This is dedicated to the late Elvin Reed.
My name is Tommy Gahn Jr. I was a private investigator whose specialty was being a Saints historian. I had just returned from the big house because my secretary left a note for me to drop my pants at the cleaners.
It was a slow day, then she walked in. We couldn’t deny the attraction, couldn’t confirm it either. I asked, “What do you need?” She said, “I wanted to know about the curse.”
“What curse,” I asked.
She replied, “Why can’t the Saints draft a good player in round six?”
It would be my toughest case to crack.
Guard Terry Stieve was the first player drafted in the sixth round in the team’s 10th draft that became a starter. He was traded to the Cardinals with defensive end Bob Pollard for receiver Ike Harris and one of the dirtiest players, guard Conrad Dobler. The trade helped the Saints improve immediately, and New Orleans almost made the playoffs in 1979.
In 1981, the team’s best draft ever, cornerback Johnnie Poe and linebacker Glenn Redd were nabbed in the sixth round, and both players became starters. Also, in the sixth round, Hall of Fame General Manager Jim Finks drafted receiver Floyd Turner of Northwestern Louisiana, who became a starter in 1989. The following year, New Orleans selected a pair of valuable reserves in quarterback Mike Buck and linebacker James Williams.
In 1991, the Saints didn’t have a full allotment of draft picks as they made a Lawrence Welk trade with Dallas. They gave up a first, second, and third round pick to the Cowboys for quarterback Steve Walsh. This trade helped Dallas win three Super Bowls in four years. Fortunately, the Saints were able to draft “fast” Fred McAfee in round six. He was the Saints’ leading rusher his rookie season and a superb special teams player. McAfee was the only player who played on the first three division titles for the Saints.
In 1998, the Saints drafted linebacker Chris Bordano, and he was traded to the Cowboys for cornerback Kevin Mathis. Mathis helped the Saints win the division in 2000.
The Saints had a chance to alter history. They had three picks in the sixth round. New Orleans picked quarterback Mark Bulger instead of Tom Brady with their first pick in round six. The Saints selected cornerback Michael Hawthorne with Tom Brady still on the board. The Patriots grabbed Tom Brady with the 199th pick in round six. The Saints may have won several Super Bowls if they had drafted Brady. The 2011 and 2018 teams come to mind.
From 2001 to 2020, only one player made the team. Boston Scott of Louisiana Tech was picked in the sixth round in 2018.
Now you know the rest of the story.
Thomas Gahn Jr.