Catching Up With ... Drew Brees

[JoeMcRugby]

A new article as the headline banner on NFL.com:
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Catching Up With ... Drew Brees
By Dave Richard
NFL.com

(May 23, 2005) -- A year ago, Chargers QB Drew Brees watched his team bring rookie Philip Rivers aboard as San Diego's quarterback of the future. He spent the offseason preparing hard for 2005, then went out and easily had the best year of his career. He set personal highs in completions, completion percentage, touchdowns, QB rating and a career low in interceptions. And he also led San Diego to their first playoff appearance since 1995.

Brees was catching some rays and tossing some pigskin at the EA Sports QB Challenge in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., when we got the chance to corral the upstart passer on life in San Diego, strategies for shutting down Antonio Gates and everything you need to know about Australia.

How do you like being involved in an event like the QB Challenge?

Brees: Oh, shoot. This is fun. I got to meet some guys I've never met before, hang out and have a good time. You walk away from this feeling good not because you competed in the event, but the fact that you got to meet guys who you watched on film. All of us quarterbacks have watched film on one another when you're getting ready to play. You'll sit there and say, 'Nice throw' or 'nice decision' or 'I could have done that better.' We all grade each other, so that makes it kind of funny to meet the guys in person.

Do you think the quarterbacks who do events like these with a teammate are at an advantage? Fellow Charger Keenan McCardell is here.

Brees: Yeah. I just know he's a sure-handed guy, so if I throw it anywhere near him he's going to catch it. I need to rig this event so that Keenan is up every time I throw.

You should have tried to get Antonio Gates out here as well to really clinch the event for you.

Brees: Oh yeah. That would have been a heck of a deal. But I don't think they brought any tight ends out here. But hey, he runs routes like a receiver.

When did you realize Gates was going to be so good?

Brees: Well, he was talented as heck right when he got to San Diego. But going from playing basketball to playing tight end in the NFL is a big, big change. It's funny now because I told Antonio about midway through the season that he made this process so much harder now for basketball guys coming out of college who think they can make it in the NFL if they can't make it in the NBA. That's not the case at all -- I don't think they realize how much work is involved and how it's not all about running down the field and catching passes. You've got to be able to block, be able to play through injuries and be tough. Antonio is all of those things.

I think going into the 2003 season, which was his rookie season, he started off on the practice squad and due to some injuries at tight end he sort of moved up and became kind of a decoy. Then he started to realize things out a little bit and now he's a star.

Do you think teams are going to do more to defend against him in 2005?

Brees: Teams said that midseason last year and he still kept catching the ball. The fact is, we have LaDainian Tomlinson in the backfield, we have Keenan and Eric Parker out at wide receiver, we have Gates at tight end. You can't cover them all. So it becomes my job to give the guy the ball that provides the best matchup for us. Gates is going to get his opportunities as are the other guys. It becomes a guessing game for our opponents.

What are you up to this offseason?

Brees: I take a trip with my wife every offseason. That's the thing about football -- you can get burned out, especially after a long season. You just want to kind of get away and taste a little bit of the free life. Then when I get back, I plan out my offseason and watch a lot of tape. Set my goals for the offseason.

Where did you go this year?

Brees: Australia. It was a fun trip. My fondest memory was scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. That was pretty cool. We did all kinds of stuff in Sydney -- climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, saw the Opera House and other cool stuff.

What are some of the differences between Australia and America?

Brees: I'll tell you one -- something you learn about Australia and their kangaroos is that we think they're these exotic animals. But they're like deer over there. Their roadkill are kangaroos. Seriously. We saw a dead kangaroo in the road and we were shocked, but the natives aren't shocked. It happens all the time.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8497365

[thehotdelancey]

Good read! Thank you so much Joe!!!!!!!!!

[bolt_man2006]

notice that they had to ask questions about gates? the guy that made drew brees look like a pro bowler.....yikes!

[TJ21]

Originally Posted by bolt_man2006

notice that they had to ask questions about gates? the guy that made drew brees look like a pro bowler.....yikes!

You're asking for a countdown...

[SuperBowlBolts]

Originally Posted by bolt_man2006

notice that they had to ask questions about gates? the guy that made drew brees look like a pro bowler.....yikes!

notice how you just brought a month old thread out of nowhere

[FishinFool74]

A Month? That was a year!!!!!!!!!!

[boltzman3]

the BREES era is over. lets stick with the RIVERS era...

[SuperBowlBolts]

Originally Posted by FishinFool74

A Month? That was a year!!!!!!!!!!

whoa i seemed to read 06 instead of 05 haha

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by bolt_man2006

notice that they had to ask questions about gates? the guy that made drew brees look like a pro bowler.....yikes!

This is a year old post. This is not the first one. Please quit trolling.

I'll start it then: 5

[SuperBowlBolts]

Originally Posted by Nomad

This is a year old post. This is not the first one. Please quit trolling.

I'll start it then: 5

let the countdown begin
4