47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

The New Orleans Saints had a very good bounce-back season in 2013, winning a road playoff game and re-establishing the Saints franchise as one of the best in the NFL. But it all began exactly 47 years ago today with a kicker, yes a kicker. As seen in the below tweet, the Saints first ever player to join the franchise was a “kicking specialist” who moonlighted as a fullback.


Today in Sports History 1967 ~ Paige Cothren became the first player to sign with the New Orleans #Saints. pic.twitter.com/pap8zu45hL

— Before I Was Famous (@BeforeFamePics) January 27, 2014

Paige Cothren never made the team, he had been out of the league for sometime when he signed with the Saints, but he will forever be the first Saint ever.

The Times-Picayune did a feature on the first Saint in franchise history a few years ago, when asked about being signed by the Saints only to be cut, Cothren said, “If I would have made the team it would have been better.”

Cothren was a very accomplished kicker while at Ole Miss, setting the national collegiate record for most field goals in a game and in a season. “That was before the ‘soccers’ took over kicking,” Cothren said. “I had all the records simply because I was the only regular field-goal kicker.”

He may have never played a single snap for the Saints, but he will forever be the first Saint.

47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

43 years ago yesterday Archie Manning was drafted.
New Orleans Saints Fact of the Day: January 28, 2014

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

If only he ever had a decent O-line things might have been way different back then!! Talk about getting sacked, taking hard shots and running for his life, he!! Brees has got it made compared to Archie.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

That is what I keep hearing and you can take it as you wish but I just do not see it. I see a lot of hypocrisy and misunderstanding when it comes to Archie and when compared to Drew coming from a passer stand point.

Fine, Archie got sacked a lot.

He didn't have the receivers.
He didn't pass as much and when he did he was an interception machine.

Completion % as a Saint
Archie 55.4
Drew 67.3

Interception %
Archie 4.7%
Drew 2.5%

If Archie has an offensive line he would have passed more and thrown more INTs.

Archie compared to Wilson.. Wilson was sacked more this season.
Archie Manning sack 9.3% INT% 4.7
Russell Wilson (2013) sack 9.8% INT 2.2%

If that doesn't clearly show what i am saying maybe this will.

Archie Manning as a Saint vs Oiler

Sack %
Saints 9.3%
Oilers 15.1%

INT%
Saints 4.7%
Oilers 6.6%

Archie got worse after he left the oh so horrible New Orleans Saints to go go the Houston Oilers... the Saints got better.

Minnesota before Manning 8-8, with Manning 3-13, after Manning 7-9
Houston Oilers before Manning 7-9, with Manning 1-8, after Manning 3-13

New Orleans Saints 1980/1981 with Manning 4-23
New Orleans Saints 1982/1983 with Stabler 11-11

I know i am committing a mortal and nonvenial sin but it was what it was.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Do you have the stat for how many coaches Archie played under?

I don't think it's fair to look at the numbers at the end of his career, but, I do agree that Saints fans seem to remember him maybe a little too fondly. I think it's because he had so much potential and it was wasted on the mess that was the Saints franchise.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Completely anecdotal...

Roger Staubauch once said Archie Manning was the best quarterback in the league when he was playing but nobody would ever know because of the team he as on.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

they stunk! archie got the shaft ending up in new orleans. if he ended up with a contender he would have made the hall.

the blame i can not put on the coaches as much as on the owner John W. Mecom, Jr. . he loved owning a team and all the playboy perks but never was into getting to the Superbowl.

sum up how good archie was. he is the only player named conference mvp by the player from a losing team.

for us old timers we are so happy that the saints have finally found some one to stand with archie as a god of new orleans football.

i never will never use the hall fame mentality to judge a players worth. way to many good players are not in the hall that were better than some that have made it.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

He played for 7 in NO.

I do not throw the W/L record on him. His passing stats are all on him though.

Sam Bradford gets a new coach every 2 years LOL his INT% is 2.2... thats lower than Brees or Manning.


So he went to two more teams and did equally as bad. The same thing could be said for a lot of QBs. There are plenty of QBs in the league that achieved greatness because the surrounding team was good and not the QB.

Joe Namath is a prime example.

