Whitney Paul, a former New Orleans Saints linebacker from 1982-85, died on Dec. 3 in Houston, Texas. He was 72. Paul, who crafted an 11-year NFL career that began as a 10^th-round draft pick by the Chiefs (No. 277 overall) in 1976, made his way via trade to New Orleans in 1982, and concluded with Kansas City in 1986.

It wasn't until after New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Jim Wilks and linebacker Whitney Paul finished playing in the NFL, and reconnected in Houston as retirees, that Wilks learned his former teammate was a star track and field athlete in high school.

Paul was even preparing to train for the 1976 Olympic decathlon and pentathlon, before being informed by Colorado coach Eddie Crowder that football had to be his priority or he would risk losing his scholarship.

That turned out to be sound guidance for Paul, who totaled 23 of his career 47 sacks with the Saints, including a career-high 9.5 in 1984. Overall, he started 111 of 155 games (39 starts in 55 games as a Saint), intercepted eight passes (three with New Orleans), forced eight fumbles (four with the Saints), recovered 10 fumbles (all with the Chiefs) and returned two for touchdowns.

Wilks, the Saints' 12^th-round pick in 1981 (No. 305 overall) who spent his 13-year career as a Saint, and Paul were teammates for four seasons. Paul was a six-year veteran when he was traded to New Orleans, to play on the same side of the defense as the second-year defensive lineman.

"He was a tenacious teammate," Wilks said. "We played next to each other and he always had my back on the field. He was well-seasoned; he just helped me get through my early years with the team. He was a hell of a player.

"We had him on one side and (Pro Football Hall of Famer) Rickey Jackson on the other side. He came in before Pat Swilling, but he was just as good a player. And he was just as good a person as a player. He had a big heart.

"I moved to Houston after I finished playing and we hooked up again. We'd play golf maybe once or twice a week, he was just as good a golfer as he was a football player. He was a real good guy, kind of quiet and kept to himself. He was 'that' guy."

Wilks said Paul helped mentor him into becoming a better professional.

"He would try to make sure that, as a young guy, you knew how to study film, how to look at the guy you were playing against and how to beat him," Wilks said. "Just how to be a good teammate."