Deuce Mcallister

NEW ORLEANS -- Setting Deuce loose was more than a crowd-pleasing move by a coach feeling the heat. San Francisco's shaky run defense had trouble stopping Deuce McAllister's power running and the New Orleans Saints stayed out of an early-season hole with a 31-17 victory. The Saints' all-time rusher is playing on two reconstructed knees. It hardly looked that way when he bowled over tacklers for first downs, moved the pile or dived over it for his first touchdown of the season.

New Orleans Saints veterans Deuce McAllister and Will Smith reportedly are among several players who have violated the NFL steroids policy. Fox 31 television in Denver, citing an unnamed source, reported Friday there are between six and 10 positive tests in the NFL for a weight-loss diuretic called Bumetanide. The only names the station mentioned were the two Saints, who are in London for Sunday's game with the San Diego Chargers. ESPN.

New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister is questionable for Sunday's game against Cleveland because of a sprained right ankle. McAllister, the NFC's leading rusher, was injured against Atlanta on Sunday. * Detroit receiver Az-Zahir Hakim will not need surgery for his season-ending hip injury. Hakim was expected to have an MRI exam on his dislocated and fractured left hip Monday. The Lions declined to say when results of the test were expected.

NEW ORLEANS -- Setting Deuce loose was more than a crowd-pleasing move by a coach feeling the heat. San Francisco's shaky run defense had trouble stopping Deuce McAllister's power running and the New Orleans Saints stayed out of an early-season hole with a 31-17 victory. The Saints' all-time rusher is playing on two reconstructed knees. It hardly looked that way when he bowled over tacklers for first downs, moved the pile or dived over it for his first touchdown of the season.

An injured Deuce McAllister entered the game in overtime and scored the winning touchdown on a one-yard run Saturday as Mississippi edged Nevada Las Vegas, 43-40. McAllister, who was not expected to play because of a sprained ankle, gained first downs on two third-down plays to keep the overtime drive alive for Mississippi (5-2). It was Mississippi's 22nd consecutive victory against a nonconference opponent.

Rookie Deuce McAllister doesn't get a lot of chances to touch the ball. He made the most of them Sunday. McAllister threw one pass. Touchdown. He took one handoff. Touchdown. McAllister's two scores and a dominating performance by the New Orleans defense lifted the Saints to a 28-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. "Whenever you get a chance to score," McAllister said, "you've got to take advantage of your opportunities."

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't stopped anybody all season, and Deuce McAllister was no different. The second-year running back rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in 23 carries as the New Orleans Saints held off Pittsburgh, 32-29, Sunday. "It was a very poor defensive effort," Steeler Coach Bill Cowher said. "There were too many big plays. I don't even think they punted until the fourth quarter. I'm very disappointed in how we performed defensively."

Deuce McAllister ran for two touchdowns, and John Carney kicked a 47-yard field goal with three seconds left to lift the Saints to a 23-20 opening win over the Carolina Panthers. The Saints rushed the field to celebrate the kick in their first regular-season game since Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans on Aug. 29. New Orleans opened the game with a businesslike first drive, running McAllister straight at Carolina's line.

Once Deuce McAllister hit his stride, Atlanta's hopes for consecutive victories disappeared. McAllister was held to 20 yards in the first half and had two fumbles, including a critical one in overtime, but he finished with 173 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the Saints' 23-20 overtime victory over the Falcons. His 23-yard run in overtime set up John Carney's 36-yard field goal. "I knew I had no business fumbling that ball," McAllister said. "I should have got it done the first time.

Deuce McAllister did everything but score. The only constant in the New Orleans Saints' season, McAllister ran for 100 yards for the ninth consecutive game Sunday in a 24-20 victory over the Washington Redskins. "You know he's going to get five yards a pop," cornerback Ashley Ambrose said. "Deuce is a man-child. People don't realize how strong he is, how fast he is. We're going to ride him out."

