25 Most Overrated New Orleans Saints in Franchise History

Sometimes as a writer you're given an assignment and you cringe. Nothing about the assignment makes you excited to write the article—perhaps other than it is an assignment and hopefully it helps you further your craft. 

I'll be honest, this very article is one of those. I have no desire to write about the most overrated player in any franchise, especially that of the team I am a passionate fan of. It is the type of assignment that I would normally complain about. 

But then I realized something. This assignment also allows me the opportunity to do more research and find out more about the unique history of an organization I've only been a true fan of for six full seasons. Having more of an understanding of the past futility, I can better appreciate the here and now. 

25. Reggie Bush RB

As a Reggie Bush apologist to the day he left town, I now must admit to all my loyal readers that in hindsight I was wrong. Reggie Bush was slightly overrated. I say he is the 25th-most overrated in franchise history—fitting given his uniform number (while he was a Saint). 

Of course the dynamite explosion that has been Darren Sproles' first five games as a Saint greatly play into this realization. Sproles is of course playing the same role that Bush did in this offense, and is doing so much more than Bush ever did. 

Ultimately, Bush's inability to stay on the field and develop as an in-between-the-tackles runner are what caused Bush to not be the success he should have been. 

But we must also remember Bush was a key part of an offense that was the best in the game his five years in New Orleans and played in two conference championship games—and even won a Super Bowl. 

24. John Carney K

I like John Carney. Truth is that he was a fine NFL kicker. But in New Orleans Saints folk history I think he's been given too much credit. 

First, the single kick he's most known for is a miss—and an extra point at that. I'm not one normally to criticize a player for their failure. But if that's your most memorable kick, there is an issue. 

Second, Carney is no better than the third-most important kicker in the franchise's 45-year history. Garrett Hartley would be second and Tom Dempsey first. Therefore Carney is slightly overrated, but still a great one. 

23. Kyle Turley OT

The next two are guys I placed in the underrated section when I wrote on a similar topic earlier this summer. But that was eight underrated players. This is a giant task of 25 overrated guys. 

Certainly Kyle Turley would be considered one of the better offensive linemen to play for the Saints. I would argue that Turley was probably better than he actually ever played. 

In other words, Turley had all the potential in the world to be great, but because of some psychological issues he never lived up to that potential. As is the case with many guys on this list, the moments they are most remembered for are actually negative moments. 

With Turley it was his helmet-fling. That event did not bring positive acclaim to the Saints franchise. 

22. Fred Thomas CB

Most recent Saints converts would think Thomas is underrated, which is exactly what I argued here. Thomas got beat up by opposing receivers, fans and eventually the coaches in the 2006 season. 

By 2007 he was gone, replaced by Jason David, who also drew the ire of loyal Saints fans—who just wanted the Saints to stop the deep pass. Thomas did make a Pro Bowl as a Saint and actually had a pretty good career overall in black and gold. 

But the 2006 playoffs pretty much sealed Thomas' fate as an overrated player—even if that label isn't representative of his entire career. 

21. Mike Bell RB

I know Mike Bell isn't going down on any all-time Saints teams. But the running back was certainly given quite a role and appreciation in the 2009 offense. My guess is that most Saints fans were sad to see him leave him—as I was—in the 2010 free-agency period when Philadelphia acquired his services. 

Bell scored a lot of touchdowns and became a hot fantasy commodity in '09. But he was unable to come up with a goal-line touchdown in the Super Bowl. Of that sequence there is a wonderful NFL Films moment where Bell comes back to the sideline and Sean Payton is pissed at him for not having the right cleats. 

I'm not saying Bell wasn't a valuable member of that team—he was. But Pierre Thomas was actually the better short-yardage back, as he continues to be the best short-yardage back the Saints have. 

20. Heath Evans FB

I like Heath Evans as a person. And I thought he was a good football player. 

But Evans' time in New Orleans did not quite live up to expectations. Sure the Saints won the Super Bowl with him on the roster, but sadly he didn't really participate in that adventure, save for a few games early in that season. 

In 2010, Evans returned to health, but was mostly replaced by David Thomas at the fullback spot in run situations. Evans came to New Orleans to be a key piece in the Saints offense and left two years later, never really being what he was meant to be. 

