GumboBC

Why Brooks got the starting job from Jeff Blake:

2000 - After becoming starting QB following season-ending injury to Jeff Blake in Game 10, Brooks completed 113-of-194 passes for 1,514 yards, nine TDs and six interceptions and an 85.7 QB rating

...Also had 41 rushes for 170 yards, with two TDs...Ranked second in the NFC in fourth-quarter passer rating (101.8)...Was the top-rated QB in the postseason (92.0), completing 46-of-77 passes for 561 yards, six TDs and three interceptions...Also was the Saints' leading postseason rusher with 15 rushes for 55 yards...

After seeing limited duty in Games 5 and 9, was thrust into action in Game 11 vs. Oakland, Nov. 19, following Blake's first-quarter injury...Against Oakland was 14-of-22 for 187 yards, with two TD passes and one interception. One of the scoring strikes was a then-career-long 53-yard TD pass to Willie Jackson

...Earned respect of teammates quickly the following week, helping engineer a 31-24 win at defending Super Bowl Champion St. Louis, Nov. 26. In the victory, Brooks was 17-of-29 for 190 yards with one TD pass and two interceptions. He also carried the ball seven times for 34 yards with two TDs and became only the third QB in NFL history to beat the defending Super Bowl Champs in first career start

...Was 30-of-48 for 441 yards with two TD passes and two interceptions vs. Denver, Dec. 3, setting a club record in passing yards...Helped Saints rebound with come-from-behind 31-27 win the following week at San Francisco, completing 12-of-29 passes for 203 yards and two TDs. Was nearly as dangerous with his feet as he was with his arm, rushing for 108 yards on 11 carries. That total is an all-time record for a Saints' quarterback, and it includes a memorable fourth-quarter scramble for 10 yards on fourth-and-four at the New Orleans 38. The run kept New Orleans' game-winning drive alive

...Became the first NFL QB to have a 400-yard passing effort and a 100-yard rushing game in the same season and only the sixth player to have both in a career...Was 24-of-35 for 285 yards in playoff-clinching, 23-7 win vs. Atlanta, Dec. 17...Was 16-of-31 for 208 yards with two TD passes and one interception vs. St. Louis, Dec. 24

...In 31-24 NFC Wild Card victory over St. Louis, Dec. 30, completed 16-of-29 for 266 yards with four TD passes and one interception...In NFC Divisional Playoff at Minnesota, 1/6/01, was 30-of-48 for 295 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.

How Brooks did as his first full year as a starter:

2002 - After inking a long-term contract extension prior to the season opener, Brooks started all 16 games and completed 283 of 528 passes for 3,572 yards

...Threw a franchise record 27 TDs as well as 15 interceptions last season. His touchdown total eclipsed the mark of 26, previously reached by Brooks (2001) and Jim Everett (1995)...Also rushed 61 times for 256 yards

...In a period during the final six games of the season, Brooks went 141 passing attempts without throwing an interception, including four consecutive games without a pick (vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 1-at Cincinnati, Dec. 22)

...One of only six Saints offensive players to start all 16 games

...In the opener at Tampa Bay, Sept. 8, was 24-of-42 for 260 yards with two TD passes...Led New Orleans to victory in Superdome meeting against his previous team, the Green Bay Packers, Sept. 15. In the win, Brooks completed 16-of-28 passes for 217 yards and two TDs

...Engineered a remarkable comeback at Chicago, Sept. 22, completing 22-of-34 passes for 233 yards with three TDs, tying his career-high for touchdown passes. The Saints trailed Chicago, 20-0, in the second quarter before the New Orleans rally

...In 32-29 victory vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 6, was 13-of-23 for 205 yards and a TD pass. Also connected on a career-long 64-yard completion to WR Jerome Pathon in the contest...Was 12-of-23 for 205 yards with three TD passes at Washington, Oct. 13, again equaling his career-high for touchdown tosse

s...Completed 23-of-35 for 254 yards with three TD passes in come-from-behind victory vs. San Francisco, Oct. 20. Brooks tied career-high for TD passes for second consecutive week, and his one-yard TD run with 27 seconds remaining helped seal the 35-27 victory. The Saints trailed, 24-13, at the start of the fourth quarter. For his efforts Brooks was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

...Recorded his third consecutive game with two or more touchdown passes with two scoring strikes vs. Atlanta, Oct. 27

...Sparkled in come-from-behind win at Carolina, Nov. 10, completing 20-of-37 for 259 yards and one TD pass. His seven-yard scoring strike to WR Donte' Stallworth with 30 seconds remaining pushed the Saints ahead for good...Was 20-of-31 for 279 yards and two TD passes at Atlanta, Nov. 17, finding Joe Horn for a 57-yard strike in the fourth quarter to pull within a touchdown and finding Stallworth with a 12-yard TD with 3:09 remaining to pull the Saints within a touchdown of the Falcons again

...Completed four of five passes for 35 yards on a 12 play, 80-yard scoring drive to put the Saints within two points of Cleveland, Nov. 24. Finished 23-of-40 for 318 yards in the losing effort...Tossed two TDs in 23-20 victory vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 1...At Baltimore, Dec. 8, completed 9-of-25 passes for 123 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown pass to Stallworth in the first quarter

...Finished 21-of-33 for 255 yards and two TD passes vs. Minnesota, Dec. 15, including a 35-yard scoring pass to WR Jake Reed...Connected with Stallworth for a 57-yard touchdown strike at Cincinnati, Dec. 22.

