Drew Brees and New Orleans- Rising From the Ashes

It seems like everyone always overlooked Drew Brees. Too small in college, not good enough to play QB for the Chargers and was dumped for Phillip Rivers and not worthy to play for the Miami Dolphins. But Brees always proved people wrong. 

Brees was a second round pick and outplayed everyone else in his draft class. Brees reached the Super Bowl and Rivers hasn’t overcome his playoff shortcomings, and Miami is still looking for their heir to the Dan Marino QB legacy.

It also seems like everyone overlooks New Orleans. Their beloved Jazz moved to Utah of all places, FEMA waited so painfully long to bring aid to the city after Hurricane Katrina and the Saints has always been that losing team everyone felt bad for. It seems like Drew Brees, the city of New Orleans and their Saints football team were destined for each other.

After Katrina hit, I’ll never forget the Saints’ season opener against the Carolina Panthers. The Saints ended up winning the game 23-20, and the city of New Orleans got the biggest victory of all. The people hit so hard by the hurricane were given an escape for just a few hours and the whole city was jubilantly celebrating their team, their Saints. New Orleans ended up 3-13 that season, but made the NFC Championship game in 2006 behind Reggie Bush and Drew Brees.

And despite his success, he was never viewed among the elite QB’s in the NFL. He was always known as the stat stuffer, but a guy that couldn’t get it done. Much like the city of New Orleans, he was tragically overlooked. But in 2009, it was impossible to overlook the Saints after their 13-0 start, and Brees led his team to new heights.

As Garrett Hartley kicked the lovable losing Saints to their first conference championship game and their first Super Bowl appearance, the people of New Orleans spilled on to the streets celebrating the pinnacle, the apex and the highest point the city’s sports team has ever reached.

A city that had always been underestimated finally made it to the top, and a QB with similar characteristics was the man to lead them there. Now all Drew Brees and the city of New Orleans are missing is a happy ending in a Super Bowl win. 60 minutes and the Indianapolis Colts stand in the way.