Overtime

The greatest definition of any leader is that he served those around him.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees did that. He also made those around him better.

Teammates saw maniacal preparation as part of the Brees work ethic.

At his retirement, Saints tackle and now radio play by play voice Zach Strief said he used to text Drew a menu for dinner on Thursday night.

“We knew Drew’s work day lasted four hours longer than ours,” said Strief.

Lance Moore struggled to make an NFL roster as a free agent in 2005.

He wasn’t very big, or fast, but he was an incredibly hard worker and a quick study.

In 2008, his third season with Drew Brees, Moore caught 79 passes, 10 for touchdowns.

Moore’s story is a great one.

He literally scratched and clawed his way into the NFL.

He found the right organization, and the right quarterback.

He ends his career with a Super Bowl ring and is enshrined in the Saints Hall of Fame.

He earned every dime he earned, and every reception, with an assist to Drew Brees.

Seventh round pick Marques Colston impressed his quarterback and head coach Sean Payton at a broiling hot training camp in Jackson, MS.

Colston would catch 70 passes, eight for touchdowns as a rookie.

One year later, he caught 98 passes, 11 for touchdowns.

His 72 touchdowns are a Saints franchise record.

Colston was quiet, the total antithesis of today’s all about me receiver.

But, he was as cerebral as the day was long.

In the Saints locker room one day, a reporter asked him what drove him.

“I like the life I have now,” said Colston.

“And, I am not going back.”

Right organization, and right quarterback.

Saints tight end Jared Cook came to New Orleans two years ago.

He had never played in a playoff game.

He set a career high in yards per reception at 16.4, and had nine TD receptions in 2019.

The previous four seasons, Cooks had nine touchdown receptions.

Right organization, right quarterback.
In 2004, the Saints drafted Devery Henderson in the second round out of LSU.
Henderson held out in training camp that year, clearly irking head coach Jim Haslett.
Would Devery Henderson ever be a quality NFL receiver?
In 2006, Henderson maxed out his production per reception.
Of his 32 catches, 28 were for first downs, five for touchdowns.
Henderson averaged a mind boggling 23.3 yards a reception.
Years later, he had a chance to play elsewhere.
Nope.
“I know my quarterback,” said Devery.
Smart man.
Right organization, right quarterback.

When he retired from the NFL, Strief noted that he played in front of Drew Brees for eight seasons.

Then, Strief gave Brees the biggest compliment anyone can ever get.

As Strief fought back tears, he uttered the following.

“My biggest drive as a player was that I never wanted to let you down.”

Right organization, and right quarterback.

A quarterback that gave his head coach, general manager, teammates, coaches, everyone in the building, and every Saints fan something that is very difficult to attain.

That is consistent excellence, and for lagniappe, a Super Bowl ring.