Deuce McAllister, beloved running back icon for the New Orleans Saints football team, will be returning to the organization, but in a slightly different manner than he or his fans will remember. McAllister retired after his final season in 2010, but fans around the league still remember his name and the echoes of “Deuce, Deuce, Deuce” that would echo throughout the stadium almost every time he touched the ball. Those echoes might be returning to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome when the famed Saints running back joins their long-time main commentator, Jim Henderson, in the Saints’ radio booth.
Hokie Gajan, the previous color analyst, which is essentially the backup commentator, passed away from cancer in April. Shortly after, McAllister was asked to try taking over the position Gajan held, and he meshed perfectly with Jim Henderson. Their chemistry and knowledge of the game worked well, and they formed a great commentating team. Because of his early success as Gajan’s temporary replacement, it was announced on Wednesday, June 15, that McAllister will be joining Jim Henderson as the Saints’ permanent color analyst.
Henderson has praised McAllister's “great depth of knowledge” of the game, which not all players actually possess. Every good player will know as much as possible about their respective position and all the ins and outs of it, but only the truly great players will have a deep knowledge of the game as a whole, and everything that goes into every play, every position, and every situation. Not only does he seem to have an extensive knowledge of the game, but Henderson has also voiced his comfort level with McAllister, and the fact that the two seem to have some great chemistry in the booth.
Saints fans, rejoice. Deuce is back. The third down battering ram won’t be churning his legs through defenders, arm wrapped tightly around the football, but we will still hear his voice in the broadcast booth and remember his days of glory on the field, while hearing his new days of glory off the field. These two ex-Saints running backs commentating in the booth together should be interesting.
