (49).

"I'm pretty content. I'm satisfied," McAllister said. "Obviously you'll always get the itch to want to play again, but I'm pretty content with it."

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