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Drew Brees told the story in December, and he's likely to think of it again Sunday.

That comes with the territory of surpassing one of the NFL's all-time great passers in more than one statistical category.

Nine months after he surpassed Dan Marino and moved into third place on the career passing touchdowns list, Brees will begin Sunday in need of 36 passing yards to overtake the Hall of Fame quarterback for third on the career yards list.

That would put Brees ahead of Marino in three significant career totals, after he moved ahead of him in career completions in Week 2 last season.



Brees has told the story about how at some point early in his career, while with the San Diego Chargers, he stood on the field before a road game against the Dolphins and glanced at the names listed in the team's ring of honor.

Marino at that point had been recently retired, and was a passer Brees watched on television as he grew up playing high school football in Texas and then in college at Purdue.

Brees wondered then if he might someday be so fortunate as to play in the NFL long enough to post the kind of numbers Marino did during his 17 seasons.

Brees told that story in December, after he tied and moved ahead of Marino in career touchdown passes in a Week 14 win at Tampa Bay. Brees has since raised his career total to 432, putting him 12 ahead of Marino's career total of 420.

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jeanpierre

What a testament to Dan Marino and how far ahead of the game he was...

And to think how the game was then when you could really "check" receivers then with all the hand-fighting and bumping along the route...

Different game today, very different...

captainshawn

Agreed. But, that takes nothing away from what Drew has been able to do.
We are blessed, IMO, to be watching one of the best to ever play the position and he's playing for us.

WHO DAT!!!

UK_WhoDat

There is no doubt we are graced to be in the same era of Drew Brees. Even more so that we are Who Dats.
Very true. However Miami Dolphins built their offense completely around Marino. So much so that I think they did so at the deteriment of winning a Championship.

4everSaint

I think it is awesome. Great accomplishment. But damnit if we don't win it really doesn't matter that much to me.

jeanpierre

Guess this got lost with the loss today...

Congrats Drew Brees!

lee909

Only arounf 10,500 to take top spot. Start of the 2018 season should do it. Falcons at the Dome

jeanpierre

It'll be a tight window if he can do it...

lee909

Yeah.
Need two of his best seasons. He has the weapons though. I think the TDs total may take a while longer. A little short of red zone options for my liking

neugey

Dan and Drew are definitely two of the most accurate passers to ever play the game.