Would things have been different if...
 

not for Brees's shoulder injury?

It's really impossible to answer this question. We can just state our opinions.
Rumor was that AJ Smith (our GM) wanted Marty to start Rivers in that game in hopes to up his trade value.

My opinion... completely mixed!!! There was no way you could predict that Brees would have that break out season in 2004. Then when you have the #1 draft pick and a guy like Rivers is available... it's hard to pass that up!

One team isn't big enough for both QBs. You don't want either riding the bench!

Any other opinions?

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Thanks A.J enough said....

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

LOL. Brees is great and will always be one of my all time favorite Chargers (and QBs for this matter) but Rivers has given us no reason to miss him.

What QB is better... well both have amazing leadership, skills, toughness, and consistency but are completely different. Brees is the top rated and he should be there... but Rivers isn't far behind.

This is a win/win situation for both teams!

So if not for Drew's shoulder injury... would things have been different?
Any opinions?

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

I think A.J wanted Rivers dont u agree? I know Marty wanted to keep Brees..but we know A.J runs that show..

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

ya know, i really don't understand all of the chargers' fans feelings for rivers. i think he's a whiner and he's an upper-mediocre quarterback. he has good receivers, but still makes plenty of mistakes. i think he's a punk, good quarterback, but NO WAY can he be put in the ssame sentence as brees.

however, i know he was nowhere NEAR the quarterback in SD that he is in NO...but to say they're close now is just preposterous. but it appears that everyone in SD wants to blow rivers. he's good...but he's no franchise player IMO. maybe i just don't like him b/c he's a baby, but i dunno. i just know i'd be happier to root for the chargers if rivers wasn't on the team :P

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Rivers can be an ass..but he can sling it..and he's a tough s.o.b

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

I just thank AJ every day. AJ you're no John Butler and you will never be. You can blame a QB for a team struggles and injuries.

Thanks AJ

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

I was in San Diego at the time of all this was going on and injury or no injury Bree's was out. Don't think for a minute if not for the injury Brees was staying in SD it wasn't going to happen. They didn't think Brees was the guy who was going to take them to the next level. He was done.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

But Rivers aint no BREESUS!!!!!!

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

And he never will be !!!!

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Settle down Saints fans... This was not an intention to talk smack.

But I have to ask... Great receivers? Were Malcom Floyd, Vincent Jackson, Legedu Naanee top draft picks? Were they expected to be top receivers?
I think Rivers is a reason for their success.

I also mentioned that this is not about who is better. As good as Brees is... we have no reason to miss him (as a player).

You guys have many reasons to be proud of Brees and I'm glad for that!!!!
But can we get back to the subject?

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Well we just get passionate about our Breesus...lol...u can understand...

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Yes... and you should!!!
I have nothing but respect for Brees!

I'm not a Falcons fan... same way I'm not entering a Raiders forum.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

BOLT4LIFE

? For you.

Ever heard of gris gris?
Perhaps: kismet or plain good luck!

Drew is the QB that is supposed to be here right now.

We are blessed to have him. He makes the Who-Dat nation go.

Correct player with the correct team at the correct time.
Destiny perhaps?

I can see why you would come sniffing around here (trying to smell the right butt) to make yourself feel better about not having the better QB on your roster.

Yeah. Especially now that ya'll are winning a few games.
Why weren't you here 6 weeks ago?
Or 3 years ago for that matter.

Rivers is OK for a whiny Prima-Donna QB.

We prefer having a 6-foot, undersized QB who is more prepared and creative than Windows-7 every game day.

Keep your "Prototype" QB. We are more than happy with Drew Brees.

Good luck making it to Miami.

The Saints WILL be there..... No luck will be required.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

I was here before the season began!!!

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

If so. I can only congratulate you on your prescience by knowing that the Saints would be the Numero Uno team in the league.

I can only go by your join date in Dec.

Welcome to you if I failed to welcome you into the best Saints Forum on the web.

I respect the Chargers' play especially of late.

A question for you:

Do you miss Marty-Ball?

The man was consistent.......

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

I can understand that you might of though differently by my join in date. When the season began... I was a bit occupied and my membership expired. So I joined back in.

Marty-Ball... Well I hate Norv!!!
BUT... if he wins us a Super Bowl, I'm happy!!!

I agree that Marty was consistent.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Good night and Good luck to you and your San Diego Super Chargers!

Ya'll are one of my favorite AFC teams.

Beat the Raunchos!

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Bolts4life is no troll guys and girls.

To the question, I was simply amazed that SD drafted Manning when they did. I thought that Brees was their franchise QB at the time for years to come.

But from what I recall Brees was gone shoulder injury or no injury from SD. That is just hear say on my part.

The bigger question is what would have happened if Eli Manning was QB for SD right now? Any Super Bowls yet?

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Man... I'm glad that didn't happen.
IMO, Eli is average at best and it's a joke that he got Super Bowl MVP. If it wasn't for his last name, he wouldn't have been a #1 draft pick. Probably not even top 10.

