QUOTE
pajock
Drew gets four pages of coverage entitled \"Cool Brees\" in the current Sports Illustrated.
Terrific article in S.I.....it was great to see a number of his teammates express such overwhelming support for Drew's work ethic and resolve after what he went through this off-season when Chargers GM A.J. Smith said, "We're looking for a quarterback. Brees is a big boy. He can handle it"....unlike many professional athletes nowadays who sugar-coat their emotions and only give the media some politically correct sound-bite at least Brees is being honest now by saying "It was devastating. I was angry. No one wants to hear that they're not wanted."
To his credit, Drew didn't let it affect his competitive drive -- apparently with the help of his wife (damn, he really IS straight

wink ) who he poignantly describes as a
"brilliant, witty person who gave me balance. She felt the pain with me"....of greatest significance, though, are the comments from his Charger teammates including LB Donnie Edwards who said,
"We're expected to be around two to 2 1/2 hours a day during the off-season. Drew was here six, seven hours a day. Overcoming adversity is one thing. But to work that hard, not knowing if it'd be enough, that was awesome" and even Doug Flutie who described Brees as someone who
"showed tremendous resolve. His career was on the line and he prepared like it." A few guys on this board have been long-time fans of Drew for "other reasons" wink but it's nice to see a young athlete who has his priorities in order and is able to respond to adversity in the proper manner....were it not for the incredible season that Peyton Manning is having Brees would be a legitimate MVP candidate virtually any other year with the numbers that he has put up.
Here's hoping that Drew and the Bolts have as much success in the second half of the season (and the postseason?) as they have enjoyed during the first nine games -- and, as much of a longshot as it is, I'm still hoping for a Chargers-Jets AFC Championship game in two months.
~Joe
[ November 16, 2004, 03:42 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]