I read an article saying Monday night might be Deuce McAllister’s last home game with the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome if he indeed gets suspended. He doesn’t figure in the plans for ’09 and he is basically a shell of himself. 

Associated Press

Deuce runs through the Eagles.

Since I’ve booked a cruise for New Year’s I believe this will be my last chance to see Deuce.

If this is indeed goodbye he deserves to be recognized as the best Saints player in the history of the franchise. He holds every major rushing record and is one touchdown away from scoring the most times in team history.

Deuce can do two things for the Saints now – move the pile on short yardage and find the end zone on goal line carries.

But from 2002-04, he dominated with a strange combination of power, speed and a slightly upright running style like no Saints running back ever has.

I’m not a stat guy but here are some things he did in that three year period:

• Twenty-two 100-yard rushing games, including nine straight in 2003.
• In 2003, Deuce ran for 173 yards and caught passes for 64 yards in an overtime win against Atlanta in which he overcame two horrendous fumbles
• In 2002, he came back from a high ankle sprain to run for 99 yards on 27 carries in what looked like a season saving win over Tampa Bay on a Sunday night.

That was the game where Aaron Brooks hurt his shoulder, and while we didn’t know it then, it was the beginning of the end of the Jim Haslett Era.

During those three years, every time Deuce touched the ball I also leaned forward thinking, “He’s going to go 80 yards and might run over someone.”

I know what you are thinking – that’s all great Ralph, but what makes Deuce the greatest player in Saints history?

Here is why he’s better than Archie Manning, Ricky Jackson, Morten Andersen, Sam Mills, Eric Martin, Joe Horn or any other name you want to throw out – Deuce was huge in big games.

In the 2004 season finale with the Saints needing to beat Carolina to get in the playoffs, Deuce ran for 140 yards. The Saints lost out on tiebreakers and missed the playoffs but Deuce’s performance was incredible. He had a classic Deuce run of 71 yards to set up a score.

The classic Deuce run is when he would break in the open and just start pulling away from defenders but it looked like he wasn’t even going full speed. Almost like he was cruising along and had another gear if he needed.

I mentioned the Tampa game in 2002 but there is one performance that sets Deuce apart from all the other great Saints players – January 13, 2007.

In the biggest game the Saints have ever played in the Superdome, Deuce delivered a masterpiece against the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs.

He rushed 21 times for 143 yards and a touchdown, caught four passes for 20 yards and a score and clinched the game with a clock-killing first down.

The clinching first down in that game is my favorite moment in Saints history. If Hakim dropping the ball was relief for never winning a playoff game and Steve Gleason’s punt block on Monday night was the emotion of the Saints coming home, then the first down clinching against the Eagles was pure joy.

It was people going crazy, hugging, crying and tying to grasp the Saints were one game from the Super Bowl.

Archie Manning never got to playoffs. The Dome Patrol never won anything significant. And Joe Horn was injured during the Saints playoff wins.

Deuce got it done when it counted most and it’s why he’s the greatest Saint ever.

So, just realize what we all might be watching Monday night and appreciate the moment.

This week’s games

Last week: 1-4

Season: 28-26-1

New Orleans (-2.5) vs. Green Bay: The Saints are OK on defense at home, especially against the run. No team has shut down Adrian Peterson like the Saints did. The defense is more than a touchdown better in the Dome. This is good news since the Packers’ Ryan Grant has found his 2007 form and the Green Bay ground game is starting to roll.

If you look at stats, Green Bay is clearly a bad match-up for the Saints. The Packers are great against the pass but can’t stop run and stopping the run never matters against the Saints. The Packers lead the NFL in almost every meaningful pass defense stat, including 16 interceptions.

But I’m picking the Saints for two reasons:

• I think a raucous home crowd helps the defense make a couple big plays.
• The second reason is the Saints are due for a fourth quarter comeback.
  Drew Brees has yet to lead the Saints from behind in the fourth quarter. It’s true. The Saints are 0-16 under Sean Payton when trailing going into the fourth quarter.

Besides, why would I let silly things like facts and statistics get in the way of my truth. It’s time for Drew to work some fourth quarter magic. Saints 31-28

Carolina (+1.5) at Atlanta: Forget catching Carolina for the division. For the Saints to have any hope at the playoffs, the teams directly in front of them need to lose. That means you Atlanta.

Jake Delhomme can’t possibly stink three weeks in row. Exactly. Panthers 23-17

Baltimore (-1) vs. Philadelphia: The only thing funnier than Donovan McNabb not knowing overtime games can end in a tie is all the ‘experts’ defending him.

McNabb not knowing the game could end in a tie sums up the Eagles under Andy Reid perfectly. The bad clock management and total lack of urgency at the end of that Super Bowl make sense now. I guess they thought games go on for infinity.

You know who else didn’t know NFL games can end in a tie? My mom and she has been a Saints season ticket holder for 20 years. The thing is my mom isn’t an NFL quarterback with a $112 million contract. Greatness is in the details. McNabb and Reid ignore them hence the Eagles are average.

Ravens 17-13

Miami (-2.5) vs. New England: If the Dolphins win this game, book them a playoff spot. Why? After this week they play the Rams, Bills, 49ers and Chiefs. That’s like the Ritz Carlton of cupcake schedules. In a month the Dolphins might be 11-4 and be thinking about a first round bye. Who saw that coming?  Dolphins 27-24

Tampa Bay (-8.5) at Detroit: The Lions actually weren’t totally pathetic against the Panthers last week. My friends, the defeated season’s time has arrived. Talk about rough times. Detroit’s automakers are about to go under and their football team is staring football infamy in the face. The Lions head coach Rod Marinelli might become the first coach to start drinking scotch during the post game press conference. Would you blame him? Bucs 34-10

Ralph Malbrough is a Saints fan living in Houston. He can be reached at ralphmalbrough@hotmail.com. He also hosts an internet radio show Sundays after Saints games at http://www.blogtalkradio/forecastradio.com.  You can download archived editions at iTunes.