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Drew Brees on Gregg Williams: 'I choose to focus on the positive'
Print Email Christopher Dabe, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Christopher Dabe, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
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on November 23, 2016 at 5:33 PM
Drew Brees chooses to remember the positives from those three seasons, most of all the Super Bowl championship they won together.

As for the aftermath -- the bounty scandal allegations and subsequent punishment that caused coach Sean Payton to miss the entire 2012 season due to suspension -- is another matter.

"Obviously that was a tough situation," Brees said Wednesday.

The New Orleans Saints on Sunday will face former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in a regular season game for the first time since the revelation of the Saints' bounty scandal, of which Williams was viewed as the ringleader.

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That cash-based reward system for key plays, including big hits, was the reason the league suspended not only Payton, but also Williams, for the entire 2012 season.

That season derailed whatever momentum the Saints might have had as they sought another Super Bowl berth.

After posting a 13-3 record in 2011, the Saints started 2012 with an 0-4 record and could never fully recover, finishing 7-9. The Saints followed with an 11-5 mark in 2013, and the team has failed to post a winning record at any point since then.

Mark Ingram feeling good, expects to play Sunday after suffering first concussion
Ingram exited the game last Thursday

Now, for all the focus that will be put on Williams and his return this week to a city where he will not likely receive the warmest of receptions, Brees said he will publicly reflect only on what the Saints achieved with Williams on board.

"We won a lot of football games together," Brees said as he recalled the three-season stretch from 2009 through 2011. "He did a great job with the defense. We shared a Super Bowl from that 2009 season. So I choose to look at that, and I appreciate him for that."

With the Los Angeles Rams holding the sixth-ranked passing defense in the league, Brees said Williams "is a very talented defensive football coach. I know his defense has played extremely well this season, especially over the last four weeks. I know we're going to need our best to beat him."

Against the Rams, the Saints will face the league's top pass-rushing defensive tackle in Aaron Donald, whose 22 quarterback hits lead the league, and includes his five sacks.

Saints' Terron Armstead hoping to be ready for Week 11's game against Rams
Armstead has missed five games on the season

Given Williams' reputation for aggressively pursuing opposing quarterbacks, commonly by blitzing, Brees said his experience with Williams will have him well prepared.

"I know his attitude, I know his demeanor, I know his approach," Brees said. "He's going to have those guys ready to play, and we'll be ready to play too."
Drew Brees readies for his first game against a Gregg Williams-coached defense | NOLA.com