CHA_CHING

Thomas also had the first touchdown over the Vikings in the NFCCG. It came on a third down, and he brushed passed multiple tacklers, taking it to the house.

Thomas was our jack of all trades RB; he did everything - runs, screens, blocking, and something he gets no credit for - DID NOT FUMBLE. That fumble in the 2011 playoff game at SF was only his second fumble in 3 years.

Bush never lived up to his hype or expectations from where he was drafted in the first round. If he didn't have a ring and that one single 1,000 yard rushing season in Miami, he would be topping lists of draft busts for the previous decade.

Thomas was the X factor vs the Colts. The Colts defense in 2009 (as well as the years before, even when Tony Dungy coached them) had a major issue with shifty RBs and teams that ran them through screen plays.

This is pretty much the simplest explanation why the Chargers always embarrassed them back in the day including both playoff losses the Colts endured in 2008 and 2007. They would use Tomlinson and Sproles with screen passes and gash that defense to pieces. The Patriots used to be able to shred that defense too when they had Corey Dillon. The Colts didn't start to beat the Pats during that time frame until after they lost Dillon and even then, the Pats resumed to beating them after 2006.

IMO I have always believed that the Colts in 2009 caught a huge break by avoiding the Chargers in the playoffs, whom I think would've beat them. But we were built similar to the Chargers and were able to use Thomas the way they would Sproles, and the Colts ended up paying the price for it.

TheOak

For a couple of seasons I do recall PT getting it done and Reggie scrambelomg sideline time sideline struggling to run down field.

He still spent less than 1/2 his career as a Saint regardless of the reason.

TheOak

Colston was the poster a child for humbly getting it done with character.

vpheughan

They were ALL important pieces of the Payton Phoenix that rose from the ashes of the post Katrina - Haslett era.

K Major

The great Marques Colston.

Audiotom

Marques Colston is the epitomy of class
On and off the field

Audiotom

Marques Colston is the epitomy of class
On and off the field

AsylumGuido

You can say that again!

dizzle88

Even though we are in the midst of several winning seasons, I do miss having those players on our team.

The consummate professionals like PT, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Colston, Strief, Greer and Vilma.

Probably a ton more that I've missed from the list, just loved having those guys on our team.

neugey

Seems like not all that long ago Colston was wowing us all in pre-season. That was my first live Saints game, at Chiefs pre-season.