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Most people remember Deuce McAllister for his power. Or for those thick legs relentlessly churning forward for extra inches. Or for the rare speed and elusiveness he had for someone his size.


Deuce McAllister
The teammate who knew him best, however, said it was McAllister's mind that stood out to him.



"He's by far the smartest player I ever played with," former Saints fullback Mike Karney said. "I always tell everybody that. Everybody thinks it's going to be Drew Brees. But I tell people it's Deuce McAllister.

"His ability to understand Xs and Os and schemes and how things are supposed to run and who blocks who ... I don't know how many times after a play or a series I'd come to the sideline and ask him what went wrong or what worked, and he'd point it out exactly."

Karney, who spent five years with the Saints and two with the St. Louis Rams, played with a lot of standout tailbacks and runners of different styles -- McAllister, Steven Jackson, Reggie Bush and Aaron Stecker.

More than any of those guys, though, he said McAllister (who was listed for most of his career at 6 feet 1, 232 pounds) stood out as the best "total package" he had ever been around.

"The smartest running back I played with by far. Size, speed, awareness, the ability to make (teammates) look good," Karney said. "My rookie year, I was always in awe the day after games, watching him (on video) just squirt through the smallest hole or gap. And I was just like, 'How the hell did you get through there?' You're 6-2, 245 pounds. He was just very nifty. Could catch, ran great routes.

"And everything he's done in the community. He gave it his all in every area. ... I just love the guy."

For all of those reasons, McAllister was an easy choice for induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Saints Hall of Fame this year. He'll be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall on Saturday in Natchitoches.

The Mississippi native finished his eight-year NFL career as one of the most beloved players in Saints history. He also finished as the team's all-time leader in rushing yards (6,096) and touchdowns (55), despite his career being cut short by two major knee injuries in 2005 and 2007.

Still just 33 years old, McAllister admits that it's a little "odd" to be recognized as a Hall of Famer. But he said it's a "huge, huge honor."

"It speaks volumes of not only myself but my teammates as well," McAllister said. "That's what you play for. To win games, to set records, to be included with great athletes in Hall of Fames. But I know it will be a surreal feeling if they get to showing videos and talking about records and statistics. Because I think about all those guys, the linemen, my fullbacks. The Terrelle Smiths, Mike Karneys, Moran Norrises."

McAllister said the best thing you can do is let your actions speak for yourself, both on and off the field. And he's proud of his work in both areas. He said he did pride himself on studying the game -- something he copied from New Orleans native and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

However, McAllister admitted, he also thinks about the things he didn't accomplish.

"I wish I could have that one play back or that one series, that one run. Or go back and have one season," McAllister said. "I think that's just the competitor."

Although McAllister retired in 2009, just before the Saints won the Super Bowl, he is proud of being a part of the team's rise to prominence.

He was the driving force behind their playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2006 season, with an unforgettable 143 rushing yards and two touchdowns that sent the Saints to their first NFC championship game. And he was a respected team leader, as well as a mentor to fellow tailbacks like Bush and Pierre Thomas.

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lynwood

Might be awhile before we have another like Deuce

AllSaints

There will be no other deuce

Rugby Saint II

Ingram will take on that responsibility I do believe.

pumpkindriver

I still remember how thrilled I was the day the Saints drafted him. Being an Ole Miss fan, I already knew he was something special and was I ever right.