Not only did we get the better QB but we also got Merriman and Keading out of this. Imagine where Giants could be now had they kept Rivers?

Honestly... if we had Eli, I think we'd suck. Rivers is the reason we are where we are right now. He carried the team on his back for at least 7 games. I don't believe Eli could have done that.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Every team has their bad seeds.
I don't know why you're so bitter but I choose not to lower myself to your standards. If you don't understand why Chargers fans like their QB... than you don't know much about football.

All this talk about Rivers being a punk and a whiner just goes to show that you base all of your knowledge around ESPN. They didn't like Rivers because he owns their little darling, Cutler. Well look at Cutler now!!!

I have now need for discussions with ignorance.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

If Eli is average, there are a boatload of below average QBs in the league. But back to the OP, of course things would have been different. Without Brees we would have never had the magical 2006 season and probably still be looking for a franchise QB and not on this unbelieveable undefeated run.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

If his last name was not Manning, do you think he would have been a #1 draft pick? I don't.
If his last name was not Manning, do you think ESPN would still have a hefty man crush on him? I don't.
If his last name was not Manning, do you think he would have got Super Bowl MVP with the same stats? I don't?

Now for the bigger question... is he better than Brees or Rivers?
I say "HELL NO!!!"

Like said... the QB situation in San Diego benefited both teams.
You know what was really funny? Raiders fans taking smack when Brooks came to their team and ending up at 2-14!!! LOL!!! :D

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Don't want to get in an argument here but based on Eli's college stats, yes he was worthy of a number 1 pick. On a local level he broke most of Peyton's high school records so yes he was highly recruited. He is in the top 10 in a lot of the SEC records including yards, tds and passer rating. Now with all that said I'm glad we have Brees but back in 2006 if I would have been given a choice (if I could have either one) it would have been tough not taking Eli based on the fact of not knowing how healthy Brees' shoulder would be.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Well that's a given. Nobody knew if he had anything left after the shoulder injury. Though I can think of many QBs I'd rather have on my team instead of Eli.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Charger fans are as good about turning a thread into an Eli Manning thread as we are a Brooks thread...

Once Rivers wins you a SB I think you can debate it until then Eli has a ring and you don't.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

First off... the question was brought up about "where would the Chargers be had they kept Eli." So I answered it.

Brees hasn't won you guys a ring either (yet). So does that mean Eli is better than Brees? I don't think so.

Trent Dilfer got a ring. Does that mean he's a better QB than Brees, Rivers, McNabb, Moreno, etc? I don't think so.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

I have to say - I think it worked out best for the both the Chargers and the Saints. Saints got one hell of a QB and the Chargers got a franchise QB as well. Might not have the eye popping stats Brees does but the dude does bring game.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

.. but then you post...

You can't have your cake and eat it too, buddy.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

EXACTLY!!!
Both teams are more than happy with their QBs and they should be!

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Well thats your first mistake because the last I check this is a Saints forum not an Eli or Chargers forum. And my point being that the trade seemed to have worked in favor of Eli and the Giants.

This years story has yet to be told but if Eli and Bree's both gets rings... I'll have to ask what the hell is your team doing over there.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

I started the Eli vs Rivers crap. Sorry. But yeah in the long run both the Bolts and Saints turned out to have pretty good QBs.

I think that Rivers may just be second to P. Manning in the AFC. Everyone likes to lump Brady in there but at this time I would put Rivers and maybe Carson Palmer above him.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

I lived in San Diego and now in LA and Chargers are one of my favorite teams until they hired Norv Turner.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Read the opening post. This was about the Brees/Rivers situation. Brees plays QB for the Saints.

If Brees gets your team a Super Bowl... I'll be happy for him. And I really don't understand your question but it doesn't matter.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

This I agree on... I hate Norv but he's been doing good for us lately.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Drew turned this city into believers in one season. We never had so much respect on a field with a qb in a long time. When Drew was in san diego people were scared of the offensive attack. It is the same now for the bolts but not as big as it was when Drew was there. Simply put, Great Move for the Bolts to get a young good talented QB. Perfect Move for Saints for this offense

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Very well said.
I though your Sheli/Rivers question was good question.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

Very well said!!!
I think most people in NO and SD agree that it was win/win for both teams.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

You merely a troll admit it. The thread is stupid and you and I know it.

Chargers didn't feel Bree's was the guy to get them to wear they wanted to go. "He can't win the big one", it was only a matter of time before Rivers was going to be the starter anyway the injury was just good timing is all.

Re: Would things have been different if...
 

No. I am not a troll. I came here because I like the Saints (unless their opponents are the Chargers). I've been to NO and been to a few Saints games. They have good class fans (just like the majority of posters in here).

You think the thread is stupid... well speak for yourself! I though it made good discussion but I realize that you and a few others would like to stir the pot and turn it into smack.

Well being that I've been to a few Saints games... I know that the vast majority of their fans are not like you and that's a good thing!!!
You are one of the few bad seeds.