QBREES9

With the exception of an injury plagued 2008 season, from the time Marques Colston entered the league as a seventh round draft pick from a small Division I-AA school in The Empire State, he has recorded over 1,000 yards a year.

And yet, Drew Brees is the most recognizable face in New Orleans.

No receiver in the history of the National Football League has caught more passes in his first two seasons than Colston.

But, whether it is from tarnishing his collegiate reputation or from dating a millionaire celebrity socialite, it is the name Reggie Bush that covers the sport pages across America’s newspaper.

Nicknamed “The Quiet Storm” for his reserved and non-confrontational demeanor, Marques Colston is a perfect blend or size, speed, and power. Combined with his team-first attitude and work ethic, Colston is the ideal teammate, and the unquestionable paragon of consistency in the National Football League.

So why doesn’t his name come to mind when you think of the elite receivers in professional football? Could it be because he was selected in the last round of the 2006 NFL Draft?

Unlike many top tier wideouts in the league, Colston’s orientation into the NFL came as an unrecognized 6’4, 225 pounder from Hofstra – a school that has since terminated its football program. Compare that to teammate Reggie Bush, who entered the league as the Heisman Trophy winning running back from the decades-long football powerhouse of Southern California.

Colston was so overlooked by every NFL team that he was the 28th receiver selected in the draft. In fact, he wasn’t even one of the top five receivers selected in the 7th round. Colston had to wait while 251 players were drafted ahead of him before he would hear his name being called – with the fourth to last pick in that 7th round. For two long days, he heard the names of fellow receivers Chad Jackson, Travis Wilson, Derek Hagan, Jason Avant, and Skyler Green being called, wondering when he would get the opportunity to show the rest of the league why they just made one of the greatest mistakes in draft history. To make matters worse, Colston wasn’t even the first player selected from his own college. That honor went to Willie Colon, who was selected in the 4th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Unlike many of his fellow wide receivers, where showboating and thinking of the next provocative end zone celebration come first, Colston shies away from the limelight. In fact, he shies away from nearly all aspects of self-promotion, even when it will benefit him financially.

Colston has not only declined an invitation to be a presenter at a gospel music awards show, but also turned down an opportunity to do a Campbell’s soup commercial with some of his fellow NFL players, including Donovan McNabb.

Imagine reality television star Terrell Owens and hourly Twitter tweeter Chad “Johnson” Ochocinco balking at those self-marketing opportunities.

Not likely.

Unlike T.O and Ochocinco, Colston never celebrates after any of his 33 career touchdowns. Instead, he points to the sky in honor of his father James, who passed away when young Marques was only 14, hands the ball to an official, and then joins his teammates on the sidelines. He leaves the innovative celebrations for the contestants on Dancing with the Stars.

Last year in an interview, Colston talked about his refusal to self-promote.

“I’m never going to enjoy being in the limelight. If it’s for a good cause, like the community work we do, I don’t mind because you never know what kind of positive effect you’ll have on someone. But as far as stuff for my own personal recognition, I don’t do that.”

But it is that same avoidance of personal recognition that has also cost him postseason accolades as well. In his four seasons in the NFL, Colston has never been selected to the Pro Bowl.

But beyond the avoidance of the limelight, there are reasons for the lack of recognition – and it all starts with being just one part of an offensive overload in New Orleans, which means fewer touches for everyone.

Last season, Andre Johnson led the league in targets with 170. Roddy White and Wes Welker followed with 165 and 162 respectively. Brandon Marshall added 154 while Larry Fitzgerald finished with 153. Reggie Wayne was targeted by Peyton Manning 149 times, while Tom Brady threw Randy Moss’ way on 138 occasions.

Meanwhile, Marques Colston was targeted only 106 times, which ranks him 35th in the NFL. Not really a number that is indicative of a number one receiver. Last season, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem combined for 148 targets for the Saints. Along with a myriad of offensive threats that include Reggie Bush, Jeremy Shockey, Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell, who all further share the touches in that explosive offense, Colston was relegated to only 20.2% of the passes thrown by Brees – the lowest percentage of any 1,000 yard receiver in the league.

Despite sharing the responsibilities, Colston has kept quiet - something that isn’t typically synonymous with being a star receiver. Sure, he could do what other outspoken guys around the league do and complain about not getting enough passes, demand more money, or threaten to sit out because the coach doesn’t see eye-to-eye with him.

But it isn’t Marques Colston’s way. It isn’t the Saints way. And it definitely isn’t the way of championship football.

While Owens, Ochocinco, Marshall and Moss have all made a name for themselves because of that outspokenness, they all lack the most important accolade in professional football.

Winning the Super Bowl.

And Colston has done just that. His way…the quiet way.

Colston is a rare breed in a self-glorifying National Football League who lets his game –and his game alone - do the talking for him.

And his game speaks volumes.

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "

SmashMouth

His production should continue going forward to Two Dat!

strato

M/C is the man ...no showboating...just lets his work on the field do that....we need 53 MCs...

Saintswrath

Marques Colston is the epitome of what an NFL player should be like.. Just doing their job and doing good deeds.. leave the other BS behind, everything you ever wanted to do bad should have been done in your immature time in highschool and college..

dizzle88

Just gotta love colston, you can see the fire he has to always get better but that doesn't mean he tries to overdo things like T.O or ocho quattro. I love that he's a "team first guy" and that after the touchdown he gives a remembrance to his father and goes to the sideline. People should see that is the athletes play, not touchdown celebrations that should be recognized when pro bowl voting comes round.

st thomas

dear writer of the colston article. you should win the puilister prize or whatever they call it. thats great writing about a great wr in the nfl. its not about pro bowls its about super bowls and not side shows.
thank you very much.

homerj07

My type of player. I loved Barry Sanders for the same reasons. No show boating & a responsible person.

MatthewT

I say Colston is an elite receiver, and one of the best in the NFL. This guy has put up some very big numbers since joining the Saints. If not for a completely loaded cast around him, I would bet this guy would be easily good for 100 plus catches per year.

niteadept

Colston, a quiet unassuming man.... The best of the best! RESPECT MC!

Rugby Saint II

I am sooo very happy that he was recruited by the Saints......man, our recruiting department rocks.