Drew Brees encouraged with look of new team

pakowitz · 05-05-2006, 12:56 PM

RAY MELICK
News staff writer
Drew Brees should be used to turning teams around.

As a quarterback at Purdue University, he rewrote the Big 10 record book for passing and guided the Boilermakers to the 2001 Rose Bowl, their first trip to Pasadena since 1967.

Taken with the first pick of the second round of the 2001 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers, Brees teamed with the Chargers' first pick of that same draft, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, and the team went from 1-15 the year before Brees arrived to 12-4 and the division title in 2004

And now, going into his sixth season in the NFL, Brees is faced with another project: the New Orleans Saints.

Brees accepted a six-year, $60 million offer with an $8 million signing bonus from the Saints after San Diego made it clear the franchise felt the future belonged in the hands of Phillip Rivers, the Athens native who was San Diego's first-round pick out of North Carolina State in 2004.

"I really thought I would be one of those players who got to spend his entire career with one team," Brees said just before teeing off in the Charter Communications Pro-Am at the Regions Charity Golf Classic. "But it didn't work out that way. It made me realize this is a business, and this was a business decision.

"On the other hand, I'm excited about the opportunity in New Orleans. There's a new attitude there, with a new coach. They got rid of some guys that didn't belong and brought in guys with character, guys with leadership ability. I don't know what it was like before, but I like what is going on down there now."

As for Rivers, Brees said, "I like Phillip a lot. We got along great. It was just a situation where we were both starters in the NFL, only one of us could start, and they cut me out of the loop to go with him. It's a great opportunity for Phillip."

Brees likes his opportunity with the Saints even better after New Orleans was able to draft USC running back Reggie Bush with the second pick of the NFL draft last week.

"That was unbelievable," Brees said. "I never in my wildest dreams thought we'd get him, that he'd fall to the second pick. Even if, for some reason, the (Houston) Texans didn't get him, I thought somebody would trade up with the Texans to take him.

"For the Saints to get him is incredible. Don't forget, we already have a pretty good back in Deuce McAllister. So to get Reggie to go with Deuce - it's a great combination. Deuce is a straight-line, run over you to get the hard yard runner. Reggie will run circles around you. Plus, we can use Reggie in the return game, and slip him out at wide receiver. The defense is going to have to be looking for him anywhere on the field."

Which should open things up for Brees, who was the 2004 NFL Comeback Player of the Year and named to the 2005 Pro Bowl. Last year, Brees completed 64.6 percent of his passes for a career-best 3,576 yards, with 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions before injuring his shoulder in the final game of the regular season.

That injury, in a roundabout way, is what got Brees to Ross Bridge on a breezy Thursday afternoon.

"My in-laws (Pete and Kathie Dudchenko) have lived in Birmingham for about 10 years, and I've played a lot of golf around here with my father-in-law," Brees said. "He's always been trying to get me into this Pro-Am. Dr. (James) Andrews did the surgery on my shoulder, and I've been rehabbing here for the last four months, so it made sense to finally play here."

Brees said he's been throwing for the past few weeks, and is confident he will be at full strength for the 2006 season.

"What I find exciting is the way the city (of New Orleans) has rallied around this team," Brees said. "The season ticket sales are off the chart, and you'd think after the disaster last fall and all the people that moved out of the city that season ticket sales would be down.

"But I'm told sales are five times what they were a year ago. I don't know what it was like before. I just know this is a new beginning, and I'm excited to be part of it."

http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamn...160.xml&coll=2

pakowitz · 05-05-2006, 12:59 PM

"On the other hand, I'm excited about the opportunity in New Orleans. There's a new attitude there, with a new coach. They got rid of some guys that didn't belong and brought in guys with character, guys with leadership ability. I don't know what it was like before, but I like what is going on down there now."

i like this quote

"What I find exciting is the way the city (of New Orleans) has rallied around this team," Brees said. "The season ticket sales are off the chart, and you'd think after the disaster last fall and all the people that moved out of the city that season ticket sales would be down.

"But I'm told sales are five times what they were a year ago. I don't know what it was like before. I just know this is a new beginning, and I'm excited to be part of it."

and this one

saintswhodi · 05-05-2006, 01:01 PM

I agree. Great post and article. Just great. I agree with everything.

kojakhinton · 05-05-2006, 01:07 PM

A real class act

FatiusJeebs · 05-05-2006, 01:35 PM

You know......I am always a little skeptical about what sports figures say. All I can say is...if Brees is being totally honest with what he is saying...then I pray to the heavens that we protect him on the feild because his talent and his character are nothing short of a blessing for the Saints and I hope he play for us until he decides to retire.

LongTimeFan · 05-05-2006, 09:19 PM

It only gets better for the Saints with Brees on board, class act.

foreverfan · 05-05-2006, 09:42 PM

JimBone · 05-05-2006, 10:51 PM

I dont even know what to think of all of these Brees quotes...i love what he is saying but i am not used to anyone talking up this city and organization like he is...he portrays himself as a great leader and i cant remember us having one of those behind center.

foreverfan · 05-05-2006, 11:04 PM

Yes but can he avoid the rush and more importantly.... throw the football still???

Well it's a good thing we have Bush to dump off to.

JimBone · 05-06-2006, 12:10 AM

I am starting to feel a little more at ease about Brees' health...i think he is going to be just fine and i look forward to us scoring 35 points to have a chance to win...there are gonna be some shootouts this year...instead of just the other team showing up for the shootout.