Arguably you could put any QB on a good team and see success.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

he went to oilers first. for the love of god all there players left town when BUM came to new orleans. he went back to the bottom of the barrel there

when he got traded to minnesota was the best team he could have played for and had a shot. but his knees were shot and the rest of him so banged up he just should have retired.

as for the passing stats the team around him has everything to with it.

i really do not think you have a clue as to how bad the teams were most of the time when archie played

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

I hunted with Hokie when I was 14.... I am very familiar with the Saints of the early 80s. ;)

If you read my earlier post, I made a point that all the comments about all he needed was an offensive line were not so accurate.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

at times he need a heck of a lot more. sorry i am an old timer and will always go down fighting when comes to archie and few other saints back then

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

I lived through the early days and when I see Archie on TV it always amazes me that he can walk straight. Watching Archie in those days was almost like watching Rocky getting beat up. To this day I will always support his kids as long as they are not playing against us. Oh and I almost punched out a grocery bagger back in New Jersey. Was wearing an old worn out Saints shirt and this dude proceeded to put a bag over his head and the fight was on. The generation of fans who came in around Mora's time probably could never believe how bleak things were early on.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

How would any QB from any other team in that era have done playing for the Saints under the same exact conditions that Manning had to play under?

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

On the other hand...

1970 Billy Kilmer with the Saints 2-9
1971 Billy Kilmer with the Redskins 8-4-1

maybe it was the Saints

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

go back and look at the roster in houston before and when manning arrived there. the city not just the fans was in an up roar over the manning trade. not that he got traded but traded to a team that was falling apart and heading south instead of a contender. it was unjust after all he did for the city and the team. that like trading Drew to the Jags. total disrespect.

MPLS out doors along with all the stadiums except detroit did little wonders for him. he was a shell of himself after the beating he took in houston and new orleans, kinda the same story line with pistol pete. by the time he got his shot at a ring he was a shell of his former self.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Before there was Jerry Jones or Dan Snyder, there was John Mecom Jr, and unfortunately it was at his mercy that Archie was ultimately tied. I don't think it's fair to compare any other current or past QB to him. He had NOTHING for most of the time here except Muncie, Galbraeth and Brenner. The ONLY worthy O-lineman even worth mentioning was Conrad Dobler and he was torwards the end of his career. Maybe Stan Brock but I can't remember if Archie was already gone by then. Put in a crappy defense to boot then you have Archie always having to play catch up. I'm not saying he would've been better than Drew or any of his sons, but I'm saying that he would've had significantly more success if he would've been surrounded by more talent.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Indeed ! Listening to Drew talk about how much support Archie offered him was amazing. Archie bled Black & Gold literally!!

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Muncie lmao the man with 1000 reasons not to make it to the airport to fly with the team. what a waste of talent

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

I seem to have upset the knitting party.

JP - If you want me to explain it to you in detail I can, but Hagen quickly understood what I was alluding to, sorry if you cant get your head wrapped around it. As you said, you take it all personally. For you it is not how they played but what they did. Its not personal for me.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

So which is it, because I see two distinct stances on the same subject.

Drew Brees's interceptions are his fault.

Archie Mannings's interceptions are the fault of the team.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Oak this might help but in the Manning years it was like junk time most of the time. Archie was a extreamly well liked, very talented and really tough QB. back in the old days, really talent wise comparable to Bradshaw, Stauback and other top tier QB.'s in that era. We were fortunate as Saints fans to have any glimmer of hope. Manning was our hope, the Saints organization was his downfall. And yes when any QB. throws an int, it's their fault but in Archies defense not only would Brees look like a poster child of a Vicidin commercial his career would be over. Even as a kid watching the game on a T.V. that had a box on it that you would turn the knob to clear the channel up, or sent outside on the roof of the house to adjust the antenna how many more brutal hits Archie could take before he wouldn't get up. He got up, that was hope. Winning 1 maybe 2 games a year with Manning give all of us hope. In Archies case stats will always be just that, stats, it will never tell the true story of a man that played his heart out each and every game.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

I understand and fully agree on what Archie Manning was to New Orleans, the Saints, and its fans. He was tough as **** and took a beating week in and week out. I have not disagreed with any of that. It doesn't change how he preformed as a passer though.

How do you view it? Does the team make the QB better or does the QB make the team better? As I see it the great QBs make the team better, how many times has it been said by multitudes of members here that we simply can not win if Drew Bree's keeps throwing interceptions? Well Manning threw more interceptions, I know the team was abysmal but Archie's turnovers did nothing to help the situation.

