By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Saints runningback Deuce McAllister. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Deuce McAllister has made the New Orleans Saints look brilliant. In only his second season, McAllister earned a Pro Bowl selection by rushing for 1,245 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Three of his 45 pass receptions also have gone for touchdowns.

Even though he had just 91 rushing yards as a rookie, McAllister inherited the Saints' featured back position when they traded Ricky Williams to the Miami Dolphins for first- and fourth-round picks in 2002 and a conditional third-round pick in 2003.

The value of the remaining pick has increased because of Williams' performance.

When Williams passed 1,500 rushing yards - he has 1,601 going into the Dolphins' game today at Minnesota - the third-round pick originally accepted by New Orleans in March jumped to a first-rounder.

"Obviously, we're happy," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.

New Orleans now has two-first round picks, its second-rounder and a pair in the third round.

"We felt this was a possibility when we made this trade in March," Loomis said. "It's one of those trades that seem to be a win-win situation for both teams."

Draft picks aside, the trade wouldn't have been such a success for the Saints had McAllister not produced at a high level.

McAllister, New Orleans' first-round pick in 2001 from the University of Mississippi, spent most of his rookie season returning kickoffs.

His attitude is the same, regardless of the job.

"I just go out and play," McAllister said. "Whether it's Ricky Williams you're replacing or Barry Sanders, every guy in this league isn't going to play with the same team more than likely. Not with the way free agency is and with the ways teams are making trades.

"Everybody can be replaced by somebody, I just happen to be the guy in line. My job didn't change. I'm just going to play."

McAllister is part of a big-play New Orleans offense, the second-highest scoring team in the league at 29.5 points a game.

The Saints' offense has recorded 100 plays of 15 yards or more, including 25 of at least 30 yards. It has 16 plays of 40 or more yards.

McAllister has 22 plays of 15 or more yards - six for touchdowns. He has nine runs of 20 or more yards, two for touchdowns.

McAllister has put up big numbers even though he missed Game 11 against the Cleveland Browns with a sprained ankle.

Missing that game has become a sore spot for McAllister because of comments Williams made Dec. 9 on national TV after the Dolphins' drubbing of the Chicago Bears.

ABC sideline reporter Melissa Stark asked Williams how many yards he thought he could rush for this season.

Said Williams: "I don't know, as long as I rush for more than Deuce McAllister."

McAllister, known for his laid-back personality, took offense to Williams' comment and fired back two days later.

"That was a personal jab," he said. "For Ricky to say that was very unexpected. I haven't taken any jabs or shots at him in the media. It's a step back for me. It's a battle between (us) now. He's taking a jab at me on a national stage, Monday Night Football. It wasn't like he just called me up on the phone and was kidding. It was personal. It was like he called me out. At least, that's the way I took it as.

"It's going to serve as motivation for me through the offseason. It's a challenge to me, and I gladly accept it. I wish he had said it about two weeks ago. I definitely wouldn't have let (coach) Jim (Haslett) sit me down against Cleveland."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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