Willie Roaf to go in HOF as a Saint

[Splat]

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs...=2007706100338

Roaf didn't finish his career with the Saints, but he spent the first nine years of his NFL career in New Orleans.

He understands his place in team history. Roaf will be the first Pro Football Hall of Famer inductee who spent the bulk of his playing career with the Saints.

"It will be special for New Orleans fans," Roaf said. "I'll go into the Hall of Fame as a Saint. There are no Saints in the Hall of Fame, so it will be great."

Even as a Chiefs fan I'm fine with it he played nine years with the Saints they drafted him and it is his home town.

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

Letting Willie Roaf go was one of the dumbest things the franchise has ever done. I'm really glad he doesn't have any hard feelings.

[Woody56]

My favorite OT of all time. Easily one of the best LT's ever.

[Splat]

Letting Willie Roaf go was one of the dumbest things the franchise has ever done. I'm really glad he doesn't have any hard feelings.

I believe it was for only a 3rd round pick which makes it even dumber.

[CC.SD]

Makes sense. I'm glad he's not a Chief anymore, which is a compliment BTW.

[HoopsDemon12]

he was one hell of a player... gonna be great that he gets inducted as a saint

[BPhilb]

I really believe that he is the best LT of all time. Which team he goes in for is irrelavent to me, but I know getting to watch him in KC was special.

[Auron]

Letting Willie Roaf go was one of the dumbest things the franchise has ever done. I'm really glad he doesn't have any hard feelings.

Most definitely.

Not something I like to go back on at all but the Haslett regime really ran this team into the ground. I can't find the exact quote but I remember Roaf stating He would rather retire than play for a Jim Haslett team again.

New Orleans would like to deal Roaf, and the seven-time Pro Bowl selection has said he will retire rather than return to play for Saints head coach Jim Haslett, with whom he has a deteriorating relationship.

I've never seen a coach have so little control over a team, his teams always collapsed down the stretch, and almost always were in the top of the league in penalties. His philosophy of bringing in athletes with great measurables but paying no heed to intelligence, and character was terrible. Which led to losing veteran leaders with great intangibles like Roaf, Sammy Knight, La'Roi Glover, and replacing them with athletes or just flat out unmotivated players like Tebucky Jones, Grady Jackson, Dale Carter, Albert Connell, and the massive mistake Johnathan Sullivan.

I remember in 2001 the team was 7-5 and had to win 2 of their final 3 games 2 of which were non playoff teams and they lost all three games. and then again in 2002 where they started 7-2 and failed to make the playoffs, losing their last 3 games, Haslett stuck with an injured Aaron Brooks starting rather than playing Delhomme.

I think I'm going to make myself sick. :( Very glad that Willie is going in as a Saint, and upset over how his tenure ended here.

[Flyboy]

I remember in 2001 the team was 7-5 and had to win 2 of their final 3 games 2 of which were non playoff teams and they lost all three games. and then again in 2002 where they started 7-2 and failed to make the playoffs, losing their last 3 games, Haslett stuck with an injured Aaron Brooks starting rather than playing Delhomme.

I believe the 2001 year was when I seriously started watching football and saw something in the Saints that I liked. Then, we lost those last two games (one was to the WINLESS Bengals, I believe) and was like, "Wow. This team really sucks but this is the team I'm staying with." Been on board ever since.

[Geo]

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs...=2007706100338

Roaf didn't finish his career with the Saints, but he spent the first nine years of his NFL career in New Orleans.

He understands his place in team history. Roaf will be the first Pro Football Hall of Famer inductee who spent the bulk of his playing career with the Saints.

"It will be special for New Orleans fans," Roaf said. "I'll go into the Hall of Fame as a Saint. There are no Saints in the Hall of Fame, so it will be great."

Even as a Chiefs fan I'm fine with it he played nine years with the Saints they drafted him and it is his home town.

Letting Willie Roaf go was one of the dumbest things the franchise has ever done. I'm really glad he doesn't have any hard feelings.

To all of the above, I say: well said.

Also, Haslett was a disaster of a head coach. Even if he did manage to get the Saints to the playoffs for one year, with Aaron Brooks as his quarterback.

[Jay]

Is this really as big a deal as it is in baseball? Matter of fact, isn't baseball the only sport you really "go in as" a member of a certain team? Just curious, I've never heard anyone make a big deal about it in any other sport...

[saintsfan912]

I love it! Willie was IMO the best LT to ever play the game. Unbelievable player and person. The day Haslett let him go over big mouth Horn is the day I started hating Haslett. I'm just excited we finally get a Hall Of Fame member, even though there will be plenty to come.

[jbeans187]

This might sound dumb but i had no idea he ever played for the Saints. Was he a good player there or did he get better when he joined the Chiefs?

[saintsfan912]

Have you just started watching football or something? He was a pro bowler multiple times as a Saint. The face of the organization for years. He was drafted by the Saints in the 1st round out of Louisiana Tech.

[jbeans187]

Im more of a college football guy but WOW!!! I didnt know