<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Already beset by a natural disaster, the reeling New Orleans Saints have now suffered a physical one as well, with a Monday morning MRI exam revealing that star running back Deuce McAllister has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, an injury that will sideline the five-year veteran for the rest of the season.McAllister, the workhorse of the Saints offense and once again cast as the centerpiece of what coach Jim Haslett had hoped would be the return to a power running game in 2005, will seek a second opinion. But the matter appears academic and the Saints will finish what already has been a dismal season without the veteran who is arguably their best offensive player."If that's the case, a torn ligament, he's out for the year," Haslett said. "I feel bad first of all for Deuce. He's worked hard to get to this point. He's a great football player."The injury occurred in the third quarter of Sunday's loss at Green Bay when McAllister caught a screen pass and his right foot seemed to catch in the turf at Lambeau Field. An on-field examination by team physicians originally indicated that McAllister suffered an injury to the posterior cruciate ligament. Further scrutiny of the knee following the 52-3 defeat raised alarms the damage was actually to the anterior cruciate ligament, and that it was more severe.After the game, McAllister insisted he was "all right" and suggested that he would be able to play in next Sunday's game against Atlanta at the Alamodome. McAllister had carried 11 times for 31 yards at the time of the injury.The Monday MRI exam confirmed the team's worst fears. It is not yet known when the second opinion will take place or when McAllister will undergo surgery. Typically in such cases, teams will wait until the swelling in the joint subsides before they will have a player undergo surgery.A first-round pick in the 2001 draft, and the 23rd overall selection that year, McAllister has missed only three games in his career. The former University of Mississippi star, who is widely regarded as one of the NFL's premier tailbacks, has rushed for 4,529 yards and 34 touchdowns on 1,054 carries. That includes 93 carries for 335 yards in 2005.McAllister, 26, entered this season with three straight 1,000-yard campaigns, including a career-best 1,641 yards in 2003. He also has 182 catches for 1,379 yards and four scores.Haslett vowed this spring, after a 2004 season in which the New Orleans offense seemed to deviate from his blueprint for it, to return to a more physical attack, with McAllister as the primary catalyst. With their top back gone now, the Saints likely will split time at the tailback spot between Antowain Smith and Aaron Stecker. The Saints, already displaced by Hurricane Katrina, and now temporarily based in San Antonio, are 2-3."I have a lot of confidence in our team," Haslett said. "We've overcome a lot in the past year and the last couple of months."[The loss against Green Bay]was enough for a lifetime. Anytime you lose a player like Deuce you have to have him surrounded by people who can pick up their game. Everybody has to play better."At the outset of training camp, the club signed McAllister to a pricey seven-year contract extension. The extension, which created an eight-year contract in total, is worth $50.1 million and includes $12.5 million in signing and roster bonuses.</div>Wow. All i can say is wow. I mean the article says it all. The Saints are already set back by Hurricane Katrina and the people in New Orleans are living off football. McAllister was arguably the best player on the team and now he's out. What more can go wrong for the Saints???P.S. That's another key player gone for the season by a <u>torn ACL</u>. Try using the 'Edit' button, don't bump your own article -JHair
The Saints didn't have much a chance this year but it always sucks to see such a good player lose a season of his career to injury--not only that, he will probably never play as well again, injurys like that are a huge setback even when you're fully recovered.
The catastrophes just keep continuing for this team. Deuce was a pro bowl RB and to see so many pro bowl players going out from this it's incredible.Just to name a few who are out from the Torn ACL: Javon Walker, Rodney Harrison, Deuce McAllister
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Frosty M @ Oct 10 2005, 05:28 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>man that saucks for the saints this is just a great year for them huh</div> I know right. Could things get any worse? Joe Horn has missed 2 straight weeks with a hamstring injury.
I heard Joe Horn is supposed to play this week so they might as well give him the ball all day if you don't got a running game going. Sucks to see McAllister out for the season. Hopefully, he can work hard in the offseason then have a monster season next year. Too many good players getting hurt
Stallworth was picking the load up pretty well. Brooks should look to him more even with Horn back in the line up. From the looks of it he is one of the fastest WR's in the NFL.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DaBears88 @ Oct 11 2005, 10:37 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'>What a shame for any guy getting injured........</div> Noo we like guys getting injured. Obviously it sucks if they get injured. These guys getting injured are some of our favorite players.
yea like mcnabb hes injured to and the eagles keep playing him.But that sucks so bad for the saints they have their best player injured and its right after there stadium got tore up.what a shame.
Well let's hope Antowain Smith and Speedy Stallworth can step it up.Their Run D needs to get it together too.Hope all goes well for New Orleans.
