TheFightinPhils
02-10-2005, 11:02 PM
KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) - Drew Brees came to Hawaii four years ago as a college
all-star, looking to impress NFL teams at the Hula Bowl.
Brees is back on the islands, practicing with the league's best and
preparing for his first appearance in the Pro Bowl. And he's looking for
respect and a long-term contract from the San Diego Chargers.
Less than a year after San Diego all but gave up on him by selecting Philip
Rivers on draft day, Brees is still basking in the glow of his superb season
and the Chargers' run to the AFC West title.
His performance at the end of his four-year contract earned him a spot
alongside Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on the AFC roster for the NFL's all-star
game Sunday. It also made him one of the NFL's most attractive free agents, but
Brees would rather remain with the club that didn't seem eager to stick with
him.
``I want to stay in San Diego, absolutely,'' he said. ``I want a long-term
deal, because I feel like I'm the guy. I'm the guy that needs to be there and
lead us to a championship, so that's the way I feel about it.
``The ball is in their court, obviously, and we'll just see what happens.''
Brees' life has changed dramatically in the four years since he represented
Purdue in the Hula Bowl.
``I got married, had good seasons and bad seasons, battled for my starting
job on two occasions, been benched a few times,'' he said. ``I guess it's been
a learning experience, but it has molded me into the person and player that I
am now.''
Brees was voted the NFL's comeback player of the year after throwing for
3,159 yards, 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in the regular season.
In the playoffs, he passed for 319 yards and two TDs in the Chargers' 20-17
overtime loss to the New York Jets.
``We didn't accomplish our ultimate goal to win a championship, but we kind
of paved the way for the future,'' he said. ``We have a lot to be proud of and
a lot to be happy about. We just have to keep improving.''
Teammate LaDainian Tomlinson, making his second Pro Bowl appearance, also
wants Brees to stay, but the star running back said he has no control over the
situation. Tomlinson and Brees are close friends, and they planned to spend
much of their free time in Hawaii together with their families.
``He's a leader. That sums it up in one word,'' Tomlinson said. ``He's a
good friend and a good teammate.''
Brees and Tomlinson are San Diego's first quarterback-running back duo to
make the Pro Bowl together since Dan Fouts and Chuck Muncie in the early 1980s.
Tight end Antonio Gates also made the trip to Hawaii, earning his first Pro
Bowl berth in just his second NFL season.
``Obviously, with guys like LT and Gates, I think we built a solid
foundation,'' Brees said. ``I think we all see in one another that we can build
something special with the Chargers. We want to keep that continuity and keep
those familiar faces around.''
The Chargers might designate Brees as their franchise player this month,
giving him a one-year contract offer worth around $9 million. If Brees signs
it, the club then could trade him or let him compete for the starting job with
Rivers, who was obtained in a draft-day trade with the New York Giants.
Rivers held out for half of training camp, allowing Brees to keep the
starting job - and Brees used the challenge to motivate himself to his best
professional season. And just as he did four years ago at the Hula Bowl, when
many questioned his future as a 6-foot NFL quarterback, Brees is proving he's
one of the best.
``We don't play to prove people wrong. There is some satisfaction out of
that, but I think it's really just a personal fear of failure,'' he said.
``It's the feeling that you want to be the best. Then you just fight, fight,
fight to try to be that person, and you don't worry about what other people
say.''
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050209/APS/502091323&cachetime=3&template=dateline
all-star, looking to impress NFL teams at the Hula Bowl.
Brees is back on the islands, practicing with the league's best and
preparing for his first appearance in the Pro Bowl. And he's looking for
respect and a long-term contract from the San Diego Chargers.
Less than a year after San Diego all but gave up on him by selecting Philip
Rivers on draft day, Brees is still basking in the glow of his superb season
and the Chargers' run to the AFC West title.
His performance at the end of his four-year contract earned him a spot
alongside Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on the AFC roster for the NFL's all-star
game Sunday. It also made him one of the NFL's most attractive free agents, but
Brees would rather remain with the club that didn't seem eager to stick with
him.
``I want to stay in San Diego, absolutely,'' he said. ``I want a long-term
deal, because I feel like I'm the guy. I'm the guy that needs to be there and
lead us to a championship, so that's the way I feel about it.
``The ball is in their court, obviously, and we'll just see what happens.''
Brees' life has changed dramatically in the four years since he represented
Purdue in the Hula Bowl.
``I got married, had good seasons and bad seasons, battled for my starting
job on two occasions, been benched a few times,'' he said. ``I guess it's been
a learning experience, but it has molded me into the person and player that I
am now.''
Brees was voted the NFL's comeback player of the year after throwing for
3,159 yards, 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in the regular season.
In the playoffs, he passed for 319 yards and two TDs in the Chargers' 20-17
overtime loss to the New York Jets.
``We didn't accomplish our ultimate goal to win a championship, but we kind
of paved the way for the future,'' he said. ``We have a lot to be proud of and
a lot to be happy about. We just have to keep improving.''
Teammate LaDainian Tomlinson, making his second Pro Bowl appearance, also
wants Brees to stay, but the star running back said he has no control over the
situation. Tomlinson and Brees are close friends, and they planned to spend
much of their free time in Hawaii together with their families.
``He's a leader. That sums it up in one word,'' Tomlinson said. ``He's a
good friend and a good teammate.''
Brees and Tomlinson are San Diego's first quarterback-running back duo to
make the Pro Bowl together since Dan Fouts and Chuck Muncie in the early 1980s.
Tight end Antonio Gates also made the trip to Hawaii, earning his first Pro
Bowl berth in just his second NFL season.
``Obviously, with guys like LT and Gates, I think we built a solid
foundation,'' Brees said. ``I think we all see in one another that we can build
something special with the Chargers. We want to keep that continuity and keep
those familiar faces around.''
The Chargers might designate Brees as their franchise player this month,
giving him a one-year contract offer worth around $9 million. If Brees signs
it, the club then could trade him or let him compete for the starting job with
Rivers, who was obtained in a draft-day trade with the New York Giants.
Rivers held out for half of training camp, allowing Brees to keep the
starting job - and Brees used the challenge to motivate himself to his best
professional season. And just as he did four years ago at the Hula Bowl, when
many questioned his future as a 6-foot NFL quarterback, Brees is proving he's
one of the best.
``We don't play to prove people wrong. There is some satisfaction out of
that, but I think it's really just a personal fear of failure,'' he said.
``It's the feeling that you want to be the best. Then you just fight, fight,
fight to try to be that person, and you don't worry about what other people
say.''
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050209/APS/502091323&cachetime=3&template=dateline