Ranking every 1,000 yard rushing season in Saints history

#2 Saints 1,000 yard rushing season: George Rogers - 1981

Let the controversy begin.

In 1981, the Saints selected Heisman Trophy running back George Rogers with the number one overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft that they were awarded for finishing 1-15 in 1980. They received a positive return on their investment immediately. Well, from the standpoint of Rogers the individual at least. The team still went 4-12 that year.

Anyway, this would be the year that Saints fans would see the most yards ever rushed by a player in a Saints uniform for one season. Rogers would finish his rookie campaign, for a pretty dreadful Saints team consistently playing from behind mind you, with 1,674 yards and 13 touchdowns on 378 carries. The 378 carries are still the most ever by a Saints back.

Rogers would go on to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, would receive four votes for Offensive PLAYER of the Year, and even an MVP vote for his efforts. So with all of that why is Rogers' 1981 season only ranked at the deuce on our list?

There's a couple of things. The first, is the fact that the Saints took Rogers instead of Lawrence Taylor. We know that isn't fair, but it has to be said. (If you want to see how things would have panned out had they taken LT go here). The second, and perhaps most fair, is that Rogers also fumbled 13 times that year to match his 13 touchdowns. That is the most ever by a Saints ball-carrier, and second-most ever in the history of the franchise, behind Aaron Brooks' 14 in 2003.

It may be up for debate, but that's where we are. Rogers was just shy of a 2003 season in fumbles, and in our list. So who did he finish behind while he sits at the DEUCE?...