There are 69 days between us and the start of the New Orleans Saints’ regular season, which means this 69-yard touchdown from Lorenzo Neal is the Saints Play of the Day. You can see the play here for yourself, and you should, because it’s as impressive as a 69-yard touchdown catch for a fullback could be.
Neal helped the Saints pull away in their road game with the New England Patriots; to this point they had been tied up at 17-17, but he finally gave New Orleans an edge. A 66-yard touchdown run by his teammate Mario Bates sealed the win a few minutes later. But on this play, it was blocking from Saints receivers at the second level that made all the difference. A couple of big efforts were enough to spring Neal into the open field, and a last-second block from wide receiver Michael Haynes was enough to clear the way for Neal in the final stretch.
Talk about a difference-maker. The Saints won this game 31-17, and Neal endeared himself to fans for showing such a great effort when given an opportunity. He finished his career with 204 receptions but did so while playing in 250 games (including the playoffs). Imagine what he could have done in today’s pass-happy league?
But it wouldn’t be until much later in his career that he would be recognized more widely for his talents. Neal changed teams often from 1996, his last year in New Orleans, until 2003, when he settled in with the San Diego Chargers (and, as fate had it, a young Drew Brees). But he earned three of his four Pro Bowl nods with San Diego and was recognized as an All-Pro, too. But Saints fans knew what kind of player he was already.