Brees Earned Nomination

By Jim Gazzolo

When Drew Brees went to New Orleans, he came as a broken quarterback to a shattered city.

With a bad shoulder, Brees was the quarterback nobody seemed to want.

San Diego had moved on from him, and Miami passed on him.

His career was in doubt.

As for New Orleans, it was a city devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and its future was uncertain.

Then there was the football team that called New Orleans home. The Saints were bad and looking to give their fans hope.

It was rumored that they might not even return to New Orleans. 

What followed was a perfect marriage between the quarterback, the team, and the city that helped give New Orleans hope.

Brees, coupled with head coach Sean Payton, made the Saints one of the best offenses if football. They were entertaining, electric and winners.

Brees even won a Super Bowl for the town and its people.

Earlier this week, the retired hero of NOLA was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Super Bowl XLIV champion is the biggest name on the list of first-time nominees.

There is no question that when the names are mentioned for the new class, Drew Brees will be at the top of the list. He is a surefire first-ballot winner.

If and when he gets the call, Brees will be the first Saints player to make the Hall as a first-time nominee. There is no doubt that this will be the case. Nothing else would make sense.

You can go on and on about all the records Brees set, all the games he won, and all the fans he brought to the franchise. That’s all important.

But what should never be lost is what he did for the city and what the city did for him.

He went to New Orleans when few others would even consider it. 

As for the Saints, they took a chance on Brees. Maybe neither side had an option, but that only made the partnership greater. 

Brees began his career in San Diego, where he was a second-round pick out of Purdue, and many pro scouts believed that he was too small to play in the league. He eventually won the starting job of the Chargers but lost it to Doug Flutie.

San Diego eventually moved on and started Phillip Rivers, who is also nominated for the Hall of Fame this year. 

As a free agent, Brees was courted by Miami, but the shoulder injury sent the Dolphins in a different direction. The Saints decided to take a chance.

He signed a six-year, $60 million contract with New Orleans, which at the time was a risk but now appears to be a bargain. 

Brees became a legend in New Orleans, winning a Super Bowl MVP while leading the Saints to their only championship. 

He was a Pro Bowler 13 times and is the second-leading passer in NFL history, with only Tom Brady having thrown for more yards. 

While his on-the-field work makes him a Hall of Fame lock, it’s what he did to help a city recover that makes him a legend.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS-Lake Charles.