My website's primary goal has been to cover both the Bears and the rest of the NFL world. Of course, I have gotten out plenty of Bears work, but I have not been able to post as much non-Bears content as I would have liked to.
However, I can make a case where I enjoy writing more about non-Bears content, and what better way to come back and do so than write about my favorite Quarterback of all time, New Orleans Saints legend, Drew Brees.
Over the past few years, the NFL world has seen several notable Quarterbacks leave the league. Specifically, those that fans in my generation have grown up with and loved are now diminishing in front of our very eyes. Those notable names include Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, Phillip Rivers, Alex Smith, and, of course, Drew Brees.
I could write about any one of those Quarterbacks, as they individually hold their legacy (some bigger than others). However, I specifically will be talking about a man that I admired both on and off the field.
In this article, one that I hoped to have posted after he initially retired, I pay tribute to Brees by discussing what made him so legendary and how I believe the Saints will fare after his retirement.
If you haven't already, please feel free to check out my introduction article, I had a blast putting it together. You will get to know more about me, my background, and my plans for this website here:
The Most Accurate Quarterback I Have Ever Seen
You know when someone says a person is "throwing darts" in the game of football? Nobody embodied that phrase more than Drew Brees.
Like any football fan, we have seen a countless number of professional Quarterbacks out there slinging the football. However, in my personal opinion, none of them have thrown it prettier than Brees.
Based on the eye test alone, Brees has wowed me every time I was fortunate enough to watch him. He may not have had the pure arm strength of fellow Quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers or Matthew Stafford, as that was always one of Brees most significant flaws. But that is not to say he did not have a big arm at all. Short, medium, or deep passes, he could make any throw throughout any part of the field like there was nothing to it.
Even outside of professional action, there was no shortage of proof that Brees was the most accurate passer out there.
For example, one of my favorite videos from an athlete is when Drew Brees made an appearance on ESPN's Sports Science (remember how awesome that segment was? I sure do miss it). He was given the task to try and outperform an Olympic Archer and hit as many bullseyes as possible. This challenge was from a 20-yard range, and they used an official archery board in the process. For any Quarterback, Archer, or ordinary human being alike, that would serve as a tough challenge, right?
Well, if you have not figured it out already, Drew Brees is not your typical Quarterback or human being. Not only did he hit the bullseye, but he crushed the experiment by hitting the bullseye in all ten of his attempts. I will never forget my younger self being mind-blown by what I witnessed.
Drew Brees Getting Ready To Dominate His Appearence On Sports Science (Credit: Total Pro Sports)
Brees also showed off his outstanding accuracy in many other viral videos. These include his appearance on Dude Perfect, helping Odell Backham Jr achieve the (then) world record of most one-handed catches in a minute, or his Precision Passing attempts at the Pro Bowl.
Need more? Well, Brees is currently the all-time leader for most passes completed. Second all-time (behind the young Houston Texans superstar Deshaun Watson) in all-time completion percentage. Also, he covers the entire top three spots in the best single-season completion percentage in NFL history, and so on.
No matter where he was, as long as he had a football in his hands, I firmly believe Brees was the most accurate passer out there.
Became Arguably The Greatest Free Agent Signing In NFL History
While other leagues, such as the NBA and MLB, have extensive, often frenetic free agent periods, the NFL is not exactly on the same page. The NFL will have premiere free agent signings now and then, but it is rare for big-name free agents to appear on the market. With that, teams hope to strike gold and have the player return far more than what the team initially invested into him.
Drew Brees may be the most outstanding example of giving his team more than what they initially invested into him.
It is easy to forget that Brees began his career with the (then) San Diego Chargers, as he was a second-round draft pick (out of Purdue) by them in 2001. The Boilermaker was a decent Quarterback for them, but the Chargers drafted North Carolina State Quarterback Phillip Rivers high in the saga-filled 2004 NFL Draft's first round. That, and a career-jeopardizing shoulder injury the following year, would eventually force Brees' way out of San Diego.
Drew Brees Walking Off The Field From A Shoulder Injury In The 2005 Season Finale v.s. The Denver Broncos
(Credit: The San Diego Union-Tribune)
There was a bidding war for Brees, one that the Miami Dolphins were heavily involved in. With his injury (officially diagnosed as a torn labrum), it was questionable as to when he could throw again and if he could throw adequately again. Dolphins then-Head Coach Nick Saban (yes, that Nick Saban) has claimed to have clicked with Brees at the time. But after failing his physical, the Dolphins were too wary of signing him.
At the time, that choice was justified by Miami, as Brees' shoulder served as a definite risk. However, the Saints took a chance on him anyway, and the rest is history.
As we all know, Brees did what no one would have anticipated. The following year, he would go on to lead the league in passing yards while commanding his new squad to a 10-6 record and taking them to the NFC Championship (where they would lose to, of course, the Bears). Afterward, he became an eventual Super Bowl champion and cement himself as an all-time great.
Looking back, the Saints' substantially risky decision in the spring of 2006 became arguably the best decision an organization could make (credit to General manager Mickey Loomis, who still holds that position today). While the Dolphins, despite understandably worried about Brees' health, will always have to wonder what could have been.
For New Orleans, His Career Meant More Than Just Football
Drew Brees will forever be known as a Super Bowl champion, 13-time Pro Bowler, All-Pro, and simply one of the all-time greats. But throughout all of his accomplishments, none were arguably more prominent than how he saved the city of New Orleans.
