No. 16 has been a dreadful number since Saints legend retired

The New Orleans Saints are 16 days away from their first game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals. We continue the countdown to kickoff with a look at the unfortunate history of the number 16 with the Saints. Lance Moore is the only player who fans have fond memories with in the jersey recently. 

There are some players you could point to that had success before Moore. He’s been the best guy in at least recent memory, and certainly the last one to make substantial contributions. 

Bub Means currently wears the jersey but he was placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury against the Chargers in the preseason opener. There was some high hopes for Means, but he wasn’t living up to them prior to the injury. 

Lance Moore is a great Saints success story

Means isn’t alone. That number has only resulted in disappointment since Moore retired. There have been three players on the Saints regular season roster with No. 16 since Moore left in 2013: Brandon Coleman, Ian Book and now Means. 

Ian Book. Yikes! There weren’t many expectations for Book, but his one start was pretty memorable in the worst way. Granted, the circumstances were less than favorable. It was still a game that sticks with Saints fans. 

Then you look at the other wide receivers, Coleman and Means. They weren’t first round busts but it did feel like fans were looking for more out of them. As mentioned earlier, fans were ready for Means to ascend in Year 2 as a bigger receiver for the Saints. That didn’t happen. 

Speaking of big receivers, Brandon Coleman  had a multi-year run, but just never elevated to one of the Saints’ top receiving threats. He was big but never a towering presence. 

Comparing these young guys to Moore wouldn’t be fair. He's a great success story. Going from an undrafted free agent, Moore is the ninth all time l