Remember when the offseason used to be a time for players to recharge their batteries and enjoy some time off? The last two offseasons have been anything but that for Drew Brees. Surely you all remember the post Super Bowl lovefest tour of the last offseason, where between interviews, TV shows, awards, Madden 11, and book tour signings (I’m sure I’m forgetting a number of escapades) Brees barely had a moment to breathe. Sure enough, he’s at it again this offseason. This time, he’s been by far the player most named and prominent in the labor dispute. The last busy offseason obviously wasn’t the best offseason move for him as 2011 was a down year given his incredibly high set standard performance wise. So this year, during a LOCKOUT when all players should be taking it easy and relaxing more than ever, Drew Brees is pedal to the metal once again. Does this concern anyone else?
Now sure, part of this is Drew being Drew. As a player rep, it’s his duty to be involved in discussions, and we all know by now that being a leader is in his DNA. It’s part of why he’s so good and why we love him. It’s also his career, and you have to have respect the fact that he’s fighting for this cause because it ultimately affects him directly. That said, it’s a little bit unnerving that Brees has been in the limelight so much the last two offseasons that his focus and attention to the football field have to be distracted. This time, too, he’s burning bridges. It’s almost like he took all the love and good will from the previous offseason and he’s now using it as a bargaining chip in the labor disputes. I’m sure Tom Benson doesn’t love him right now. I have no idea how the Saints organization feels about him, but I can only assume they support the league and the owners in this. One thing is for sure: the longer this goes on, the more enemies Drew Brees will make.
As a Saints fan, my love for Brees and what he’s done for us is unconditional, but burning bridges and being the most public figure head besides DeMaurice Smith in the now decertified NFLPA is not my idea of learning his lesson from the previous offseason. It’s almost like he’s upped the ante this year and taken his offseason antics a step further, giving him more distractions. Again, I understand why he’s involved and I respect him for doing what he’s doing… but as a fan of the New Orleans Saints, I don’t like it one bit. The guy has already gone through physical exhaustion with the toll of an NFL season + playoffs, and he’s got to be zeroing in on mental exhaustion. I know he did that last offseason, and it was time to get back to football before he ever had a chance to rest. Ultimately, his play on the field I believe suffered from that. My concern is that it could again, too, this coming season should we have one.
At some point Brees needs to stop overextending himself being involved in every opportunity that comes knocking on his door, and he needs to concentrate on his job – that’s being an NFL quarterback. I’m not saying he doesn’t work harder than anyone at that, I’m just saying he should learn to take a break when he’s not doing that. Spend more time with your family and less time on Oprah Winfrey or in a board room with Jerry Jones when you have the chance to. At some point you’re biting off more than you can chew and it affects you. I believe that’s already the case with Brees. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning haven’t been nearly as present in the media the last two offseasons as him, not even close, and something is not right with that.
Are you concerned by Brees maybe being too involved in this issue? Do you agree this is not healthy for his recuperation and that it could once again affect his performance?
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