Members say you cant speak honestly about Drew Brees because some people only view him through rose colored glasses.. Well add Archie Manning to the list.:bng:

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

...a lot.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

I think you have it backwards.

You have to put the time frame into perspective. Archie threw more interceptions than Drew as a percentage. Most quarterbacks then threw more interceptions as a percentage than quarterbacks now. The rules were different. The rules then allowed defensive backs to throw receivers to the ground or push them out of the way. There was no defensive holding then. It was easier to get interceptions.

Archie threw LESS interceptions than the NFL average for most of his career. While Archie was playing, the Saints were only in the top 10 in interceptions thrown once. In 1975 the Saints threw 24 interceptions, which put us 7th in the league out of 26 teams. That was the worst year.

Archie's turnover rate, in spite of the rest of the team, helped the Saints.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Ill buy the interceptions vs era. I don't have it backwards that a QB makes the team better.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Comparing QB's from different eras is like comparing race cars from different eras. It is not as apples to apples as it appears. Face it, that was THEN this is NOW! I live in the Now.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Hate to say it Oak but you don't know what you're talking about. Not only didn't you see Archie or the Saints teams of that era. In fact you didn't see that era of NFL football.

Oh and by the way, Kenny Stabler was a horrible QB by that point in his career. If Bum had kept Manning he might have ended his career as a winner instead of the pathetic joke he became.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

I didn't "go at you" little man. You decided to snipe from the back row at a comment I made to Hagen.

The part about taking things personally was not Bum Phillips specific.

Offended by what?

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Are you seriously trying to compare the TEAM Archie Manning played with and the TEAM that Brees plays with?

That is like comparing a crocodile to a chameleon!!

I would venture to say that 30% to 40% of the interceptions that Brees throws are his fault, for whatever reason/s: He mis-read the defense, under/overthrew a pass, forced a pass, etc.

Probably another 30% to 40% are picked off after the ball was tipped by the receiver trying to make a catch.

The rest are because of the defender making a good play, pressure from the defense, weather...

Brees, as well as most QBs, wouldn't have lasted a season playing behind the BEST line that Manning ever had.

The difference in talent level, minus the QB position, on the Saints teams then and know is laughable!

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

it was a coca thing my freind

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

i see that as there is an "I" in team point of view. stats are pointless unless you know what the team was about. thats why so many great players are not in the hall. that is a media way of looking at a player.

if drew played on those teams i really doubt he would have survived or done any better. visa versa. if great players of archies playing days say he was one of the greatest to play i say case closed.

there is no "I" team and everyone goes down with a sinking ship. i do not care who they are.

Drew and Archie are the two greatest QB ever to play for the saints hands down. whats separates them is the teams and coaches they played with.

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Well interesting back and forth thread, two things that were pretty clever.
That line about rose colored glasses was great! Thinking back I must have been wearing them the day I signed in as a Who Dat.
also-
Elisha Archibald "Archie" Manning III aka "The Glimmer Man"
Archie was sacked 340 times during his Saints career.
He must have had a great sense of humor as well.
Loved what he said about Jack Youngblood
"I've got to say that Youngblood was nice enough to pick me up every time he knocked my (butt) off." Today, Manning jokes that Youngblood's career would not have been as successful without him. He even suggested that Youngblood should have let him be his presenter when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001, saying, "He wouldn’t have gotten in without having me to sack."

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

I loved that. Thanks!!

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

My literacy is fine. I must have been too vague, so I shall rephrase the statement.

Previous quoted txt "The part about taking things personally was not Bum Phillips specific. "

Should have read "When I said you take things personally, I was not being Bum Phillips specific." E.g. You take anything negative said about a Manning personally, as evident by your reply to a comment I made to someone else.

My original statement still stands. I replied to Hagen, he understood my intent. You kind sir took it as an opportunity to snipe at me from the back row. If you do not care for 'low road', then don't start down that path. The intent of my hunting comment is fairly clear and draws a logical picture to most. I do believe Private Messaging was available when you chose to question my comment to Hagen. :bng:

Re: 47 years ago today, the first New Orleans Saint was signed
 

Everyone from Houston was coming to New Orleans is the reason for that.