Best Saints By The Numbers: #86

All summer long, we’re going to list the best players in New Orleans Saints history to wear every number, 00-99.

Yesterday, we did #85.

Today, #86:

The pick: Jeff Groth

When deciding who is the best New Orleans Saints player to ever wear #86, the choice is limited to defensive end Dan Colchio, receivers Tom Hall, Creston Whitaker, Jubilee Dunbar, Dave Davis, Richard Williams, Melvin Baker, Dave Davis, Tom Donovan, Rich Martini, Jeff Groth, Mike Jones, Victor Harrison, Rod Harris, Gerald Alphin, Patrick Newman, Louis Lipps, Marcus Dowdell, Gunnard Twyner, Sean Dawkins, Jake Reed, and Onome Ojo, and tight ends James Thaxton, Rich Caster, Cliff BEnson, Kirk Botkin, Tony Johnson, Kendall Gammon, Walter Rasby, Zach Hilton, John Owens, Buck Ortega.

This one isn't easy, as 20 of the group above only wore the number for one year, while nine others only wore it for two years.

By process of elimination, our selection is going to be Groth, a receiver, who played for the Saints for 5 years, from 1981-1985, although he wore #86 for only his final four seasons.

After playing his college football at Bowling Green, Groth was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the eighth round of the 1979 NFL Draft.

A native of Mankato, Minnesota, Groth spent the 1979 season with the Dolphins and the Houston Oilers, and the 1980 season with the Oilers, compiling 6 receptions for 59 yards, before joining his former Houston coach, Bum Phillips, and the Saints, in time for the 1981 season.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Groth was a starter in four of his five years with the Saints, and led all wide-outs in receptions three times, including 1985, his most productive year, when he caught 49 passes for 585 yards.

Groth, who was selected in the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers, retired following the 1985 season.

In 5 season with the Saints, Groth finished with 147 catches for 2,073 yards and 5 touchdowns.

In 7 NFL seasons, Groth compiled 152 catches for 2,126 yards and 5 touchdowns.