Despite Adversity, Brees and New Orleans On Top

It was week 17 of the  2005 regular season. The 12-3 Broncos came into Qualcomm Stadium to face their division-rival San Diego Chargers.  Those Chargers, coming off an impressive 12-4 season in 2004, had hoped for a very successful ‘05 campaign, but came in at 9-6 and just short of their playoff hopes.

Up against the division leading Broncos, many tagged the game as pointless.

Not Drew Brees.

This game meant much more to Brees. The pro-bowl quarterback had thrown for over 3,000 yards , but still had plenty to prove on that day. In a contract year, Brees was uncertain about his future, and Philip Rivers was ready to prove himself ready for the same role Brees had been in since 2002.

Brees is a leader, and a fighter, so naturally, he went on the field that day to win, and to prove himself once and for all.

As it would turn out, Brees’ game would end early on that day. As would his season, and eventually, his job. While trying to pick up his own fumble, Brees was hit on the ground,causing the labrum on his throwing arm to tear, as well as some damage to the rotator cuff.

As far as most were concerned, Brees was as good as gone, and the Rivers era in San Diego would begin. After all, a Quarterback with a throwing-arm injury isn’t exactly high demand.

It was understood that Brees wanted to be a Charger. This was his team. These were his guys. He certainly had the locker room behind him, and he was confident that he could rehab his shoulder post-surgery, and return to the player he was before.

Chargers’ general manager A.J Smith must have felt differently, because in that off-season, the Chargers offered Brees a contract worth $2 Million guaranteed, obvious back-up money by NFL standards. Brees understood that he had a lot to prove, coming off major surgery, and was being compared to Chad Pennington -a noodle armed quarterback- after suffering a similar injury.

As March 11th of 2006 rolled around, Brees was in the midst of the most important fight of his life. Rehabbing, rebuilding, and renovating his battle-scarred shoulder. Free Agency had finally begun, and two teams in particular showed their interest in Brees.

It was between the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints.

Both teams were looking for their franchise quarterback, the guy to take charge of the team. The Dolphins were thought of as the team closer to success, coming off a 9-7 year under head coach Nick Saban. The Saints were thought of as a bottom-feeding team, coming off a 3-13 2005 season in which no home games were played in the Super dome, due to the wreckage and devastation caused by Hurrican Katrina.

Jim Haslett was gone, Sean Payton was in.

Payton had the tough task of trying to recruit players to his squad, in a city that had near to nothing, and little hope.

As Brees awaited a decision, the Dolphins decided to go in a different direction, and had chosen Daunte Culpepper as their starter, after evaluating both quarterbacks. Many believe that Brees’ shoulder injury  was the main turn-off for the Dolphins, unwilling to pay guaranteed money to an uncertain throwing-shoulder.

And so the match was made.

As Drew Brees -once a pro-bowl quarterback- fought to get back, so did the city of New Orleans.

Much like the hit that tore the labrum of Drew Brees’ throwing shoulder, Hurricane Katrina tore the spirit of New Orleans.

In a city mourning over 1500 casualties, with homes, schools, and stores completely gone, the rebuilding had begun, and slowly.

At the same time, Drew Brees was rebuilding his shoulder. The same arm that had thrown for over 10,000 yards in the NFL was now just a question mark. Nobody knew what Brees would have when he returned, or if he could return in time for the season. As a professional athelte, it was understood that Brees was going to give it his all, and fight to get back to the old Drew.

At any time in his life, this was the time for Drew Brees to be selfish. He needed to be. He had millions of dollars, and a career on the line. If he couldn’t fully come back from this injury, his shot would be gone.

But Drew Brees isn’t a selfish guy.

That’s why enroute to coming back 100% that next year, Brees donated hours of his time to his new city, and his new home. Brees understood the parallel between his shoulder, and this city.

“That was the defining moment in my life and one that brought me to New Orleans. With a sense that this is a calling for me, an opportunity that I have, to not only come to a city and be a part of the rebuilding of the organization, city, community and region, This was an opportunity that really doesn’t come along for most people in their lifetime, and here it is staring me in the face.” Said Brees on the situation.

The damage that Katrina did to New Orleans wasn’t reversable, nor was that done to Brees’ shoulder. But by working hard to rebuild, both could overcome the odds.

And overcome the odds they did.

Brees did make it back for the 2006 season, and he put up the best numbers of his career with over 4,400 yards passing. The Saints turned it around, and finished 10-6, clinching a playoff spot.

The city rejoiced.

Their man, Drew Brees- who was seen around the community as not just an athlete,but a hero for his services to the city -was the guy they believed would take them all the way.

The magic in that 2006 year was unmatched.

The epic return to the super-dome on Monday night.

New Orleans was back.

The Saints were back.

Drew Brees was back.

Who would’ve thought?

And as the playoffs in 2006 went on, it came down to two teams in both conferences.

In the NFC, it was the Saints and the Bears.

And although the Saints battled in a hard fought game, they came up short. They had barely missed the franchises’ first Super Bowl birth, and had to wait until next year for another shot.

But Brees and the Saints kept hope, and the city of New Orleans continued to rebuild.

And after 2 mediocre seasons for the team, (Not Brees, who would throw for over 4,400 yards  in ‘07 and over 5,000 in ‘08) the city never lost hope, and the 2009 season arrived.

Brees had established himself as a starter, a prominent passer, and most of all a leader. He and coach Sean Payton were ready for greatness.

New Orleans got off to a perfect start, winning their first thirteen games, until dropping one against Dallas, and the two other games remaining.

But they were back, and ready to make a playoff run.

The Saints would face three future hall-of-famers in their playoff run. Kurt Warner, Brett Favre, and Peyton Manning.

None of these big-named quarterbacks could do this year what Drew Brees did.

Because Drew Brees is a leader, and a fighter.

And Brees lead and fought his team to their first ever Super Bowl berth, and he wasn’t stopping there.

Just four years removed from major-shoulder-surgery, fighting against the odds, the adversity, and the pain, Brees had the chance to put the team and  city he now loved on top. New Orleans natives wanted nothing more than to have their city be mentioned as champions.

And on Sunday, February 7th, 2010, New Orleans was on top, thanks to their underdog quarterback, Drew Brees.

The confetti fell, the Lombardi trophy was raised, and at that moment, two underdogs that were brought together in the midst of hopeless devastation had joined forces and come out on top.

And those who thought the game on week 17 of the 2005 season was pointless, were proven to be dead-wrong. The injury that could have potentially ended Drew Brees’ career, was the injury that made him the man he is today. A man of determination, charity, and leadership. A champion.