Tim Hightower To Re-sign With New Orleans Saints
Running back Tim Hightower will re-sign with the New Orleans Saints, as reported by the Times-Picayune. The initial terms of a new contract, yet to be disclosed, have been agreed upon.
Hightower’s story is one of persistence. Tim tore his ACL in 2011, after rushing for 321 yards in five games for the Washington Redskins. His injury became complicated. Infections in the knee necessitated follow-up surgeries in the coming years.
Hightower made it his goal to come back from the torn ACL and took a determined attitude in achieving his intention, as quoted at the NFL website.
“‘When I went down, I wrote down on a sheet of paper that this wouldn’t be the end for me,’ Hightower explained last February, after signing a futures contract with New Orleans. ‘… It was a long process. But I don’t think I ever stopped training. I don’t think I ever stopped working toward this goal'”
When the New Orleans Saints decided not to re-sign running back Khiry Robinson, Hightower’s signing became likely, as reported by ESPN. Hightower will likely slot into the Saints backfield behind starter Mark Ingram.
Tim Hightower’s career began in 2008 when he was drafted in the fifth round by the Arizona Cardinals out of the University of Richmond. Tim made an immediate impact on the field as a rookie. Suiting up in all 16 games for the Cardinals, and starting in seven games, Hightower rushed for 399 yards on 143 attempts. Most impressively, the former Richmond Spider found the end zone 10 times for Arizona. His talent with the football was evident.
Although his touchdown totals would decrease successively over the next two seasons, his total yards from scrimmage, and more importantly his yards per attempt, would increase in each of those next two campaigns. In his second season with the Cardinals, Hightower ran for 598 yards, with 4.2 yards per attempt, and eight touchdowns.
Hightower was also able to show his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield in that second season. With 428 yards receiving, Hightower caught 63 of the 80 passes thrown his way. That type of ability, acting as a receiver out of the backfield, is exactly what makes Tim a perfect fit for the New Orleans Saints offense.
In his third year with Arizona, Hightower ran for 736 yards with a hefty 4.8 yards per attempt. Following that campaign, Hightower was traded by the Cardinals to the Washington Redskins for Vonnie Holliday and a sixth-round draft pick in 2012. That trade happened after Arizona signed their second-round draft pick in 2011, running back Ryan Williams.
Success would follow Hightower to Washington, prior to his injury. With the Redskins, Hightower had his highest rushing attempts per game and yards per game. Additionally, Tim saw a career-best 7.8 yards per reception on his 10 catches out of the backfield.
Catching on with the New Orleans Saints has certainly been a victory for Hightower in his comeback effort. It hasn’t been without hurdles, however. Because of the many running backs which New Orleans tends to carry, Hightower was cut from the squad in week 1 last year. When Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson both suffered injuries, however, the Saints looked to Hightower.
Hightower, although not young for a running back at 30 years old, might not be considered your average running back of the same age. While missing three years in the NFL in order to rehabilitate, Tim Hightower’s body has not gone through the same rigors as one who has seen on-field action consecutively. In that sense, Hightower’s injury might be considered a blessing in disguise.
[Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images]
