Gene Atkins didn’t acquire the nickname “Mean Gene” for no reason. Atkins played with an edge, and a rather sharp one at that, during a successful seven-year stay in New Orleans. Patrolling the back ...

Gene Atkins — "Mean Gene" as he was called — was a hard-hitting safety and kick returner who played 10 years in the NFL in the late 1980s and early '90s. The Saints made him a seventh-round draft pick ...

Editor's note: We're counting down to the Saints' Sept. 10 season opener against the Tennessee Titans with a look at the greatest Saints at each number from The Advocate book "Saints By The Numbers." ...