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It happened three years ago, and it was very purposeful.

Drew Brees had just turned 38 years old. He had just missed the playoffs for the third straight season. And he decided he was going to start embracing his football mortality.

“Prior to that, it was like, 'This is gonna last forever,' right?” said the New Orleans Saints quarterback, who paused when asked what changed.

“I don’t know. Because I recognized that I was closer to the end than I was the beginning. ... Just reality,” Brees told ESPN in a recent conversation as he heads into the playoffs for the ninth time in his 19-year career.



“When you realize it’s not gonna last forever, I think your career kind of flashes before your eyes. And I think you just become very grateful for the opportunity, he said. "And I think that gratitude also gives you a great sense of responsibility. And the motivation to -- while you’re in this moment, while you’re in this chapter of your life -- to just give it all you’ve got and enjoy it as much as you can. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone. ...

“So going into the 2017 season, I said, ‘I’m just playing it one year at a time.’ Like, ‘I’m not saying this is my last year, I’m not saying it’s not my last year. I’m truly gonna play it like it is my last and just stay in the moment and enjoy each and every one of these like it could be gone.'"

Brees acknowledged his approach has “absolutely” made the Saints’ last two gut-wrenching playoff defeats even more painful -- first the “Minneapolis Miracle” following the 2017 season and then the infamous missed pass-interference call in last year’s NFC Championship Game.

“But I also believe God has a plan,” Brees said, “and that that was gonna bring us all together and strengthen us and poise us to do whatever we’re gonna do in the future.”

Aside from the extra heartache, everything else about Brees’ approach seems to be working brilliantly as he closes in on his 41st birthday on Jan. 15.

The Saints have won more regular-season games than any team in the NFL in the past three years, winning three straight NFC South championships with records of 11-5, 13-3 and 13-3 (though somehow they got stuck with the No. 3 seed this year as they prepare to host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday).

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QBREES9

Because I recognized that I was closer to the end than I was the beginning. ... Just reality,” Brees told ESPN in a recent conversation as he heads into the playoffs for the ninth time in his 19-year career.

Love Drew Brees.

darksoul35

Mr Payton finally got him a damn defense is what happened.

foreverfan

Ok... After reading that, does anybody else really hope we lose another game this season just to keep Brees from thinking about retiring?

Maybe winning the Superbowl will inspire him to play on for many years and beat Tom Brady's long past SB Records. What might Falcons fans thing?




MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

RailBoss

Drew finally became Breesus,
I'm asking what more can this guy do for us Who Dats.