QBREES9

The extent of Drew Brees' playing time Sunday against Carolina remains unknown, but it'd be nice he played long enough to have a chance to set some distinguished records within his reach.

Brees has a chance to break one of the oldest NFL records in the books: the mark for highest completion percentage in a season. He's completed 363 of 514 attempts for a 70.6 completion percentage. That puts him on track to break the 27-year-old record of 70.55 set by Cincinnati's Ken Anderson in 1982.

Brees' completion percentage is impressive for a couple of reasons. First, he's already attempted more than 200 passes more than Anderson, who played only nine games that season because of a labor strike. Second, Brees is not a dink-and-dunk passer. His 8.54-yards average per pass attempt ranks third in the league and he's completed 29 pass plays of 25 yards or more, second best in the NFL.

Brees also is within reach of a pair of major club season passing records. He needs one touchdown pass to set the Saints' season record for touchdown passes. He has 34, which equals the club record he set last season.

One club season record he's certain to establish is for highest passer efficiency rating in a season. He set the old mark last season with a 96.2 rating. He's at 109.6 this season, which would rank among the top 10 efficiency ratings in NFL history.

... And 10 (more observations)

1. Casual locker-room observtion: About 36 hours after being arrested for DWI, defensive end Bobby McCray was noticeably absent from the locker room during the open media session on Wednesday afternoon. McCray eventually showed up, in the final minutes of the session. He walked briskly through the locker room with a hoodie over his head while carrying two pizza boxes. On Thursday he told inquiring reporters, "No hablo ingles."

2. Tweet of the week: "Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. Be safe tonight and enjoy that last night of 2009. The best is yet to come." - Drew Brees, 7 a.m., Dec. 31.

3. Quote of the week: "Today's practice was as spirited a practice as I've ever seen here, especially for the situation we're all in. I think that was encouraging." - Drew Brees on Wednesday.

4. Didya notice?: Tracy Porter, who was one of several Saints during training camp to sport a mohawk, is now sporting a new hairdo. He has a spider web weaved into his tightly cropped hair. "Just something new," Porter said. "There's no significance to the design."

5. Fact of the week: Courtesy of ace Saints assistant media relations director Justin Macione, the Saints have a chance to become only the third team in NFL history to have six players record 40 or more catches in a season. The 2009 Vikings and 1983 Cowboys also had six receivers catch 40 balls or more. The Saints have five players with 40 or more catches right now: Marques Colston (69); Devery Henderson (50); Jeremy Shockey (48); Reggie Bush (47); and Robert Meachem (43). Pierre Thomas has 39 catches but is unlikely to play this week with a rib injury. David Thomas has 35 catches.

6. Encouraging stat of the week: The Saints are 7-0 this season and have a chance to record the first unbeaten road record in the club's 43-year history. The previous best road mark was 7-1 under Jim Haslett in 2000.

7. Disturbing stat of the week: The Saints' punt return average of 4.5 yards per attempt ranks 30th in the league. That's a ridiculously low figure for a team with the dangerous Reggie Bush as the primary return man. Amazingly, the mark is not the lowest in club history. The 1972 Saints averaged just 2.7 yards on 16 returns.

8. Something I liked from Week 16: Not much from that stinker of a game. What I did like, though, was Scott Fujita being voted the 2009 Saints Man of the Year. Fujita is a class act and a true professional. He's always available to the media and is a great representative for the club in the community. Well deserved.

9. Something I didn't like from Week 16: The Saints' tackling was sloppy, especially in the second half. I counted seven missed tackles in the game and it wasn't just one culprit. Seven defenders missed guys in the open field, contributing to what Sean Payton calls "leaky yardage." The Saints have tackled well for most of the season so you have to credit Bucs running backs Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham for the efforts to some extent.

10. Fearless prediction for Week 17: The Saints need one more touchdown to tie the club record of nine in a season. While Panthers quarterback Matt Moore has only thrown one interception in his past four starts, something tells me defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will have a surprise for the young quarterback on Sunday. Return touchdown No. 9 will be recorded, marching the 1998 mark.

First-and-10: New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees nears another passing record | New Orleans Saints Central - - NOLA.com

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "