Da Boot Sports
6/28/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   Vaughn Johnson was another USFL transplant coming from the Jacksonville Bulls, signing with the Saints in 1986. Johnson became part of the greatest linebacking corp in NFL history, The Dome Patrol. He teamed up with Sam Mills, Rickey Jackson and Pat Swilling to become the most feared set of linebackers in the NFL. He was a huge inside linebacker who was super physical, punishing everyone he hit. 
   Johnson spent 8 years in New Orleans before finishing off his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994. He was a 4 time Pro Bowler and was inshrined into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2000.
   Johnson finished his NFL career with 669 tackles, 12 sacks and 4 interceptions. 

   Vaughn Johnson died from kidney disease on December 12, 2019, at age 57.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/25/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   Eric Martin arrived in New Orleans already a huge fan favorite from his outstanding career at LSU. The Saints drafted Martin in the 7th round of the 1985 draft and proved to be a steal. 
   He played 10 seasons in the NFL, 9 with the Saints, his final with Kansas City. Martin made the Pro Bowl in 1988. He is a member of the Saints Hall of Fame. He finished his NFL career with 553 catches for 8,161 yards with 49 touchdown grabs. 
   He at a great season in 1987 helping the Saints reach the playoffs for the first time in their history. Eric Martin was a big, strong, physical possession receiver who became the Saints go to guy when big plays were needed. He will always be remembered as one of the best the wear the black and gold.

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​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/22/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


​   If you ask any Saints fan who is one of the greatest ever to play for New Orleans, they all would mention Rickey Jackson. The Saints drafted Jackson in the 2nd round of the 1981 NFL Draft. In his rookie season he was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team as well as earning All-NFC. Jackson made the NFL Pro Bowl six times during his career. 
   Jackson was a force every game, making countless big plays. He finished his career as the Saints all-time leading sack artist, finishing with a total of 123. 
   After 13 fantastic season's in New Orleans, Jackson finished off his incredible career in San Francisco, where he became part of a World Championship in Super Bowl XXIX. He retired after the 1995 season. Jackson was introduced into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a New Orleans Saint in 2010.

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​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/20/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   Stan Brock was a first round pick of the Saints and became one of the all-time greats to suit up in the black & gold as he was a force on the Saints offensive line from 1980 to 1992.  Brock was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 1980 and is a member of the Saints Hall of Fame. After 12 strong seasons in the Crescent City, Brock finished off his playing career in San Diego from 1993 to 1995. He played in Super Bowl XXIX with the Chargers.
   After retiring from football he became a head coach in the Arena Football League for the Portland Forest Dragons and then the Los Angeles Avengers. From there he became the offensive line coach at Armey for two years before being promoted to Head Coach of the Black Knights in 2007. He was fired at the conclusion of the 2008 season after back to back 3-9 finishes. 
   He has since become part of the media as a sport anchor in Portland. 

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/19/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   There hasn't been many players in the NFL like Guido Merkens. He was called the 'jack of all trades' as he was able to play multiple positions. Merkens started his career with the Houston Oilers as an undrafted free agent in 1878. He joined the Saints in 1980. Merkens was the Saints 3rd string quarterback, played on special teams including holding for field goals and extra points. He filled in as a backup punter, a punt and kick returner, wide receiver and also played safety. Merkens could be found on the field anywhere at any time, getting the job done for the Saints. 
   He played in New Orleans from 1980-1986 before finishing off his NFL career in Philadelphia in 1987. 

   Not sure what Merkens is doing today. Last noted, he was a general manager at a CarMax dealership in 2007. 

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John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/18/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   The Saints drafted Rueben Mayes in the 3rd round of the 1986 NFL Draft. Mayes, a Canadian, was an All-American running back at Washington State. He was also the 2nd overall pick by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL, BUT chose the NFL. 
   Mayes busted onto the scene in his rookie season, rushing for 1,353 yards and 8 touchdowns, while earning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award. He was named to the Pro Bowl twice in is career. Unfortunately, his career was hampered by injuries. After five seasons in New Orleans, the Saints traded him to Seattle in 1992 where he finished off his career. 
   After his playing days, Mayes returned to school at Washington State to earn a masters of business degree. He has ended up holding positions at Washington State and at Pullman Regional Hospital. 

