Drew Brees

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{{NFL player 

  |Image=San-diego.jpg
  |DateOfBirth=January 15, 1979
  |Birthplace=Austin, Texas
  |Position=Quarterback
  |College=Purdue
  |Awards=2004 Comeback POY
  |NFL=235197
  |PFR=BreeDr00
  |DatabaseFootball=BREESDRE01
  |years=2001–2006
2006-Present
  |teams=San Diego Chargers
New Orleans Saints
  |ProBowls=2005, 2006*

}}

Drew Christopher Brees (born January 15, 1979 in Austin, Texas) is an American football quarterback who formerly played for the San Diego Chargers in the NFL. In 2006 he signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints.

Contents

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College career

Drew Brees was the Texas Class 5A Most Valuable Player in 1996 while leading Westlake High School to a 16-0 record. Brees attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He left Purdue with Big Ten Conference records in passing yards (11,792), touchdown passes (90), total offensive yards (12,693), completion percentage (.611), completions (1,026), and attempts (1,678). He also led the Boilermakers to the 2001 Rose Bowl, Purdue's first appearance in Pasadena since 1967. Brees was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback in 1999. Brees won the Maxwell Award as the nation's outstanding player of 2000. Brees was also fourth in heisman voting in 1999 and 3rd in 2000. As a senior Brees was named the Academic All-America Player of Year, the first Purdue Boilermaker since Bruce Brineman (1989) to earn national academic honors. Brees also was awarded for his humble and productive attitude when he was the recipient of Purdue’s Leonard Wilson Award for unselfishness and dedication.

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Draft

Brees was drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick in the second round (32nd overall) in 2001. Brees was the second quarterback selected (behind Michael Vick) and San Diego's second selection of 2001, after San Diego traded the first overall pick to Atlanta Falcons for the 5th overall pick, which they used to select LaDainian Tomlinson. This particular draft is notable for San Diego and Brees. Firsly, San Diego forfeited the opportunity to select Michael Vick in favor of Tomlinson, despite the fact that the quarterback position was the more pressing one. It was expected that the Miami Dolphins or Detroit Lions would select Brees in the first round, however both teams allowed Brees to slip to the second round, where San Diego happily drafted the QB. Additionaly, the draft was significant for Brees because, while Brees was a senior at Purdue and attending the Heisman awards ceremony with the then TCU runningback Tomlinson, the two joked about how it would be great if they could be on the same team. Evidently as it turned out they did end up on the same team. During the draft, Tomlinson and Brees greeted each other and made a vow to turn the Chargers team around. [1]. He played in his first-career game on November 4, 2001, against the Kansas City Chiefs. Brees won the starting job over Doug Flutie during training camp before the start of the 2002 season, but was later replaced during the 2003 season by Flutie.

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Early NFL Career

In his rookie season, Brees played only one game under head coach Mike Riley but did arguably well, garnering a passer rating of 94.8. In his second year, Brees wasn't able to silence critics who complained about his poor arm strength. Brees posted reasonable numbers, passing for 3284 yards and 17 touchdowns under new head coach Marty Schottenheimer. The Chargers looked to turn Brees' second season into a successful one as they stared 4-0 against a difficult schedule. However, a series of losses forced the Chargers into a .500 at 8-8, and forced Brees to settle for a 76.9 rating on the season. Brees was named the starter of 2003, but failed to prove himself worthy of the job as he posted his worst season ever, with a career low 2108 yards and 67.5 rating. The Chargers went 4-12 under the poor leadership of both Brees and Flutie. San Diego earned the first overall pick with said record, and looked to draft a quarterback.

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Comeback

Drew's career with the Chargers was briefly put in jeopardy after San Diego drafted N.C. State's Philip Rivers with the fourth pick in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. In fact, it was almost certain Brees' days as the Chargers' starting QB were over. However, Rivers held out during all of training camp and most of the preseason for big money, he eventually settled for pretty much what was offered prior to the opening of training camp. This forced the Chargers coaching staff to give Brees one last look and Drew persevered to remain the starter throughout the 2004 season and jump to near the top of the league's statistical rankings. Brees held the third best rating in the NFL, at 104.8 (behind Peyton Manning and Daunte Culpepper) and posted the best single season record in Chargers history, easily breaking the previous record held by Dan Fouts. Brees was selected to the 2005 NFL Pro Bowl as a reward for his impressive 2004 season. He was also named 2004 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Brees became a free agent after the 2004 season and was not entirely expected to return to San Diego, which had already committed a large sum of money to Rivers. However, the team eventually designated Brees as a franchise player, giving him a one-year contract that quadrupled his pay to $8 million for the next season.

