Best Saints By The Numbers: #88

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 #87.

Today, #88:

The pick: Jeremy Shockey

When deciding who is the best New Orleans Saints player to ever wear #88, the choice is limited to defensive back Ben Hart, defensive end Andy Dorris, tight ends Brooks Williams, Don Bass, Mike Waters, Hendrick Lusk, David Sloan, and Jeremy Shockey, and receivers Dave Szymakowski, Fred Hyatt, Joel Parker, Eugene Goodlow, Mark Pattison, Floyd Turner, Derrell Mitchell, Andre Hastings, Willie Jackson, Talman Gardner, Nick Toon, and Nate Poole.

Our selection is going to be Shockey, a tight end, who played for the Saints for 3 years, from 2008-2010.

After playing his college football at Miami, Fla., Shockey was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

A native of Ada, Oklahoma, Shockey spent the first six years of his career, compiling 371 catches for 4,228 yards and 27 touchdowns, while being named to the Pro Bowl four times.

The 6-foot-5, 253-pound Shockey was traded to the Saints prior to the 2008 season and made an immediate impact, catching 50 passes for 483 yards in 2008, before catching 48 more passes for 569 yards and three touchdowns in 2009, as part of a Super Bowl winning team.

Shockey went on to catch 41 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns in 2010, his final year with the franchise.

Following the 2010 season, Shockey left the Saints, and signed with the Carolina Panthers, with whom he played for one season, prior to retiring following the 2011 campaign.

In 3 seasons with the Saints, Shockey totaled 139 receptions for 1.640 yards and 6 touchdowns.

In 10 NFL seasons, Shockey finished with 547 catches for 6,143 yards and 37 touchdowns.