Rumors of Cam Jordan’s demise were greatly exaggerated

After what we saw in the first half of the season, are you surprised?

Some would say New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan resurrected his season, coming back from being nearly dead as an NFL player.

May I remind you that the season is 17 games long?

The ultimate iron man, Jordan missed the first game of his career due to COVID-19 issues a couple of weeks ago against the New York Jets.

In his 11th season in the league at the age of 32, the questions, which were murmurs, became screams.

Through the first five games of the 2021 season, Jordan had 18 total tackles, just three tackles for loss and no sacks.

For that matter, through his first 12 games, Jordan had just 38 total tackles, only six tackles for loss and four sacks.

It did not help that Marcus Davenport missed five games on the other side, which allowed some defenses to concentrate their efforts on containing Jordan. With Davenport on the field, Jordan is a more efficient player.

Then, miraculously, Jordan discovered the fountain of youth, if you are of that mindset.

Rumors of Jordan’s demise proved to be great exaggerated, fake news.

In his last three games, has 19 tackles, six tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, doubling his output of the first 12 games in just three games.

In the 9-0 win at Tampa Bay, Jordan earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance which featured five solo tackles, including two for loss, along with two sacks and a forced fumble.

Against Carolina Sunday in an 18-10 victory, Jordan was in on eight tackles, three tackles for loss and 3 ½ sacks. We should see another honor coming his way shortly, right?

With one game remaining, Jordan is at 57 combined tackles, including 12 for loss and 11.5 sacks.

When many felt the decline in his brilliant career was starting a year ago, Jordan finished with 51 tackles, including 11 for loss with 7.5 sacks.

As the productivity (or lack of) continued for much of this season, most were ready to anoint Jordan with eventual honors to come, including the Saints Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor down the road.

With his huge, infectious personality and huge, infectious playing style, Jordan proved the naysayers to be off the mark.

Make that well off the mark, as the numbers would suggest.

Jordan is now at 106 sacks, second all-time in franchise history to the great “City Champ,” Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Rickey Jackson, who totaled 123 sacks.

It is now realistic to believe that Jordan can reach and possibly eclipse that magical mark in franchise history.

Jordan’s work ethic and durability clearly give him that chance.

In 10 previous seasons, Jordan averaged 49.5 tackles, 12.4 tackles for loss and 9.4 sacks in 16-game seasons.

Despite missing a game this season, Jordan has matched every metric and already exceeded those in two of the three categories in 2021.

Jordan is heading to the Pro Bowl once again, for the seventh time in his career.

Jordan was named first team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2017 and earned the same honors by the Pro Football Writers and The Sporting News.

Off the field, Jordan is a finalist for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.

Jordan is the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.

Simply put, Jordan is as good a person as there is on the current New Orleans Saints and one of the best players in franchise history.

It does not take long to call the roll.

There were Drew Brees, Jackson, Morten Andersen, Willie Roaf, Sam Mills, Vaughan Johnson, Pat Swilling and Jahri Evans.

On the way are the likes of Alvin Kamara, Demario Davis and Marshon Lattimore.

Michael Thomas could be that guy if he ever comes back and plays to his previous excellent level. The same is true of Ryan Ramczyk.

Jimmy Graham, Joe Horn, Deuce McAllister, Marques Colston were all really good, as is Terron Armstead now, when he is on the field, which is not enough, unfortunately.

Players like Dave Waymer, Wayne Martin, Will Smith, Derland Moore, Jim Wilks, Frank Warren, Eric Martin, Tommy Myers, Mark Ingram, Will Smith and Fred McAfee (special teams) were consistently good over long careers in New Orleans. Archie Manning did not have the numbers but when he was surrounded by good players, he was very good.

Jordan has now tied Roaf for the second most Pro Bowl selections in franchise history.

Being around the Saints since starting in the business in 1978, there have been several outstanding players who were really good guys.

That includes Danny Abramowicz, Brees, Davis, Hokie Gajan, Kamara, Jake Kupp, Manning, McAllister, Martin, McAfee, Lance Moore, Derland Moore, Myers and Wilks, among others.

Jordan is on that list and on it prominently.

Jordan is already a top 10 player in New Orleans Saints history and, based on what we have seen recently, he still has game, with plenty left in the tank. Jordan is al all-time great in black and gold annuls.

That is good news for New Orleans Saints fans and it couldn’t happen to a better guy.