New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Friday that the club has re-signed veteran running back Jonathan Vilma/Deuce McAllister.aspx">Deuce McAllister and placed defensive tackle Rodney Leisle on injured reserve with a knee injury.

McAllister, the first-round draft choice of the Saints in 2001, played in 97 regular season games for the Saints from 2001-08 and is the franchise's record-holder for touchdowns scored with 55, rushing yards with 6,096, rushing attempts (1,429), rushing touchdowns with 49 and ranks eighth in receptions with 234. His 27 career 100-yard rushing games are the most in team history and he is the only Saints runner to gain 1,000 yards in a season four times, including two Pro Bowl seasons in 2002 and 2003. He was released last February after being slowed by injuries the previous two seasons.

"Deuce is a huge part of the history of our club and of what has gotten this team to where we are today and we absolutely wanted him with us as we head into the playoffs," Loomis said.

"Jonathan Vilma/Deuce McAllister.aspx">Deuce McAllister has always embodied the spirit of the New Orleans Saints and the city of New Orleans," said Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. "We're excited to have him back with the team and to have him lead us out on to the field tomorrow."

McAllister started both playoff games for the Saints in the 2006 season, running for 161 yards in the two contests and scoring touchdowns rushing and receiving in the Divisional round victory over Philadelphia.

"I'm speechless," said McAllister of re-joining the team. "I don't know that there are words to describe this feeling. I do know that we have some unfinished business that we started a few years ago and we want to finish the deal."

Leisle was signed late in December and played in the regular season finale at Carolina.