Brooks in 2003:

2003 - Brooks continued to develop into one of the league's brightest young stars, starting all 16 games for the third-straight season and completing 306 of 518 passes for 3,546 yards, with 24 TDs and eight interceptions. His QB rating of 88.8 was a career-high, eclipsing the 85.7 he posted in 2000.

..Also ranked second on the team with 175 yards rushing on 54 carries, with two touchdowns...Did not throw an interception over the Saints' final six games (206 attempts), included in a stretch of 234-straight pass attempts to close the season without being picked off...Including 24 in 2003, a club-record 27 in 2002 and 26 TDs in 2001, his total of 77 scoring passes is the highest three-year total for a QB in franchise history (QB Jim Everett is second with 60 from 1994-96)

...Had 3,721 yards of total offense in 2003 (3,546 passing, 175 rushing), the sixth-highest total in franchise history. Brooks holds the team record with 4,190 yards of total offense (3,832 yards passing, 358 passing) in 2001&In the opener at Seattle, Sept. 7, completed 29 of 47 for 274 yards, with a TD and an INT...Led Saints to first victory of season vs. Houston, Sept. 14, completing 18 of 27 for 189 yards and two touchdowns for a 111.5 passer rating

...The following week at Tennessee, Sept. 21, posted second-straight game with a passer rating of over 100 (104.4) by completing 15 of 23 for 185 yards and a TD. Added 15 rushing yards on four carries...At Carolina, Oct. 5, completed 16 of 31 for 189 yards, with a touchdown and an INT...Saints earned second win of season Oct. 12 vs. Chicago, as Brooks completed 14 of 29 for 153 yards with a pair of TDs...Earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors following a sparkling performance at Atlanta, Oct. 19. In the contest, Brooks was 23 of 30 for 352 yards and three TDs, posting a career-high 148.2 passer rating. Also set a career-long with a 69-yard scoring toss to WR Donte' Stallworth in the opening quarter...Against the Panthers at the Superdome, Oct. 26, he completed 20 of 33 for 187 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception

...Led the Saints to third-straight victory over division rival Tampa Bay, Nov. 2, completing 13 of 29 for 142 yards, with a TD and an interception. Brooks connected on five-straight tosses on New Orleans' final drive, a 43-yard march that set up the game-winning, 47-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining

...Was 21 of 37 for 228 yards with two interceptions in overtime victory over Atlanta, Nov. 16. Brooks, who weathered seven sacks in the contest, completed four of five passes - including a 38-yard strike to WR Michael Lewis - late in the fourth quarter to set up the field goal that sent the game into overtime. In the extra period, Brooks directed a 37-yard march in three plays to set up K John Carney's 36-yard, game-winning kick

...At Philadelphia, Nov. 23, was 24 of 39 for 287 yards and a TD...Tied his career high the following week at Washington, Nov. 30, with two rushing TDs (on six carries for 11 yards). He led New Orleans on fourth-quarter comeback for 11th time in his career, finding TE Boo Williams for a 15-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter for the 24-20 victory. Overall in the game, Brooks was 14 of 30 for 121 yards

...In the rematch vs. the Buccaneers in the Superdome, Dec. 7, Brooks was 20 of 30 for 238 yards and a TD...Had one of the best games of his career the following week in prime time vs. the New York Giants, Dec. 14, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after completing 26 of 35 for 296 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. It was his 20th regular-season game with 250 yards or more passing, and he moved into third in team record books with 977 completions. Passer rating of 138.8 was the third-highest of his career&At Jacksonville, Dec. 21, was 22 of 398 for 296 yards and two TDs, including career-long (at the time) 75-yard TD pass on lateral-filled final play

...In finale vs. Dallas, Dec. 28, Brooks completed 22 of 38 for 296 yards, including a career-long 76-yard TD pass to WR Donte' Stallworth in the second quarter...That play moved Brooks into second place in club record books with 86 career touchdown passes.

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saintswhodi

You coulda stopped right there and answered the question of why Brooks got the starting job from Blake and saved yourself a lot of time.

BrooksMustGo

I thought it was because Blake broke his foot?

Bold Prediction: Blake comes off the bench to throw the game winning TD vs the Patriots today.

FireVenturi

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xrotflmao: xrotflmao: OH my bad ur serious