Faith runs deep in New Orleans, a city steeped in Jesuit
traditions that belie its reputation for excess and indulgence. And never were
its citizens more in need of a savior than in March of 2006, when the
devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina a few months prior had left the
community's spirit in as much repair as the homes and businesses the storm had
ripped apart.
Drew Brees was looking for someone to believe in him as well during that time
period. A free agent who sustained an ill-timed and potentially career-
threatening injury to his throwing shoulder in the final game of the 2005
season, the gritty quarterback garnered only lukewarm interest on the open
market despite throwing for a career-best 3,576 yards and 24 touchdowns as a
member of the San Diego Chargers. Returning to his old team wasn't a viable
option either, with the Bolts already possessing a viable and younger
replacement in first-round draft choice Philip Rivers.
The Saints weren't scared off by Brees' health issues, or by the former Purdue
star's generously-listed six-foot frame that scared off many a college
recruiter during his days as a decorated prepster in his native Texas. They
signed Brees to a six-year, $60-million contract, a deal that raised a few
eyebrows at the time but has since proven to be a virtual bargain.
The benefits from New Orleans' bold decision were instantaneous. With Brees
expertly directing the creative offense installed by new head coach Sean
Payton, the 2006 Saints orchestrated one of the most unbelievable turnarounds
in NFL history. The new-look club won 10 games during the regular season,
seven more than its calamity-filled 2005 campaign, and reached the NFC
Championship Game for the first time in the franchise's 40-year tenure.
And most importantly, the Saints' sudden resurgence restored hope and pride to
a city that had only begun to pick itself off the canvas from the knockout
punch that Katrina had delivered.
Brees certainly did his part during that magical season, amassing a team-
record 4,418 passing yards and 26 touchdowns in addition to the invaluable
leadership he provided to the huddle and locker room. Those contributions
still paled in comparison to what the fiery field general brought away from
the playing field, however.
Immediately after signing with the Saints, Brees and his wife, Brittany, made
it a point to ingrain themselves in the fabric of New Orleans' ravaged
community. The couple purchased and restored an old home in the historic
Uptown district of the city, spent countless hours helping rebuild other
houses damaged by Katrina through the Habitat for Humanity program, and raised
millions of dollars towards the construction and refurbishment of local
schools, parks and athletic facilities through their Brees Dream Foundation.
Those efforts earned Brees what he considers one of the most cherished of the
numerous honors he's attained over his outstanding nine-year career, the 2006
NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The All-Pro triggerman shared the
accolade with LaDainian Tomlinson, his former teammate with the Chargers.
For all he's already given to a city that's endured its share of hard times
over the years, Brees knows there's one gift he and his teammates can still
bestow upon New Orleans' long-suffering fan base. When the Saints take the
field against the Indianapolis Colts for Super Bowl XLIV, they'll be competing
for a world title for the first time since joining the NFL in 1967. Prior to
its victories over Arizona and Minnesota in this year's playoffs, New Orleans
had won a mere two postseason games in its existence.
"We know what it's meant thus far to this community," Brees said shortly after
the Saints' 31-28 overtime triumph over the Vikings in the NFC Championship
Game. "Not only the regular season, but also being able to host two playoff
games...what it did for this economy and what it did for the spirit of this
city and these people."
While Brees' primary goal may indeed be to bring his adopted city its first-
ever championship in a major professional sport, there's a bit of personal
validation involved as well. Although he's solidified his standing as one of
the NFL's premier signal-callers of this era with four amazingly-prolific
seasons as the Saints' triggerman, the 31-year-old still lacks the coveted
championship that separates the great quarterbacks from the legendary ones.
In some minds, Brees is viewed as a modern-day Dan Marino, a player whose
extraordinary individual accomplishments were overshadowed by his inability to
win a Super Bowl. Albeit an unfair label to be saddled with, championships are
still the measuring stick by which quarterbacks are judged.
Brees' other numbers are pretty darn good, though. No player has thrown for
more yards (18,298) since he joined the Saints prior to the 2006 season, while
his 122 touchdown passes over that span are tied with Peyton Manning -- the man
who'll be leading the Colts into battle in Super Bowl XLIV. Brees set an NFL
record with 440 completions in 2007, then came within 15 yards of matching
Marino's league single-season mark of 5,084 the following year.
The four-time Pro Bowl selection established a new NFL standard for accuracy
this season, completing a pinpoint 70.6 of his attempts while matching a
career-high with 34 scoring strikes.
Only time will tell whether or not he'll be able to obtain football's ultimate
prize. But regardless of the final outcome on Super Bowl Sunday, Drew Brees
will forever be a winner in the eyes and hearts of the people of New Orleans.
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