Pro Bowl running back Deuce McAllister will miss the rest of the New Orleans Saints' season after tearing a knee ligament. McAllister, 28, tore his left anterior cruciate ligament and injured his medial meniscus Monday night while attempting to catch a pass in the second quarter of the team's 31-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans. McAllister, who earned Pro Bowl selections after the 2002 and 2003 seasons, missed 11 of 16 games in 2005 with a torn ACL in his right knee.

As the clock ticked down, the New Orleans Saints holding a slim lead, a howling filled the cavernous Superdome. The hometown fans were making it known that they wanted the ball in the hands of running back Deuce McAllister. They bayed his first name, long and low and melodic. The moment couldn't have been sweeter for a six-year veteran who, in this city known as "The Big Easy," has endured hard times. Disappointing seasons. A knee injury. The arrival of a younger, flashier teammate.

Deuce McAllister ran for two touchdowns, and John Carney kicked a 47-yard field goal with three seconds left to lift the Saints to a 23-20 opening win over the Carolina Panthers. The Saints rushed the field to celebrate the kick in their first regular-season game since Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans on Aug. 29. New Orleans opened the game with a businesslike first drive, running McAllister straight at Carolina's line.

Deuce McAllister did everything but score. The only constant in the New Orleans Saints' season, McAllister ran for 100 yards for the ninth consecutive game Sunday in a 24-20 victory over the Washington Redskins. "You know he's going to get five yards a pop," cornerback Ashley Ambrose said. "Deuce is a man-child. People don't realize how strong he is, how fast he is. We're going to ride him out."

Once Deuce McAllister hit his stride, Atlanta's hopes for consecutive victories disappeared. McAllister was held to 20 yards in the first half and had two fumbles, including a critical one in overtime, but he finished with 173 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the Saints' 23-20 overtime victory over the Falcons. His 23-yard run in overtime set up John Carney's 36-yard field goal. "I knew I had no business fumbling that ball," McAllister said. "I should have got it done the first time.

New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister is questionable for Sunday's game against Cleveland because of a sprained right ankle. McAllister, the NFC's leading rusher, was injured against Atlanta on Sunday. * Detroit receiver Az-Zahir Hakim will not need surgery for his season-ending hip injury. Hakim was expected to have an MRI exam on his dislocated and fractured left hip Monday. The Lions declined to say when results of the test were expected.

As the clock ticked down, the New Orleans Saints holding a slim lead, a howling filled the cavernous Superdome. The hometown fans were making it known that they wanted the ball in the hands of running back Deuce McAllister. They bayed his first name, long and low and melodic. The moment couldn't have been sweeter for a six-year veteran who, in this city known as "The Big Easy," has endured hard times. Disappointing seasons. A knee injury. The arrival of a younger, flashier teammate.

New Orleans Saints veterans Deuce McAllister and Will Smith reportedly are among several players who have violated the NFL steroids policy. Fox 31 television in Denver, citing an unnamed source, reported Friday there are between six and 10 positive tests in the NFL for a weight-loss diuretic called Bumetanide. The only names the station mentioned were the two Saints, who are in London for Sunday's game with the San Diego Chargers. ESPN.

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't stopped anybody all season, and Deuce McAllister was no different. The second-year running back rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in 23 carries as the New Orleans Saints held off Pittsburgh, 32-29, Sunday. "It was a very poor defensive effort," Steeler Coach Bill Cowher said. "There were too many big plays. I don't even think they punted until the fourth quarter. I'm very disappointed in how we performed defensively."

Rookie Deuce McAllister doesn't get a lot of chances to touch the ball. He made the most of them Sunday. McAllister threw one pass. Touchdown. He took one handoff. Touchdown. McAllister's two scores and a dominating performance by the New Orleans defense lifted the Saints to a 28-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. "Whenever you get a chance to score," McAllister said, "you've got to take advantage of your opportunities."