Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the North Texas Mean Green?

From May 1 until the start of the 2016 NFL season on September 11, we’re going to list the best players that the Saints ever drafted from all 128 FBS schools, as of 2015.

Of course, there are a number of schools, including Air Force, Appalachian St., Arizona, Army, Baylor, Boise St., Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Florida, Central Michigan, East Carolina, FAU, FIU, Hawaii, ULM, Miami (Ohio), Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Navy, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico St., and South Alabama, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

Yesterday, we looked at the best player the Saints ever drafted from North Carolina St.

Today, we spotlight the best player the Saints ever drafted from North Texas.

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from North Texas, the choice is defensive tackle Tony Elliott (1982), defensive back Kim Phillips (1989), and quarterback Steve Ramsey (1970).

The choice is going to be Elliott, a defensive tackle, who played 7 years for the Saints, from 1982-1988.

A native of New York, New York, Elliott was a 4-year starter for the organization, from 1985-1988.

Elliott’s best season was 1983, when he accumulated 5.5 sacks in only 12 games.

At 6-foot-2, and 282 pounds, with outstanding athletic ability, Elliott, who wore #99, had his moments of greatness, but he also had some personal demons, which curtailed his career.

Elliott signed with Wisconsin after playing high school football in Bridgeport, Connecticut , but transferred, moving on to North Texas, where his finished up his college playing days.

In 7 NFL seasons, all with the Saints, covering 84 games, Elliott compiled 13 sacks from his nose guard position.

Elliott suffered from a drug addiction in the NFL, something that likely kept him from reaching his potential.

After his playing days, Elliott continued to battle his personal issues, and in 2000 was shot by a reported drug dealer. Elliott survived, but was left paralyzed from the waist down.

On December 31, 2007 Elliott, who was restricted to a wheelchair, while also suffering from congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and diabetes, died at the age of 48

The talented Elliott certainly had some good moments on the field, but despite his issues, he had some positive moments off the field, as well. During his years with the Saints, Elliott funded an annual scholarship given to college-bound athletes at his Connecticut high school who excelled in academics, and he often spoke to youths about the dangers of drugs.

Most Saints fans, however, will remember Elliott as the guy who signed his contract, and then went back home to Connecticut, went on a cocaine binge, and blew his $14,000 signing bonus.

Elliott was a player that had some good games, and some good years with the Saints. Sadly, however, drugs probably kept him from having had a better career, and certainly kept him from having a longer, more productive life.

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