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JACKSON, Miss -- Nissan began removing vehicles Tuesday from a dealership owned by former New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister. About 20 cars and trucks were loaded on tractor-trailers even as McAllister said in an interview that he is seeking investors to help pull the dealership out of bankruptcy. "Nissan financing has every right to protect the vehicles," McAllister said. "What they choose to do with them is their business. There's obviously a lot more to the story, but we'll see how this shakes out." McAllister filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month after Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. said in a federal civil suit that the free agent owed nearly $7 million, mostly in unsold vehicles still sitting on his lot. The 30-year-old is the sole owner of the dealership, one of two he owns in Mississippi's capital city. The 2001 first-round draft pick out of Ole Miss was cut by the Saints after last season. The decision saved New Orleans $7 million in salary cap room for the 2009 season. McAllister is recovering from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery after missing several games in 2008 because of swelling after reconstructive surgery following the 2007 season. He has had ligament tears in both knees repaired during his NFL career. He is the career rushing leader for both Ole Miss and the Saints and holds the NFL club's records for touchdowns (55) and rushing touchdowns (49). He has rushed for 1,000 yards four times in his pro career and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2002 and 2003. He still hopes to catch on with a team before training camp and would like to work out for prospective employers before the NFL draft on April 25-26, though he's not sure he will be ready. McAllister has been rehabilitating the injury at Duke University in North Carolina, though he finds he's spending more time in Jackson than planned. "I'm having to focus a little more time on this than I particularly want to," McAllister said of his dealership. "At some point, I have to step away from this and concentrate on football."
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