Great Payton/Brees article from ESPN the magazine (1 Viewer)

[zorro37]

This story appears in ESPN The Magazine's Nov. 25 QB Issue. Subscribe today!

BACK TO WORK after an uneventful bye week, Drew Brees sat down for a nice, quiet lunch with his linemen inside the Saints' courtyard-style cafeteria. Halfway through the meal, however, TV monitors flashed with highlights from New Orleans' Week 4 win over Miami. The 38-17 triumph over the then-undefeated Dolphins was an early-season benchmark for the Saints, who had spent the previous year mired in the Bountygate scandal. But as the clips rolled, Brees kept his gaze downward while his linemen began elbowing each other and pointing to the TV screens.


Saints coach Sean Payton had been miked up for the game, and the first 28 seconds of the highlights featured what is perhaps the rarest sight in pro football -- not one but two warm, giggling sideline embraces between the head coach and his quarterback. PDAs between Brees and Payton have been something of a running joke around here since network cameras captured an intense embrace after Super Bowl XLIV that showed Brees grabbing fistfuls of Payton's shirt and, depending on whom you ask, giving the coach a peck on the cheek.

So Brees pretty much knew what was coming next. After the second snuggle, right on cue, tackle Zach Strief leaned over, smiled and fake-grumbled, "Hey, that's two more times than I've been hugged in eight years here."

But really, the coach and the QB were just making up for lost time. Reunited after a disastrous season apart while Payton served a season-long suspension, the game's most dynamic duo have the Saints back to setting historic standards for offensive execution and production.

"The history of professional football is one long connection between coaches and quarterbacks, and these two are in almost perfect continuity," says ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, a friend of Payton's since they coached together with the 1997 Eagles. "When I think of Vince Lombardi, I think of Bart Starr. When I think of Chuck Noll, I think of Terry Bradshaw. When I think of Tom Landry, I think of Roger Staubach. And now, when I think of Sean Payton, I think of Drew Brees. They are better together. And what they've been able to do this season? It's pretty special."

In New Orleans, they even have a word for it: redempSEAN.

Continued here Drew Brees and Sean Payton put the New Orleans Saints in the NFL's elite -- ESPN The Magazine - ESPN

Great sports writing right there, a very enjoyable read.

 

[saintsfan4210]

Is it just me or is this season what 2012 should have been? Its almost like last season never happened

 

[Saint_Ward]

Is it just me or is this season what 2012 should have been? Its almost like last season never happened

Eh, hard to say. I can't imagine Spags defense being much better with SP. I think we'd still have had a below average season (maybe a couple more wins), and we'd wouldn't be loving Coach right now.

Rob Ryan is the DC we deserve.

 

[Saint Kamara]

RedempSEAN was stolen from PJ here on SR.

My favorite line: "In some ways, Payton and Brees are the classic combination of sinner and saint that has always flourished, side by side, in the Big Easy."

 

[OldTimeGamer1966]

Great article one of the best I have read in years thanks for posting it. We really have something so special sometimes I have to kick myself to realize it's really the Saints that have what no other team has in the NFL and that's the perfect marriage between qb and coach. They truly are the yin and yang they are similar but so different I liked the response to the Reggie Bush draft pick classic Payton now you know why players take the long route off the field after being pulled for a bonehead move during a game or practice for that matter. After going through all those rough years l am enjoying every day during these great times.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

fantastic quote from the photobomber

"On the field, the level of aggressiveness and risk-taking is identical between Drew and Sean," says Strief, now in his eighth year alongside the two. "But off the field, yeah, I think Drew paints inside the lines a little better than Sean does."

 

[greg985]

I remember reading this is Payton's book, but it's so awesome it needs to be posted again...

...before the 2006 draft, Reggie Bush's representative told the Saints that the Heisman Trophy-winning running back didn't want to play in New Orleans. Payton leaned toward the phone, screamed "**** you!" and hung up. Then he drafted Bush No. 2 overall anyway.

 

[bornnraisedwhodat]

That was an outstanding read. Outstanding.

It's why I shake my head at some Saints fans at times who take what we have for granted. This is like the golden era in Saints history. Sure we only have 1 SB (for now) but the only reason we are even in the discussion is because of those 2 guys.

 

[Koolbrees]

Great Article!

Thanks for posting!

 

[whodat42]

great article. love it.

 

[mt15]

I liked this quote:

"While others simply stretch before games, Brees goes through a series of intricate and complicated yoga maneuvers. It's the ultimate window into vintage Brees: If there's a competitive advantage to be found, he will find it and exploit it. Quietly. Respectfully. Politely."

Those of us who have watched him a little more than the author can probably add a few other choice words: "Mercilessly. Surgically. And totally without pity or remorse."

 

[TurboWhoDat]

i wonder why they picked us to go 6-10 and not make the playoffs????

 

[boutte]

The stars aligned when these two came together at just the right time and place. Not sure if I believe in destiny but this makes me beleve in the possibility.

 

[VPCajun]

... Not sure if I believe in destiny but this makes me beleve in the possibility.

.

I believe it was a case of "Answering the Call!"


And thankfully both said, "Yes."

.

 

[MrSt0nEd]

I remember reading this is Payton's book, but it's so awesome it needs to be posted again...

...before the 2006 draft, Reggie Bush's representative told the Saints that the Heisman Trophy-winning running back didn't want to play in New Orleans. Payton leaned toward the phone, screamed "**** you!" and hung up. Then he drafted Bush No. 2 overall anyway.

Priceless LOL

Thanks for sharing!