Deuce McAllister is the New Orleans Saints all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns, but this offseason McAllister finds himself in an unfamiliar position, unemployed.
After being released by the Saints, Deuce has been working out, after his sixth surgery.
FOX 8 Sports Anchor Rob Ennis and photographer Edwin Goode recently took a trip to
Florida to catch up with Deuce.
(RE)Any hard feelings?(DM)No hard feelings at all. I mean you play long enough and been around you know eventually it’s going to happen, unless you can walk away on your own and retire.
(RE)How determined are you to go out on your own terms?
(DM)That’s what it’s about, that’s what it’s about. We talk about pain; we talk about the character it reveals. But you have to be able to walk away on your own terms. I’m going to walk away eventually and it’ll be pretty soon here. But I don’t want to leave on a note where I didn’t give all that I had and I didn’t contribute and help a team.
(RE)The other day you told us it would be a –quote- a dream come true for you to return to the Saints, realistically, is that a possibility?
(DM)It’s really out of my hands. All I can do is go out there and continue to work and continue to push myself and put myself in the best possible shape. I say it’s a dream come true because that’s where I was drafted at; that’s where I played my whole career, but I’m not going to be so close-minded that if it doesn’t happen I can’t play with someone else. I would love to finish my career out there but if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.
(RE)Let’s go back to last season, so many 3rd& 1’s, 4th&1’s, there’s Pierre Thomas in the backfield, sometimes there’s Reggie bush, there’s Deuce McAllister standing on the sidelines, helmet on ready to play but never went in. What happened with that? Were you injured? Or was that the case of Sean Payton having confidence in somebody else?
(DM) It may have been played by design. It may have been just having confidence in those guys and them running it early in the week. It may have been just giving those guys an opportunity. All I can do is be prepared to play and when my number is called hopefully make the play. As a competitor I want to be in there, I want to play, that’s what you play for. That’s the most disappointing thing about it is not getting that opportunity to go out there and compete to go out there and have an opportunity to be successful. I thought I did everything I could to make that team successful and to just want that in return back.
(RE)How confident are you that you will sign with another team before the start of the season?
(DM) I feel pretty confident about it. I feel pretty good. Obviously I know there are a couple of issues that I have. You’re fighting the age issue, you’re fighting the you’re fighting the 4 game suspension issue. Two of those things I can control and handle. Age-wise, I can’t change. The injuries I can make myself better; I can get myself in shape. I can make myself better by strengthening the areas around the knee.
(RE)What would you like to say to all those ‘Who Dats’ who supported you for all those years?
(DM) I surely appreciate the support. Even being here (Pensacola) it’s sort of extended New Orleans, because there’s not many places you don’t go where people will look and say you’re the running back for the Saints. It’s a special feeling; it’s a special connection. I’ve always said I’ll be a part of that franchise regardless if I ever play for them again or not.