It's too bad, but sometimes that's the way it goes. 

19. Devery Henderson WR

For the many big plays Henderson has provided over the years, he's also provided that many yawns. He's dropped many passes, and made a few boneheaded plays. 

He's never been a consistent target for Drew Brees—instead he's remained mostly a deep target who shows up when it's most convenient. 

In all honesty, Robert Meachem is just as good a deep threat, and a much more consistent route-runner and catcher of the football. I appreciate Devery, but I feel the Saints might be better off making Meachem the deep-threat guy and inserting Adrian Arrington into the lineup full-time. 

18. Darren Sharper S

What Sharper did in the first half of 2009 was pretty incredible. His nine interceptions for the year, and overall ball-hawking style that he helped engrave in the Saints defense was contagious and a huge reason the Saints won the Super Bowl. 

But it was one single year. To not be overrated in a franchise's history, I believe you've got to do it for more than one year, unless there is an obvious reason to cancel such stipulation. 

In this case, it is readily apparent that the Saints defense is actually better with Malcolm Jenkins roaming the deep center field part of the defense. 

No Jenkins hasn't made as many big plays as Sharper did, but the Saints hardly ever get beat deep when he is in the lineup—a testament to his level of play. 

Of course, I also think Jenkins is the best safety in football, so I'm a little biased. 

17. John Gilliam WR

John Gilliam is a pretty significant name in New Orleans Saints history. But he's a bigger name in the NFL in general. It is not that Gilliam wasn't a great player; it's just that he only spent three of those seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

And considering the team never made the playoffs—or even sniffed them—during his time in the Crescent City, it is difficult to avoid the overrated tag.

Frankly I don't have a lot else to say about Gilliam. 

16. Jeremy Shockey TE

The tight end did some nice things in his Saints career. But considering the price tag to get him, it would be hard to argue against the overrated tag.

But this one is more that the Saints personnel people overrated—most notably Sean Payton, who had previously coached him in New York. 

Shockey caught the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl for the Saints (funny how everyone remembers the Moore two-point conversion catch and Tracy Porter's pick-six and thinks one of those plays was the winner, but it was actually Shockey's quick slant in the end zone that sealed the win).

Shockey—as always—is an enigma since he would likely also be placed on the underrated list if I were to write a top 25 for that category.  

15. Mike MacKenzie CB

Mike MacKenzie was a fine corner for the New Orleans Saints for a number of years. He was the closest thing the team had to a ball hawk prior to Darren Sharper's arrival in the bayou. 

But in comparison to Jabari Greer, MacKenzie was not an elite corner. Of course, I have a similar argument here as with Jenkins. I honestly believe Greer is one of the top corners in all football. 

Remember no player's inclusion on this list means I think they're a bum or were horrible. It simply means that in comparison to the acclaim they were given, I do not believe they earned it. And it's really as simple as that. 

I should note that I placed him No. 2 on the top-eight list. Clearly, I have changed my opinion of MacKenzie since the summer. 

14. Lorenzo Neal FB

The average football fan upon hearing that Lorenzo Neal played for the New Orleans Saints would rightly assume that he was the best fullback in franchise history. Given his whole career, that is not a bad guess. 

But they would of course be wrong because he didn't even play fullback for the Saints. He was a running back before he began his streak of blocking for 11 straight 1,000-yard rushers. 

Neal made the switch to fullback because he just wasn't a great tailback. But that switch came after he left the Saints. 

13. Craig Heyward FB

Craig Heyward got a lot of recognition as being a great Saint the last few years when his son Cameron played defensive end at Ohio State and then was drafted 31st by the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

But Craig only played one year in New Orleans. I maintain the argument that you're overrated if you only played one year for a given franchise unless you were so incredible that an exception must be made. 

In Heyward's case, I cannot make such an exception. 

12. Scott Fujita LB

Don't get me wrong—I love Scott Fujita the player. Heck, we graduated from the same high school, so there is a natural bent there. And I would even say I thought he should've made at least one Pro Bowl while he was in black and gold. 