One of the biggest tragedies to hit this country was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Thousands of lives were lost, and the natural disaster created billions of dollars in damage, as New Orleans and the state of Louisiana altogether were considered to be the most affected by it. In fact, the Superdome, their home stadium, was used as a shelter for those who were unable to evacuate from the hurricane.
To say the city was in shambles would be an extreme understatement, and they could have used any ounce of hope from anyone or anything. That source of hope would turn out to be Drew Brees.
As previously stated, Brees made an immediate impact and propelled his squad into direct relevance. Fast forward to the 2009 season, and everything would change for the team and their city. In an epic showdown, the Saints would defeat Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in one of the most memorable Super Bowls in recent memory. Brees would be crowned Super Bowl MVP for his heroics in that game, as well.
Drew Brees, Alongside Sean Payton, Carrying The Lombardi Trophy For The First And Only Time In His Career
(Credit: Fobes)
That triumphant victory may have given the Saints their first championship since they were founded in 1967, but it also gave the city something to lift their spirits up and finally be happy and celebrate. After the hurricane, the team was nearly relocated, as their future in the Big Easy was in doubt. But they stuck through, and it all paid off years later with taking the reign of the NFL.
Over the years, Brees has become not only one of the most charitable players in the NFL, but all sports alike. Brees and his wife have donated millions of dollars to a wide variety of causes. Most recently, amid the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brees family donated $5 million to health care centers throughout the state of Louisiana.
Without Drew Brees, it is incredibly likely that the New Orleans Saints would still be among the most insignificant, embarrassing franchises in the league. But the community of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana altogether would not be the same if it was not for the hard work and care that Brees provided for them.
With Brees Retired, Now What?
In the winding minutes of the 2021 NFC Divisional matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, cameras caught Drew Brees saying, "this is your team now," to backup Quarterback Jameis Winston. After the Saints' loss, fans speculated that Brees would finally hang up his cleats and retire. Just two months later, he confirmed that speculation and retired from football, while the Saints would re-sign Winston to a one-year deal.
For the first time in over a decade, the outlook of the Saints will be tricky to evaluate. Even without Brees, they are still one of the most talented football teams in the league. Also, they are one of the most well-coached teams in the league, led by Head Coach Sean Payton, who deserves a significant amount of credit for the Saints' success since 2006. But, of course, it all starts with the Quarterback, and without Brees, it is understandable to question the team's outlook heading into the year.
Right off the bat, let me get this out of the way: Taysom Hill is fun and all, but he is not a true Quarterback. He is arguably the most significant gadget player and most versatile player in the league, but I will not waste my time making a case for him to start for the team.
So, Jameis Winston, on the other hand, is a rather peculiar case. Winston, a Heisman Trophy winner and #1 overall draft pick, has not lived up to expectations in this league. In fact, he was my MVP pick heading into 2017, and that did not go too well! Especially after his 2019 campaign, where he famously threw for 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, Winston has received his fair share of criticism by fans. So much so, where the Buccaneers let him walk in free agency the following spring and signed Tom Brady. As we know now, it is safe to say that was a smart decision, and Winston would go on to sign with the Saints and become Brees' backup.
Drew Brees Showing Support To Jameis Winston On the Sidelines (Credit: The Athletic)
Now, Winston is back and in a prime position to command one of the most talented squads in the league. Can he take advantage of his new opportunity? I am already scared of being confident in him from previous experience, but I will say yes here.
Despite throwing for 30 interceptions (which is embarrassing), people forget that he threw for 5,000+ yards and 30+ TD's, too! Both of those stats lead the league! With that in mind, Winston's play can be best described as big risk/big reward. While that proves that Winston is a fearless Quarterback and has a big arm, it also demonstrates that he may be a little too fearless.
But, now, he had a whole year to settle down and sit behind one of the most intelligent and most accurate Quarterbacks in NFL history. Not to mention he will have a barrage of prominent weapons around him, such as Running Back Alvin Kamara, Wide Receiver Michael Thomas, and a stout offensive line. Winston will be in good hands.
If Winston can significantly cut back the turnovers, he will have a great chance of reviving his career. He has all the arm to become a solid Quarterback; it is a matter of whether or not he has the patience and poise to become a solid Quarterback, too. I believe watching Winston and the Saints in the post-Brees era will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the year.
You Will Be Missed, Drew
Although Jameis Winston and the Saints will be worth keeping an eye on this year, there will obviously never be another Drew Brees.
Have I mentioned how much of a killer leader he was, too? Have you seen any of his pre-game speeches to his team?! If not, do yourself a favor and look those up on Youtube this instant. I will never forget watching those in pre-game segments on TV growing up. It is that type of heart, hype, and passion that I want to inject into my veins.
Many Quarterbacks will come and go throughout the league, and there are several others that I have loved watching in my life so far. I cherish Peyton Manning, I was an avid fan of Andrew Luck, and I have always been a fan of Matthew Stafford and a strong advocate of how underrated he is. However, it will be hard-pressed to find someone I love more than Drew Brees. He is the complete embodiment of what an athlete should strive to be on and off the field.
Thanks for the memories, Drew. It is a shame you never won an MVP or more Super Bowls, as you clearly deserved those. Regardless, we will all see you in Canton very soon.
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Thank you and (even though this is not a Bears article) Bear Down!