Best Saints By The Numbers: #37

All summer long, we’re going to list the best players in New Orleans Saints history to wear every number, 00-99.

Yesterday, we did #36.

Today, #37:

The pick: Tommy Myers

When deciding who is the best New Orleans Saints player to ever wear #37, the choice is limited to running backs Mel Gray and Dino Philyaw, linebacker Steve Stonebreaker, and defensive backs Tommy Myers, Bennie Thompson, Jimmy Spncer, Je'Rod Cherry, Chad Cota, Todd Franz, Terrence Frederick, and Steve Gleason.

If you're a Saints fan, you have to have a soft spot in your heart for Gleason, who blocked the punt against the Falcons on Monday Night Football in 2006, in the first game back at the Superdome for the Saints following Hurrican Katrina.

Of course, if you're just a human being, your heart goes out to Gleason, in his battle with ALS.

The pick, however, is going to be Myers, a safety who played 10 years for the Saints, from 1972-1981.

The Saints chose Myers with the 74th pick of the 3rd round in the 1972 NFL Draft. He quickly became a fixture for the defense, going on to play in 136 games, while starting 120.

In his ten seasons, Myers compiled 36 interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, while recovering 15 fumbles, of which he returned two for scores.

Myers’ best season was 1979, when he was also named to the Pro Bowl, as well as being named All-Pro, becoming the first player in team history to be named first team All-Pro.

Myers played for the Saints, and only the Saints, during his 10-year NFL career, retiring after the 1981 season.

The Saints weren’t very good in the time that Myers played, compiling an overall record of 41-106-1, but no one could blame the now 64-year old native of Cohoes, New York, who is a member of the Saints Hall of Fame.