But near the end of his tenure he became a bit of a liability. He was no longer an effective coverage man or blitzer. His only real value was against the run and as a team leader. But the Saints had plenty of leadership and needed to upgrade on the outside, which they partially have by making Jonathan Casillas a full-time starter (at least essentially). 

11. Jeff Faine C

Though I earlier said he was one the most underrated players in Saints history, I have to also add Jeff Faine is one of the most overrated. 

I can say this because Jonathan Goodwin replaced him and the offense didn't miss a beat. And now Olin Kreutz and Brian de la Puente have both stabilized the position enough that the offense moves the ball almost at will against every defense they've played against. 

Faine is a good center and has greatly helped the Bucs and their young offensive line. But for the money he got the Saints were wise to move on. 

10. Ricky Williams RB

Ricky Williams is the classic case of a good player who was asked to do too much. When Mike Ditka traded all of the 1997 draft for Williams, Ditka was betting on a guy who many knew struggled with some pretty serious psychological issues. 

Williams was not horrible as a Saint, but much like Reggie, he was simply expected to do so much more than was really practical. 

Williams has experienced real success in Miami—maybe Bush will too—and is doing an adequate job as Ray Rice's backup in Baltimore. 

9. Jammal Brown OT

By the time Brown had been acquired by the Washington Redskins, most fans I believe realized Brown was overrated. 

Brown got called for more holding penalties and false starts than any elite offensive lineman that I can ever remember. Did he keep Drew Brees' backside safe? Yes, but at a cost to the offense. 

Does Jermon Bushrod protect Brees as well as Brown? Probably not, but the offense moves forward more consistently because of much fewer penalties. 

8. Mike Ditka Head Coach

Ditka is the only non-player to make the list. Overall, I concluded that if I included Ricky Williams, I couldn't avoid Mike Ditka. 

Not that many fans have super fond memories of Ditka's term as head coach, but his name is a famous one that is well respected. 

But all those fond memories must be linked to his time with the Bears, at least if the beholder knows anything about football. 

By giving the Washington Redskins his entire draft, he set the franchise back probably five years. That Jim Haslett was able to recover as quickly as he did is rather remarkable. 

7. Charles Grant DE

Here's what I wrote on June 9 of the player who to date signed the richest contract in history of the franchise:

"

Charles Grant seemed to do a lot of standing around with his hands on his hips after he signed a then record deal after the 2006 season. In 2006, he didn't even make the Pro Bowl but was awarded that crazy deal before fellow DE and Pro Bowler, Will Smith, got a new contract. 

Grant had some off-the-field issues, but mostly it was his lack of motor, injuries and inconsistent play that made him much overrated. 

Grant secures the No. 8 spot not because he's the least overrated, but because he never was rated so high in most fans' minds. But he was certainly paid like he was one of the league's finest defensive ends.

"

I stand by those comments today as well. 

6. Joe Horn WR

June 9th I penned the following of the franchise's greatest diva:

"

I admit, I didn't see Joe Horn in a Saints uniform long enough to secure a true opinion of the receiver. When I came to be a Saints fan, I had a previous bias against Horn—to the point I almost considered not switching teams because I so strongly disliked Horn. 

Of course, what I disliked so much about Horn was the infamous cell phone celebration he had performed many years earlier on Sunday Night Football. I was biased towards him because I believed he was a typical diva receiver. 

What I found out was that he was not so much a diva, but a beloved player who the fans truly loved. And the fans had good reason to love him, as he put up gaudy numbers his first five seasons in black and gold.

But that is also the problem. He had only five good years in his entire career.

His final two seasons as a Saint were poor compared to the previous five. But Horn was basically a nobody in his first four seasons with the Chiefs and his final season with Atlanta. Therefore it's difficult to say he had a great career. 

It's more like he had a wonderful five seasons. 

"

5. George Rogers RB

Here's what I wrote previously on the most overrated running back in Saints' history:

"

I admit, I don't know a lot about George Rogers. He was a member of the Saints before I was even born, but I know that the Saints organization has held him in high regard for the career he had with them. 

This is despite the fact that he only played four seasons, one of which only included six games played. Sure in two of the three full seasons he gained over 1,000 yards, but the truth is that he really only had one great year: his rookie season. 

In his final three pro seasons with Washington, he was about equally productive, which only shows he was a good, but not great NFL back. 