Under the terms of the "franchise player" contract, Brees was eligible to be traded, but the Chargers would have had to receive two future first round draft choices in return. Brees was not traded and continued to start the remainder of the 2005 season.

Brees continued his excellent play in 2005, as he posted a career high in passing yards with 3576. Brees also posted the 10th best rating in the NFL at 89.2. Brees is praised for performing very well in big games. In 2005 he led the Chargers to a win over the New England Patriots at New England, thus breaking a home-winning streak held by the Patriots at Gillete stadium while posting a 137.5 rating. Brees also threw a 54 yard pass to set up a field goal that would regain the lead in a crucial game against the previously undefeated Indianapolis Colts. [2]. In 2004, Brees posted a 101.2 rating with 319 yards in his first ever playoff game against the New York Jets.

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Injury and Free Agency

In the last game of the 2005 season against the Denver Broncos, Brees injured his shoulder while trying to pick up a fumble of his after being hit Denver Broncos safety John Lynch, Denver tackle Gerard Warren, hit Brees while he was on the ground, a legal but questionable hit, that caused the injury. Brees underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn labrum in his right (throwing) shoulder on January 5th, 2006. Subsequent reports mention rotator cuff damage as well, making the injury much more serious than it was originally described.

Brees was selected as first alternate to the AFC Pro Bowl team in 2006, he would have played in his second consecutive Pro Bowl due to the injury to Carson Palmer; however, his own injury dictated that the AFC Pro Bowl roster would have to be filled by second alternate Jake Plummer.

Following his injury, he was not re-signed by the Chargers, which was considered a wrong move by many experts because of Philip Rivers' lack of experience; although in reality it will only be possible to adequately evaluate the decision after a year or more has elapsed and in the light of the performance of both Drew and Phillip Rivers in forthcoming seasons.

During the 2006 free agency period, rumors circulated that several teams were interested in Brees services, the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins were both serious enough to bring him in for a visit and both made offers. On March 14, 2006, Brees chose New Orleans, and Miami quickly traded a second-round draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for Pro-Bowl quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Brees was impressed with the Saints' commitment to winning and the confidence they placed in him.

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New Orleans Saints

Brees signed a 6-year, 60 million dollar deal with the New Orleans Saints on March 14, 2006. The Saints hope the former Comeback Player of the Year can improve the team and lead them in to the playoffs.

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Achievements

• 4th in 1999 Heisman trophy voting.

• 3rd in 2000 Heisman trophy voting.

• 2000 Maxwell award.

• Socrates Award for top college athlete in terms of academics.

• Won 3 AFC Player of the week awards.

• Won 4 FedEx quarterback of the week awards.

• 2004 Comeback player of the year.

• 2004 Pro Bowl selection.

• 2004 San Diego Chargers team MVP.

• 2005 Pro Bowl first alternate.

• Brees has the 14th best passer rating in NFL history behind Jeff Garcia.

• Brees has the best quarterback rating in San Diego Chargers history

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Career Stats

Passing Stats
Year Team G-S Passing
Att.-Comp. 		Yards Pct. TD Int. Long Sacks-Lost Pass
Rating
2001 San Diego 1-0 27-15 221 .556 1 0 40 2-12 94.8
2002 San Diego 16-16 526-320 3,284 .608 17 16 52 24-180 76.9
2003 San Diego 11-11 356-205 2,108 .576 11 15 68 21-178 67.5
2004 San Diego 15-15 400-262 3,159 .655 27 7 79 18-131 104.8
2005 San Diego 16-16 500-323 3,576 .646 24 15 54 27-223 89.2
Totals 59-58 1809-1125 12348 .622 80 53 79 92-724 84.9
Postseason 1-1 42-31 319 .738 2 1 44 2-11 101.2
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External links

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