Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan
 

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan possess similarities, spanning from accolades on the field to their account balances when they snatch the receipt after an ATM transaction.

Both have earned Pro Bowl bids. Both have won multiple NFC South championships. Both have helped their respective teams secure the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and host NFC championship games.

One received his five-year, $100 million contract after winning a Super Bowl and accompanying MVP honors, while the other recently signed a five-year, $103.75 million deal after his lone playoff victory last season.
It's what separates Brees and Ryan when the Saints host the Falcons in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday afternoon to open 2013 season.

It's hard to deny both players are in the NFL's hierarchy of quarterbacks. Brees said he has much respect for Ryan, even though he understands the bitter rivalry between Atlanta and New Orleans.

"First of all, he's a winner," Brees said. "He's going into his sixth year now and he's led his team to the playoffs four out of the last five years now. He's played extremely well both in the regular season and in the postseason.

"He obviously has great command of that offense and a great decision maker. He just seems to come across as one of these highly competitive guys, great work ethic, loves football, tough, all the things you want in a quarterback."

Ryan volleyed similar compliments toward Brees.

"I think it is his work ethic, and I say that from watching him from afar," Ryan said. "I think he is always extremely well prepared. It's like every week he is extremely consistent and he knows how to attack defenses. He is aggressive, but he is also, during the offseason, is an extremely hard worker.

"So I think there is no shortcut to that kind of success. I think you have to work towards it, and he has certainly done that and been an incredible player."

Read more: Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan | NOLA.com

Re: Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan
 

Re: Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan
 

Drew is a smart man. Say all the right things to the media & show what you really mean when you play on Sunday

Re: Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan
 

Glad too see meachem n old form ! Get with it Meach !

Re: Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan
 

Drew Brees = Class.

Re: Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan
 

The thing that separates these two is basically talent and a will to win no matter what it takes.

Re: Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan
 

And leadership.

Re: Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan
 

There are THREE things that separates Drew Brees and the other fella; talent, a will to win no matter what and leadership.......and poise under pressure

Re: Despite money and success, a Super Bowl ring separates Drew Brees and Matt Ryan
 

And clean underwear!

then again, I guess that could fall into the "poise under pressure" catagory.