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​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/16/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   Bobby Hebert is personally my favorite quarterback of all-time. The Cajun Cannon was just awesome to me when I was growing up. From winning the state championship with South Lafourche in 1977 to his stardom in the USFL. I was a HUGE USFL fan in the 80s and Hebert established himself as one of the greatest players in USFL's short three year history. He played in two of the three USFL Championship games, winning one of them. He holds the record for the USFL's all-time leading passer, passing for 13,137 yards and 81 touchdowns in his three seasons. 
   Hebert signed with the Saints in 1985 after the USFL folded after their 1985 season. In his first two seasons in the Crescent City, Hebert split time as the starter with Dave Wilson before being named the Saints full time starter in 1987. 
   After sitting out the 1990 season because of a contract dispute, Hebert returned to have his two best seasons wearing the black and gold.
   In 1991 the Saints won their first ever division title with a 11-5 record, but fell to the Falcons, 27-20 in the Wild Card Playoffs. 
   1992 was a great year for Hebert and the Saints. He passed for 3.287 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading the Saints to a 12-4 record and a second straight trip to the playoffs. 
   In a shocking move, Hebert signed with the Atlanta Falcons after the 1992 season. He went on to have a great Pro Bowl season in Atlanta in 1993. He played for Atlanta for three more seasons before retiring after the 1996 campaign.
   The Cajun Cannon finished his NFL career passing for 21,683 with 135 touchdown passes. 
   
   As Saints fans know, Hebert is a big part of the WWL Radio family with sports talk and Saints Game Day coverage. He also owns 'Bobby Hebert's Cajun Cannon Restaurant and Bar in Metairie on Veterans Blvd. 

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​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/15/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


    Dave Wilson was a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints from 1981 to 1989.  Bum Phillips took Wilson with the first pick of the 1981 supplemental draft. Phillips was hoping that Wilson would be longtime Saints starting quarterback Archie Manning's replacement. 
     In 1982 Wilson would suffer torn ligaments in his left knee which would end his season and hamper his mobility for the remainder of his career. Most of his playing time came during the 1985 and 1986 seasons, when he started ten and thirteen games, respectively.
       He would play his entire career in New Orleans and finished his NFL career with 36 touchdowns, 55 interceptions, 6,987 passing yards with a QB Rating of 63.8.
       Wilson is from Anaheim, California and played his college ball at the University of Illinois where he was known for his strong arm and quick release. However he would have eligibility issues with the NCAA due to transcripts problems.  The highlight of his college career came in a game against Ohio State in 1980 when he would pass for 621 yards, a NCAA record that would stand for eight years. 
       Wilson is currently a scout for NFL Pro Scouts in California.

 

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/14/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   The Saints drafted All-American and Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers with the 1st overall pick in the 1981 draft. Rogers didn't disappoint as he would lead the league in rushing with 1,674 yards, which set a record for rookies and is still the single season record for the Saints and scored 13 touchdowns. He earned a trip to the Pro Bowl and was selected as the NFL Rookie of the Year. However Rogers admitted to a drug problem during his rookie season and entered rehab. 
     On April 26, 1985 Rogers was traded to the Washington Redskins together with the Saints' 5th, 10th, and 11th round selections in the 1985 draft in return for the Redskins first-round pick. 
      He finished his Saints career with 4,267 yards rushing, scoring 23 touchdowns. 
     In Washington, Rogers would play for three more seasons having some of his biggest professional success in Washington, including a Super Bowl title in 1987, defeating the Denver Broncos, 42–10, in Super Bowl XXII.  That Super Bowl game would be his final NFL game, has Rogers would retire due to nagging injuries. He would finish his pro career with 7,176 yards with 54 touchdowns in seven seasons. Only Eric Dickerson has rushed for more yardage during their rookie season. 
    He is a member of the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, South Carolina Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. 
       Rogers currently works at South Carolina University in public relations and fund-raising.
       

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/13/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   Derland Moore was an All-American defensive lineman at Oklahoma when the Saints selected him 29th overall in the second round of the 1973 NFL draft. He played 13 seasons for the Black and Gold, making 146 starts. His 170 total games played are the eighth-most in franchise history. In 1980, he led the team in sacks while he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1983. 
     Whether he was playing defensive tackle, defensive end or nose tackle, Moore was solid and tough. He displayed consistency on every play. He also had one of the quickest first steps in football throughout his career. 
      In his 13 seasons with the Saints, Moore played for five permanent head coaches and three interim coaches. He went on to play his 14th and final season with the New York Jets. 
       Moore is a member of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame, and is also part of the Saints 40th Anniversary team. Without a doubt he is one of the greatest to ever where the Black and Gold.
        Derland sadly passed away on Thursday, Sept. 24th 2020 following a long illness.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/12/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   The Saints drafted defensive back Dave Waymer out of Notre Dame with their second round pick in the 1980 NFL draft. During his ten years with the Saints Waymer played corner back in 149 games, starting 131 of them and totaled 37 interceptions. 
      In 1983 he was offered a contract by the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL), but opted to remain in New Orleans, saying, "I always wanted to play there. I've got a lot of friends there, and that is where, hopefully, I'll finish out my career."
         He will always be remembered as one of the best defensive backs to ever suite up for the black and gold and for making one of the greatest plays in franchise history. On November 29, 1987, the Saints battled the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium. On the final play of the game with New Orleans holding onto a 20-16 lead, the Steelers had the ball at the Saints 11-yard line for the final play and Waymer intercepted Steelers QB Mark Malone to improve the Saints to 8-3 and guarantee the franchise's first winning season ever. 
      Waymer would end up playing for the San Francisco 49ers in 1990 and 1991 and then the Los Angeles Raiders in 1992.
     During the 1993 offseason, Waymer died on April 30, 1993, at the age of 34, from a heart attack induced by cocaine use. 

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/11/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   The Saints drafted Kenny Duckett in the third round (68th overall) in the 1982 NFL draft.  When Duckett was in the 10th grade he was diagnosed with diabetes. He continued to play football despite warnings from his doctors, problems maintaining weight and his healing capacity being affected by his illness. As a senior running back, he rushed for over 900 yards and scored 20 touchdowns, receiving All-state, All-American and Winston-Salem Player of the Year honors. He finished his high school career with over 2,000 total yards and 20 touchdowns. He also played baseball and basketball. As a senior in baseball, he received All-conference, All-American, Player of the Year honors and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
         Duckett went to Wake Forest University and made a position change from running back to wide receiver his freshman year. Even though he battled injuries throughout his college career, he still managed to finish third on the school's All-time receiving list with 108 receptions for 1,507 yards and 19 touchdowns, 62 kick-offs returns for 1,251 yards and 27 punt returns for 212 yards. At the time he set school records for most kickoff returns (62), most touchdown receptions in a season (12) and most career touchdown receptions (19).

         Duckett (Nicknamed "E.T." because of his long fingers), totaled 34 receptions in 36 games for the Saints, from the start of the 1982 season until his release, one game into the 1985 season. He finished his time with the Saints with 503 receiving yards, to go along with four touchdowns. He also finished with 64 kick-off returns for 1,338 yards.       He finished his career in 1985 after playing in only three games with the Dallas Cowboys who signed him as a free agent.   
         Duckett contributed extensively to the Forsyth Chapter of the American Diabetes Association. In 1993, he started suffering from kidney failure as a result of his diabetes condition. On April 15, 1998, he was found dead at his home at the age of 38, due to renal failure.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
7/10/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   The Saints drafted Nose Guard Tony Elliott in the 5th round of the 1982 NFL draft. Elliott attended both North Texas and Wisconsin. He went on to total 13 sacks in 84 games for the Saints. His best season was 1983, when he totaled 5.5 sacks in only 12 games.
     Elliott was a player that had some good games, and some good years with the Saints. Sadly, however, a drug addiction probably kept him from having a better career, and certainly kept him from having a longer, more productive life. Elliott would reveal in a 1986 column that he blew a $30,000 signing bonus in a matter of two weeks on a cocaine binge.
      On the playing field, Tony Elliott was a big force in the 1980s for the Saints. The big nose tackle  had his best years between 1985-1987, missing just two of 47 games.
       After his NFL career, he would still battle personal issues. In 2000 he was shot by a drug dealer. Elliott survived, but became paralyzed from the waist down. 
     On December 31, 2007 Elliott, who was restricted to a wheelchair, suffering from congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and diabetes, died at the age of 48.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
6/10/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


    The Saints drafted Tennessee Vols quarterback Bobby Scott in the 14th round of the 1971 NFL draft.  He was primarily the back-up to starter Archie Manning for his entire time with the franchise.           He played in 47 games over nine seasons, completing 237-of-500 passes for 2,781 yards, along with 15 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
      In 1976 Scott had his most extensive playing after Manning missing the entire season, due to a shoulder injury. In eleven games that season, Scott completed 103-of-190 passes (54.2%) for 1.065 yards, with four touchdowns and six interceptions.
       However, his season was cut short when during a televised game, he tripped over a television cable and blew out his knee, ended his season.
        After Manning returned, Scott would start only four more games for the Saints over his last five seasons.
        In 1983 Scott jumped to the newly formed USFL signing with the New Jersey Generals. He was traded to the Chicago Blitz that same year, where his career would end at seasons end. Between his two stops in the USFL, Scott threw for 2,813 yards and 11 touchdowns.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
7/9/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   The Saints drafted USC tight end Hoby Brenner with the third pick (71 overall) in the 1981 NFL draft. Brenner would go on to play his entire 13 year career in New Orleans, setting multiple franchise records. He finished with 267 catches for 3,849 and 21 touchdowns. All three were the most by a tight end in Saints history until All-Pro Jimmy Graham set new marks. Not only was Brenner a solid pass catcher, but a great run blocker as well.  
        Hoby is one of the greatest players franchise history and was selected to the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2001 as well as being selected the tight end on the All-Time Saints team in 2011.
      After his retirement, Brenner moved back home to southern California where he and his wife run a family business.
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​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.