Saints celebrating Taysom Hills historic versatility and ever-evolving role

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METAIRIE, La. (AP) Taysom Hills teammates and coaches in New Orleans don't envision other NFL teams emulating the unusual way the Saints have deployed their backup quarterback.There are reasons, they say, that Hill is the first NFL player in more than half a century to have 10 or more touchdowns running (26), receiving (10) and pa sing (11).Theres not a lot of guys built to do the things hes able to do. I mean, theres just not, Saints coach Dennis Allen said this week. "Theres been a lot of guys that are fast and athletic, but to have the combination of size, speed, athleticism, power its unique.This week, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, asked for elements of the the 6-foot-2, 221-pound Hill's uniform from to put on display. That's when Hill caught his 10th career touchdown reception - and later threw his 11th career touchdown pa s. He has 26 career TDs rushing.ADVERTISEMENT The Saints are sending a ball from the game, the play sheet Hill wore on his wrist and one of Hill's gloves.Just three other players in NFL history Red Grange, Charley Trippi and Frank Gifford have had double-digit TDs rushing, pa sing and receiving, according to statmuse. Gifford, the youngest of the three, retired after the 1964 season. All three were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. None are living.This week, the 33-year-old Hill is preparing to play against the Minnesota Vikings, who are trying to figure out how best to respond to his presence at various spots on the field.Hes kind of all around the field," Vikings defensive back Byron Murphy said, noting that while Hill often runs when he lines up at quarterback, he's always a threat to pa s. Just a playmaker, Id say. Hes just a guy that goes out there and plays football.The Saints embraced player versatility under former coach Sean Payton, who was Hill's first coach in New Orleans in 2017. That has continued under Allen, a longtime Saints a sistant succeeding Payton.This season, the Saints also have begin using 324-pound defensive tackle Khalin Saunders as a running back in short-yardage situations. Last Sunday against Chicago, the Saints subbed Hill in for starter Derek Carr for a short pa s play that was designed to go to Saunders in the right flat.But Saunders attracted two Desmond Noel Jersey defenders, so Hill looked left for tight end Foster Moreau, who also was double-covered along the goal line, before finding fellow tight end Juwan Johnson open over the middle in the back of the end zone.To Saunders, Hill's ability to play quarterback sets him apart from other strong, fast players in the NFL who take on multiple roles.Ive obviously played with some guys that can play multiple positions," Saunders said. "A lot of guys, they can run and catch, but the throwing part is what makes him different. Thats the first guy Ive ever played with that truly, its not just like a gimmick. No, he truly plays all of these positions. ... Hes one of a kind for sure.Hill has said that he shows up for work . I know Ill either be blocking, throwing or running or catching," Hill said with a grin earlier this year, adding that his role on the team likely will continue to evolve. "Im sure as we get to Week 14, 15, 18, itll look different.In a Week 8 victory at Indianapolis, Hill had two touchdowns rushing on plays in which he took the snap in shotgun formation. Last Sunday, he was catching Josh Newton Jersey a touchdown pa s in the right flat from Carr.Carr, who is in his first season in New Orleans, describes himself as a longtime fan of former Saints QB Drew Brees and said he used to question from afar the wisdom of subbing Hill in at QB for Brees for a play here or there. But when I got here, I see why," continued Carr, who ran onto the field to celebrate Hill's TD to s to Johnson last Sunday. I celebrate him every chance I get.Hill also continues to play upback on the punt team, meaning there's always the threat of a fake, and he has been deployed to block punts as well, getting a hand on more than one.He truly has embraced whatever position or positions they have him at and because hes embraced that hes able to excel," Saints offensive lineman James Hurst said. "Hes just said, You know what, Im just going to be the best football player I can be and thats it ... and Im going to score points any way I can.' Its just exciting to have a guy like that and that attitude is contagious.___AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell contributed from Eagan, Minnesota.___AP NFL:

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