Drew Brees' Profile at Pro-Football-Reference

Drew Brees @ Jockbio.com

Jockbio.com is a phenomenal site that writes up quite comprehensive biographies on professional athletes.  The problem is that the site is not well designed and much of their content is buried.  With this link, consider this diamond unearthed!  Don't forget to check out the tabbed info that includes player quotes and other random stats.

Drew Brees @ Wikipedia

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Drew Brees has finished in the top 5 in each of the last 4 seasons. The Saints like passing the ball more than any other team in the league and Drew doesn't miss games to injury. We heavily debated Manning and Brees for the pole position, and Brees won out for two reasons... 1)Brees accomplished similar stats but in 60+ LESS attempts than Manning.  Will the Colts attempt another 600+ passes in 2010?  Not likely w/ Donald Brown improving steadily - and Addai is still around.  2) Coach Sean Payton doesn't bench his studs until week 17 no matter what (and anyone still playing their fantasy playoffs in week 17, all i have to say is this website is too advanced for you, so go to espn and read the Talentless Mr Roto's rankings. 

Woody

Check this... over the past five seasons, Drew Brees is 2^nd overall in yards, TDs, and completion % (minimum 2000 attempts).  Can you say "Fantasy Wood"?  His only competition to the pole position are Peyton Manning (who is now without Harrison) and Tom Brady (coming off two major knee surgeries).   There isn't an offensive scheme in the league that attempts more passes and Brees is in the prime of his career

Always Second Best?

He came within 15 yards of Dan Marino's 24 year old single season passing yards record.  He is one of two players to have ever passed for over 5000 yards in a season, yet he was overlooked for the MVP in '08 because his team finished .500 and did not go to the playoffs.  He accomplished these numbers with his #1 and #2 pass catchers, Marques Colston and Reggie "Pulls Kardashian" Bush, missing a total of twelve games between them.  What would Marino have done without "Super-Duper" and Clayton?

Brees was the 32^nd overall draft pick for the Chargers in 2001.  At that time, the franchise was rudderless and still hung-over from the whole Ryan Leaf debacle.  Brees won the starting gig in his 2^nd year (2002) with the team but struggled during his first two years with accuracy and confidence.  The Chargers hit the panic button and invested another high first round draft pick in a QB in '04 (Philip Rivers), and Drew got the message loud and clear.  That year he led the Chargers to an AFC West division title.  Brees was outstanding that year throwing 27 TDs on only 400 attempts and only seven INTs.  He followed up his stellar '04 numbers with another strong fantasy outing in '05 although the Bolts missed the playoffs.  Team management was in a quandary during the '05 season .  After having franchise tagged Brees for the season they had a big decision to make for '06: Do they commit long term to Brees thus busting their investment in Philip Rivers, or let him go via free agency and roll the dice?

Their decision was made for them on New Year's Eve 2005 in a meaningless week 17 game vs. the Broncos.  Brees was hit in the end-zone, fumbled, and when he went for the ball his right shoulder was crushed into two pieces by Denver's DT Gerald Warren.  Brees was now without a contract and his career was in jeopardy.

Comeback Kid

It's only fitting that we give this man some props as he is again making headline in the NFL; this year working on patching up NFL legend Brett Favre's gimpy shoulder.  When Brees retires to play golf for the rest of his life, he'll have one man to thank for his good fortune - Dr. James Andrews aka "surgeon to the superstars".  Brees' injury was diagnosed as a torn labrum to his throwing shoulder, or as Doogie here called it "subluxation erecti ".  Basically his right arm went the wrong way too far... a pop and a tear later, and the upper arm bone was no longer connected to the shoulder socket.  It was brutal.  An incision, a scope, and a suture later, and Brees appeared to have a shoulder... and a career again.  Of course, it was not that easy and this is why every injured athlete with enough money and a brain seeks out Dr. Andrews when they have career threatening injuries.  He performs miracles where other doctors are not able to.  We admit, we had serious doubts when the 'Aints plunked down $60 million for that mended throwing shoulder of his, but Drew never seemed to waver...

"In my mind, I feel like I'm going to come back better than ever after this deal and I don't even want to call it a setback. I think it's an opportunity for me to just get going a little bit earlier than expected rehabbing and working out and to make sure when I come back I'm better than I was when I went in.''- Drew Brees (January 2006)

2009 Fantasy Outlook

Brees accomplished so much without his top two receiving targets for most of the year, it's scary to think what he can do with them for 16 games each.  Whether Bush can manage to stay healthy for 16 games is its own Op-Ed piece.  Nothing  significant has changed in the N'Awlins coaching staff, and with the emergence of Lance Moore (who will play the slot) to go along with Colston, Devery Henderson, and that fool Jeremy Shockey, Brees has all the tools he needs to roll in '09.  

Brees's stats over the last five years are undeniable.  Since he and Coach Sean Payton arrived three years ago, no team has attempted more passes than the Saints at a whopping 1,868.  This is the stat that puts him over the top.  Brees should throw another 4,500+ yards to go along with TDs in the 30's.  We are deadlocked as to who should be made the #1 fantasy QB.  Half of us think Brees and the other half Brady.  So it will probably be Manning.  For now, Brees is a top-two QB, and check the Daily Pill and our Newsbreakers for the latest.  We will do some Op-Ed on this topic in mid-late August.