Horn, 38, is the only player in club record books to have more than 75 receptions in five straight seasons, including tying for the NFC lead in 2004 with 94 catches.

"Since he arrived here in 2000, Joe made a significant impact on our team in and off the field," said owner Tom Benson. "In addition to being one of the top players of all-time with the Saints, he was always generous with his time to youth and those less fortunate in our community. I am proud that Joe will retire as a member of the Saints family."

"Joe's accomplishments throughout his NFL career were tremendous," said Saints coach Sean Payton. "He was one of the most productive wide receivers in the NFL during the period in which he played. For the time I worked with him he was a big part of us building up to where we reached the NFC Championship in 2006."

Joe was named to four Pro Bowls in his seven seasons with the Saints. Only tackle Willie Road (7), linebacker Rickey Jackson (6) and kicker Morten Andersen (6) have been named to more Pro Bowls   Horn is tied with linebackers Vaughn Johnson, Sam Mills and Pat Swlling with four Pro Bowls. This past spring he was elected into the Saints Hall of Fame and will be recognized and inducted on the field prior to a home game this season.

SOME HITHER,OTHERS YON: Former Saints backup quarterback Mark Brunell is the latest NFL player to fall upon hard  financial times. Two years after retirement, 78 per cent of former players are divorced, bankrupt or unemployed. "I don't think this a reflection on Mark as q person," said former Jaguars punter who was a teammate of Brunell's with the Jaguars. "Mark is a great guy and he's smart and he'll recover from this. This isn't a case where a player didn't do much for five years after he retired and spent all his money. He got involved in an investment strategy at exactly the wrong time." Brunell filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization last Friday. He has made about $52 million in his 17-year career...

The Saints have drafted five Heisman Trophy winners in their history.

No matter how much you research, you will come up with only four names: George Rogers (1982),Danny Wuerffel (1997), Ricky Williams (1998) and Reggie Bush (2005).

So who is the fifth Heisman Trophy winner drafted by the Saints?

Packer legend and Hall-of-Famer Paul Hornung was in the expansion daft when the Saints came into the NFL.

by Ed Staton