Best Saints By The Numbers: #40

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 #39.

Today, #40:

The pick: Robert Massey

When deciding who is the best New Orleans Saints player to ever wear #39, the choice is limited to running backs Earl Gros, Hoyle Granger, Dalton Hilliard, Wes Binder, Marvin Powell, Mike Bell, Brian Leonard, and Brian Milne, defensive backs Terry Schmidt, Jim Marsalis, Robert Massey, Mel Mitchell, and Michael Adams, and tight end Greg Knafelc.

This is a really difficult one, due to the fact that very few starters ever wore the number, much less standouts.

Really, you can make an argument for Hilliard, who we named as the best #21 that the Saints ever had. But he wore the number for only one year, and despite his five touchdowns, didn't do enough while wearing that number for only the one season.

The pick, even if he doesn't jump right out at you, is going to be Massey, a defensive back who played two years for the Saints, from 1989-1990. After all, he's the only two-year starter to wear the number.

After concluding his college career at North Carolina Central, Massey was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft..

A starting cornerback for two seasons, Massey compiled five interceptions, all in his rookie season.

After Massey left the Saints following the 1990 season, he spent three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, two with the Detroit Lions, one with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and one with the New York Giants, prior to retiring following the 1997 season.

A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Massey accumulated 403 tackles and 14 interceptions during his nine NFL seasons.

In parts of 13 NFL seasons, Massey compiled 556 tackles, while picking off 23 passes.

Massey is currently the head football coach at Shaw University.