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"I hugged him and started crying," Karney said, taking a deep breath. "It's tough to see a great guy, first and foremost, a great player, have to suffer another season-ending injury ... He's the best I've been around. It's sad. It's hard to take ... I play the game for guys like him."

Mike Karney has taken years of abuse on behalf of Deuce McAllister, and the fact that he's this shaken up about the news of McAllister's torn ACL speaks a lot about the man he blocked for. Deuce is everything you could ask for in a player -- team-first, approachable, a genuinely good guy, an active member of the community -- and his injury, more than the Saints' abysmal start, has me sad. Deuce is my favorite Saint. Unfortunately, after his second ACL tear in three years, it looks as if he'll become my favorite ex-Saint.

There had been rumors about Deuce's demise since the team drafted Reggie Bush -- talks that intensified when they drafted Antonio Pittman in April. With two reconstructed knees, and looking completely ineffective in the three games he did play this season, it's dubious to believe that Deuce could once again be a feature back, especially since this latest setback will push his recovery into next year's training camp. He's said he wants to be a career Saint, but if the team chooses to release him at 28, and he feels he can still play, it's hard not to picture him signing somewhere else. And rightfully so.

Then again, McAllister is still young enough, and his contract for next year, $3.6 million, is palatable. He's also the type of guy who can overcome this on will and determination alone -- see the run against the Eagles last year in which Deuce met first contact at the 10 and carried all 11 Eagles into the end zone.

The one thing that's for sure is that losing McAllister this year is a major blow to the Saints, both on the field and in the locker room. If this was McAllister's last year as a Saint, it'd be a very sad development. Deuce, more than anyone, is the type of player who deserves to end his career in New Orleans hoisting the Lombardi, on his terms. I'm holding out hope that's still possible.