New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Article Don't count out Chase Daniel for the New Orleans Saints backup quarterback job

Don't overlook Chase Daniel in the battle for the New Orleans Saints backup quarterback job. The mighty mouse from Missouri might just surprise folks.

Most Saints fans assume a veteran free agent will be signed to replace Mark Brunell as Brees' backup. And indeed, Saints officials have said another arm likely will be added before training camp starts next month. (Hint: Put your money on Patrick Ramsey.)
But even so, it'd be unwise to count out Daniel.
He's overcome odds and defied skeptics throughout his career. The guy plays every down with the hunger of an undrafted free agent with a chip on his shoulder pads.
"My mindset is to go in there and win the No. 2 spot," Daniel said Friday after the Saints' first practice of the weekend minicamp. "I'm just going to go out there and compete and let the cards fall where they may."
The stocky 6-footer doesn't look like your typical NFL quarterback. Truth be told, he more closely resembles an equipment manager than a player. But then he zips a strike downfield through a maze of defenders to Adrian Arrington and you see why Saints coach Sean Payton was so excited to land him off the waiver wire last season.
Daniel impressed while running the second-team offense on Friday. Saturday was a little rougher. He missed some open receivers and had at least one pass batted at the line of scrimmage. It's all part of the learning process of a neophyte NFL signal caller.
"I think I did really well (Friday), getting in and out of the huddle, spitting out the plays, just getting the offense going and moving down the field, that's the main thing they're worried about."
Indeed, at times on Friday, No. 10 was doing a pretty fair impression of No. 9. He fired strikes all over the field. His body language exuded confidence. The ball rarely hit the ground. Each completion elicited an applause, helmet slap or "Atta boy" from Brees.
It's impossible not to notice the similarities between Brees and Daniel.
Both are undersized by NFL quarterback standards but each has a strong, accurate right arm and quick feet.
Their amateur careers were
the two are downright eerie.
They were born and raised 200 miles from each other in east-central Texas, Brees from Austin, Daniel from suburban Dallas-Fort Worth.
Both led their high schools to Class 5A state titles.
Brees led Austin Westlake to a 28-0-1 record in two seasons as a starter. Daniel led Southlake Carroll to a 31-1 mark in two years.
Both were spurned by the University of Texas and forced to seek scholarship offers elsewhere.
Both were All-Americans who led their respective colleges to unprecedented success.
Both are intelligent, driven, confident and fiercely competitive.
The two have gone at it weekly in various athletic competitions, a weight-lifting event called the Farmer's Walk, a make-shift obstacle course, a made-up game of "football golf," whatever fuels their competitive fires that day.
Brees currently owns a 5-4 advantage, the ledger recorded in magic marker on a piece of white paper between the pair's lockers.
"He gets upset a little bit when I beat him," Brees said with a wide grin. "But I like that about him."
That Daniel is willing to take on the uber-intense Brees says something about his grit. He said he doesn't back down, even though he views his Pro Bowl teammate as a mentor and surrogate coach.
"He wants to win at everything and so do I," Brees said. "I'm just as bad or worse than him. That's what makes us so compatible."
Daniel doesn't speak like a guy ready to hand over the backup job to whoever signs with the Saints next month. He understands the opportunity before him and welcomes the competition, just as he did at Southlake Carroll and Missouri.
"It would even be more motivation for me, and believe me I don't need any (more) right now," Daniel said. "I know this is probably one of the best shots I'm going to have in my football career. I know I can't waste it."
He might be the smallest guy in the offensive huddle but don't sell him short.

Don't count out Chase Daniel for the New Orleans Saints backup quarterback job | - NOLA.com