Drew Brees saw his career flash before his eyes on Dec. 31, 2005. The soon-to-be free agent quarterback of the San Diego Chargers had just been sacked and promptly fumbled. He dove for the ball, and Denver defensive tackle Gerard Warren landed on top of him.
“Right when it happened, I was scared to death,” Brees said Wednesday. “My right shoulder was dislocated. It was out of socket. It?s like, of all the terrible things that could have happened, that was just about the worst.”
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A realization crept over Brees as he held his torn right labrum.
“Right when it happened, I just had a bad feeling that was the last time I was going to put on a Charger uniform,” Brees said.
In the months that followed, it was clear the Chargers were finally going to put their future in the hands of Philip Rivers, the young prodigy they had traded for during the 2004 draft. Nearly 10 months later, the switch has worked out for Brees. The sixth-year veteran has led his new team, the New Orleans Saints, to a 5-1 record with Pro Bowl form, which he first attained in 2004. He has completed 138 of 207 passes for 1,509 yards and eight touchdowns.
“I just looked at it as a tremendous challenge,” Brees said. “I was going to come and be stronger than I had ever been before. I feel like I am on track to do that, to be better than I ever was prior to the injury.”
This weekend, Brees will be in control of the offense as the Saints look to take down the Ravens.
“He just makes plays happen for them,” Ravens head coach Brian Billick said. “They have great confidence in him, and he is a big part of why they are where they are right now.”
Brees? road to redemption was not easy. As the Chargers sat at home watching the playoffs last year, Brees could barely move his arm. He called last January “probably one of the worst months of my life.”
No stranger to discomfort in San Diego, Brees spent the first three seasons of his career looking largely replaceable. The Chargers drafted Eli Manning in 2004, but when he refused to come to San Diego, the team made it clear Brees was not in their future plans. They traded Manning to the Giants for Rivers. Brees won the starting job that season and threw for 3,159 yards and led the team to an AFC West title, keeping Rivers on the sideline for two seasons.
When Brees got injured, San Diego anointed Rivers as its new quarterback by not renewing Brees? contract. The Saints, looking to rebuild the franchise in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, signed the rehabilitating quarterback to a six-year deal in March.
Brees said the Saints were the only team to show confidence in his ability to come back from the injury.
Said Saints head coach Sean Payton: “I think he?s got a calming demeanor that I think is important to have.”
