Think about that for a second. It’s hard to contemplate the idea of Drew Brees choosing any other team than the New Orleans Saints back in 2006. Imagine all the endless amount of outcomes that could’ve happened if Brees didn’t make that monumental decision to play for the team all those years ago.
What If Drew Brees Never Came to the New Orleans Saints
Never mind the Super Bowls and passing records that Brees set. Also, put aside the number nine jerseys that have just simply been irrelevant. Even more, think of all the plays and players that became better because of Brees. None of that happens if Brees chose another destination. It’s almost like the “It’s a Wonderful Life” version of football.
Can you even see it? Saints fans sit in front of TVs every week to witness the best quarterback to wear the black and gold. He’s humble, yet as competitive as anyone. He’s 6’1″, but he’s a giant on the field. Fans break down every single throw good or bad every Sunday.
But if anyone tries to cheap shot him, Who Dat Nation takes those shots personally. Brees is as New Orleans as beads and Mardi Gras. It would be like the beignet was never eaten. The locker room without the Brees jersey just would be a regular old smelly space with players.
Would Saints fans even realize the implications of so many other huge impacts even to college football. Would Nick Saban still be coaching the Miami Dolphins if Brees signed there? Obviously, the Saints could’ve ended up drafting a quarterback in that period.
The Saints picked running back Reggie Bush in the 2006 NFL Draft. Bush was no doubt a key to the Saints upturn with Brees. But what if the Saints went after a quarterback. Who knows what quarterback the Saints could’ve ended up with: Vince Young or maybe even a Jay Cutler or Matt Leinart.
In 2007, quarterback JaMarcus Russell was taken first. Of course, Russell was one of the biggest busts in history. Furthermore, quarterback Brady Quinn was the only other quarterback drafted in the first round in 2007. And Quinn wasn’t exactly Joe Montana. The numerous amounts of scary thoughts start to build. Also, the city of New Orleans was still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina. Even if Sean Payton took the job, would his steadfast guidance been enough to resurrect the Saints without Brees?
Ironically, teams weren’t exactly climbing over walls to sign Brees. There were doubts. The shoulder injury remained a concern. Yet Brees decided. He felt the pull to come and do something special. Something that’s never been done before. Drew Brees said it best.
“I just felt that energy in New Orleans. From the very beginning there was a genuine feeling that they wanted me there,” Brees said back in 2006.
The Decision That Changed Football Forever
The Dolphins decided to go with quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper was benched after just the fourth game of the season with the Dolphins. Ironically, it was Culpepper that went on injured reserve for the rest of the year. Saban left for Alabama after the 2006 season. The football world was never quite the same. Les Miles even felt the effects of Saban coming back to college football.
All things considered, the Saints won the lottery in 2006. At the same time, a city rebuilt simultaneously, as the black and gold eventually won a Super Bowl just three years later. After all those years and records Brees is still looking for more.
Brees isn’t finished yet. He’s a man on a mission to bring another ring to the “The Big Easy.” Drew Brees not only changed the landscape for years to come. He will always be the best quarterback to wear the fleur-de-lis.