05-05-2006, 12:56 PM	#1
pakowitz The Dark Overlord Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: dirty south Posts: 3,450	Drew Brees encouraged with look of new team RAY MELICK News staff writer Drew Brees should be used to turning teams around. As a quarterback at Purdue University, he rewrote the Big 10 record book for passing and guided the Boilermakers to the 2001 Rose Bowl, their first trip to Pasadena since 1967. Taken with the first pick of the second round of the 2001 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers, Brees teamed with the Chargers' first pick of that same draft, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, and the team went from 1-15 the year before Brees arrived to 12-4 and the division title in 2004 And now, going into his sixth season in the NFL, Brees is faced with another project: the New Orleans Saints. Brees accepted a six-year, $60 million offer with an $8 million signing bonus from the Saints after San Diego made it clear the franchise felt the future belonged in the hands of Phillip Rivers, the Athens native who was San Diego's first-round pick out of North Carolina State in 2004. "I really thought I would be one of those players who got to spend his entire career with one team," Brees said just before teeing off in the Charter Communications Pro-Am at the Regions Charity Golf Classic. "But it didn't work out that way. It made me realize this is a business, and this was a business decision. "On the other hand, I'm excited about the opportunity in New Orleans. There's a new attitude there, with a new coach. They got rid of some guys that didn't belong and brought in guys with character, guys with leadership ability. I don't know what it was like before, but I like what is going on down there now." As for Rivers, Brees said, "I like Phillip a lot. We got along great. It was just a situation where we were both starters in the NFL, only one of us could start, and they cut me out of the loop to go with him. It's a great opportunity for Phillip." Brees likes his opportunity with the Saints even better after New Orleans was able to draft USC running back Reggie Bush with the second pick of the NFL draft last week. "That was unbelievable," Brees said. "I never in my wildest dreams thought we'd get him, that he'd fall to the second pick. Even if, for some reason, the (Houston) Texans didn't get him, I thought somebody would trade up with the Texans to take him. "For the Saints to get him is incredible. Don't forget, we already have a pretty good back in Deuce McAllister. So to get Reggie to go with Deuce - it's a great combination. Deuce is a straight-line, run over you to get the hard yard runner. Reggie will run circles around you. Plus, we can use Reggie in the return game, and slip him out at wide receiver. The defense is going to have to be looking for him anywhere on the field." Which should open things up for Brees, who was the 2004 NFL Comeback Player of the Year and named to the 2005 Pro Bowl. Last year, Brees completed 64.6 percent of his passes for a career-best 3,576 yards, with 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions before injuring his shoulder in the final game of the regular season. That injury, in a roundabout way, is what got Brees to Ross Bridge on a breezy Thursday afternoon. "My in-laws (Pete and Kathie Dudchenko) have lived in Birmingham for about 10 years, and I've played a lot of golf around here with my father-in-law," Brees said. "He's always been trying to get me into this Pro-Am. Dr. (James) Andrews did the surgery on my shoulder, and I've been rehabbing here for the last four months, so it made sense to finally play here." Brees said he's been throwing for the past few weeks, and is confident he will be at full strength for the 2006 season. "What I find exciting is the way the city (of New Orleans) has rallied around this team," Brees said. "The season ticket sales are off the chart, and you'd think after the disaster last fall and all the people that moved out of the city that season ticket sales would be down. "But I'm told sales are five times what they were a year ago. I don't know what it was like before. I just know this is a new beginning, and I'm excited to be part of it." http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamn...160.xml&coll=2
	I Live In Beastmode!

05-05-2006, 12:59 PM	#2
pakowitz The Dark Overlord Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: dirty south Posts: 3,450	RE: Drew Brees encouraged with look of new team "On the other hand, I'm excited about the opportunity in New Orleans. There's a new attitude there, with a new coach. They got rid of some guys that didn't belong and brought in guys with character, guys with leadership ability. I don't know what it was like before, but I like what is going on down there now." i like this quote "What I find exciting is the way the city (of New Orleans) has rallied around this team," Brees said. "The season ticket sales are off the chart, and you'd think after the disaster last fall and all the people that moved out of the city that season ticket sales would be down. "But I'm told sales are five times what they were a year ago. I don't know what it was like before. I just know this is a new beginning, and I'm excited to be part of it." and this one

05-05-2006, 01:07 PM	#4
kojakhinton Rookie Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 17	A real class act
kojakhinton Rookie Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 17

05-05-2006, 01:35 PM	#5
FatiusJeebs 500th Post Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 973	You know......I am always a little skeptical about what sports figures say. All I can say is...if Brees is being totally honest with what he is saying...then I pray to the heavens that we protect him on the feild because his talent and his character are nothing short of a blessing for the Saints and I hope he play for us until he decides to retire.
FatiusJeebs 500th Post Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 973

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05-05-2006, 01:01 PM	#3
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	I agree. Great post and article. Just great. I agree with everything.

05-05-2006, 09:19 PM	#6
LongTimeFan Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 2,403	It only gets better for the Saints with Brees on board, class act.

05-05-2006, 09:42 PM	#7
foreverfan 12,000 BS Posts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 13,457 Blog Entries: 5

05-05-2006, 10:51 PM	#8
JimBone 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Thibodaux, La Posts: 614	I dont even know what to think of all of these Brees quotes...i love what he is saying but i am not used to anyone talking up this city and organization like he is...he portrays himself as a great leader and i cant remember us having one of those behind center.

05-05-2006, 11:04 PM	#9
foreverfan 12,000 BS Posts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 13,457 Blog Entries: 5	Yes but can he avoid the rush and more importantly.... throw the football still??? Well it's a good thing we have Bush to dump off to.

05-06-2006, 12:10 AM	#10
JimBone 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Thibodaux, La Posts: 614	I am starting to feel a little more at ease about Brees' health...i think he is going to be just fine and i look forward to us scoring 35 points to have a chance to win...there are gonna be some shootouts this year...instead of just the other team showing up for the shootout.