It seems the tendency with Heisman Trophy-winning running backs is to give them the benefit of the doubt. As long as they were adequate professionals we seem to remember them as great.

In Rogers' case, he was good, and there's nothing wrong with that. 

"

4. Hokie Gajan FB

Here were my thoughts of the Saints' radio analyst—a job I think he does marvelously well. 

"

I'm not going to deny that Gajan put up some really good numbers for a fullback in only four years. In 1984, he caught 35 passes for 288 yards.

How many fullbacks do that? 

Where my issue arises is the lack of time he played the game. He only played four seasons! If it's because he has an electric personality, I can accept that. 

If it was even the way he played the game, I can accept that, too. But I admit, I struggle to think that a guy could play only four years and be remembered so fondly. 

Of course what that ultimately speaks to is the amazing love of the fans of the New Orleans Saints. That they could fall in love with a player in just four seasons is a special quality they possess. 

"

3. Bobby Hebert QB

Here is what I wrote of the other Saints broadcaster:

"

Continuing on with the theme of current Saints broadcasters, Hebert comes in just ahead of Gajan. It is not that Hebert wasn't good. The fact is that his numbers for the era he played are solid.

But similar to all the other guys is that he only did it for a couple of years. He only played 16 games twice as a Saint, and those were the only two seasons he threw for over 3,000 yards.

Additionally, his high for touchdowns in a season as a Saint was 20. 

Of course, it is difficult to compare a guy like Hebert to Drew Brees, since Brees is likely a future Hall of Famer, but when doing so, the two aren't even close. 

Brees is going to put all-time numbers and already has a Super Bowl ring and seems destined for at least one more. Hebert is the home town guy who the fans loved because he was the hometown guy. 

At the end of the day, Hebert was a solid quarterback who should be loved because of his roots rather than his play. 

"

2. Michael Lewis KR/PR

I totally appreciate Michael Lewis' story, but as I wrote, he is overrated in Saints' lore:

"

As I come to No. 3 [No. 2 on this list], I'm reminded the point of this column is not to crush these guys. I intend no harm. Lewis is another hometown guy who does deserve to be loved by the fans because he truly was one of them.

But I only want to make sure fans don't remember him for being a better player than he was. 

The truth is that he caught fewer than 30 passes in his entire career as a receiver. And as a returner—which is what he was known for—he only scored four times. 

Lewis' story is an incredible one, and I have no interest in ruining it for anyone. I only want to clear the air that he was a great Saint. He was a nice story as a returner for a few years, but simply doesn't compare to some of the great return specialists of the last decade—Dante Hall and Devin Hester, to name the two most prominent.

"

1. Aaron Brooks QB

I think in light of Drew Brees' reign as the QB of the decade in the NFC South—and now the greatest player in franchise history—most fans would agree that Aaron Brooks' run at the beginning of the decade as Saints QB makes him the most overrated player in franchise history. 

"

Before I continue, I want to make it clear that I have absolutely nothing against Aaron Brooks. For a period of time, he gave the fans of the Saints some hope. Heck, he did what no other quarterback in Saints history had done before—win a playoff game. 

But before we put the guy in the Hall of Fame, we must remember a few things.

First and foremost, Sean Payton's very first order of business when he became head coach back in 2006 was to find a real quarterback. He knew he had to replace Aaron Brooks if he wanted to have success in the Big Easy. 

Second, the guy never completed better than 59 percent of his passes in an entire season. Drew Brees could do that in his sleep. And because the guy scrambled and ran the ball so much, he fumbled a ton, and lost many of them.

And most seasons he had a fairly high interception rate. 

The guy was a walking giveaway basket for the other team. I'm not saying that Brooks was horrible nor am I saying that he didn't have some really nice moments for the Saints.

What I am saying is that the guy has to be one of the most overrated players in the Saints history, although he has been easily forgotten because of the man who immediately succeeded him. 

"

I stand by every word that I wrote back in June, and every word I write now in October. Interestingly enough, the weather is probably a lot warmer today than it was then. I know not what relevance that has other than to say I can't wait until I'm living in New Orleans and get to experience humidity all the time. 

As always, WHO DAT?!