The New Orleans Saints have gone looking for talent north of the border on many occasions: Defensive tackle David Onyemata studied at the University of Manitoba, while former Saints lineman and current Chicago Bears star Akiem Hicks was drafted out of the University of Regina in Saskatchewan. Onetime Saints pass rushers Victor Butler and Davis Tull have also been making plays in the Canadian Football League.
But most noteworthy are the players who stood out at the Canadian pro level, made their NFL debut with New Orleans, and returned across the border. Two of those former Saints made the CFL’s list of the top 20 players to watch in their divisional playoff round:
Delvin Breaux’s return was certainly welcome for the (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), who dominated the Lions from start to finish in the Eastern Semi-Final.