San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Sports poll
Sez Me …
If the Fat Lady’s about to sing, Drew Brees isn’t hanging for the aria.
He’s gone to the lobby and picked up an orange drink.
With no personal knowledge of Drew putting a hold on his retirement party, that’s how I see it, anyway.
I do know there was a video of Brees last week pushing a weighted sled during a workout. As Jerry Magee would say, not your everyday “nipups.”
Maybe the former quarterback of The NFL Team That Used To Be Here, who made himself record-breaking famous with the Saints, will retire at the age of 42.
But he’s only football-insider-media-expected to retire. He hasn’t said he’s going to, even though he has that NBC analyst gig set when he does walk (it was there in 2020). The Saints haven’t said he’s retiring.
Don’t put anything past this man.
QBS are having a tough time finding the sunset these days, and maybe Brees will ride off into it. Heaven knows he’s earned the right. But, if he is, if age and body are telling him to exit, why is he leaving the door ajar? He played his “last” football game two months ago.
It can’t be money, just as it can’t be with Tom Brady. Drew’s made $250 million playing football and leads all players in endorsement bank.
This is not a normal NFL quarterback. This is not a normal athlete. This is not a normal person. Most great athletes aren’t, but Brees is driven by a nuclear blast furnace, perhaps because early on he was told he couldn’t possibly be what he wanted to be.
I realized this from his days in San Diego. Drew may not be huge in stature, but there is a competitive bonfire burning inside this guy I only can compare to Dan Fouts, who Bill Walsh called: “The greatest competitor I’ve ever known.”
Brees, I can say without reservation, is the most sincerely confident, cocksure athlete I’ve been around. I can’t believe he’s ever had a single doubt of his ability in his life, no matter the setback.
If, after he’s thrown five picks, you ask him: “Drew, who’s the greatest quarterback who ever lived?” He’ll answer stonefaced. “I am.”
He came to a bad San Diego team in 2001 and played behind Doug Flutie his rookie year, getting the start in 2002 and, while not a wow, was OK. In 2003, he absolutely stunk, and was benched in favor of Flutie, who by then was 39 and probably getting shorter. It begat Phillip Rivers.
But in 2003 I came to realize what Brees was made of. I didn’t treat him with great kindness, and yet, when we talked, he didn’t jump at me. All he basically said was that he knew he had greatness with him, that he was the best.
And he came pretty damn close to being right. Rivers was drafted to replace him, but missed camp. Drew responded with a Pro Bowl season. Fire.
What I see now isn’t the same player, but the same competitor. He suffered 11 cracked ribs and a punctured lung and still came back in the playoffs.
Brees didn’t look like a man who was going to retire then, and he doesn’t now.
If he does pull the shade, good for him.
This is a player of remarkable confidence, capable of strangely expressing it so matter of factly it seems without conceit, a man of great pride in his product. …
Each time Dinelson Lamet takes the mound the Padres’ collective hearts are going to be in their collective mouths. …
If Lamet is ready to pitch in April, I will catch for him. …
The Homo sapien arm was not made to throw a slider. …
Our Kevin Acee reports that
Fernando Tatis Jr., 6-3 last year, has shot up to 6-4. He’s growing nicely into a center fielder. …
CJ “Accelerator” Abrams may be the fastest baseball player I’ve seen since Sylvester Crowell. Must play . ...
Dave Roberts says there’s more to a rivalry than just geography. Guess so. San Diego and L.A. haven’t moved in more than 300 years . ...
Yu Dar vish has 11 pitches
(Juan Marichal had 13, from myriad angles), which is why
A.J. Preller is bringing in renowned catcher Chase Centipede to signal types of t hrows . ...
My, Zach Wilson has had an incredibly productive offseason doing absolutely nothing. …
If you want your QB son to go high in the draft, send him to college and don’t have him play, leave school after his junior year and work out at a pro day. …
Jack Lambert is auctioning off his football stuff, which includes his teeth holder, which he may have gotten from the Penguins . ...
Bears GM Ryan Pace: “Everything’s on the table with all the quarterbacks.” In other words: “Let’s go out to eat.” …
The Texans got nothing for
J.J. Watt. Great franchise. …
Ravens, who lead The League in trying to make things better, propose an eighth ref, in the booth. …
Sam Darnold missed 10 games in three years with the Jets and they went 0-10, scoring 11 TDS. Clearly his fault. …
Despite failing to recognize him, Raiders will release Richie Incognito, anyway . ...
Via ESPN: Among the 37 QBS drafted in the first round since 2009, Patrick Mahomes is the only one with a ring . ...
For your/my viewing pleasure: First KUSI Prep Pigskin Report Friday night . ...
Stink O’ The Week Sezment: Cancel culture. But it’s a shame we can’t cancel idiots. …
Now the Amazon logo resembles Hitler? I was thinking Joey Stalin, but OK. Please. Stop. Do it for me. …
First rule of marketing: Hitler’s a great tool. … Next: Book burning? ...
If we had a real idea of what racism is, maybe there would be less of it. …
Some rank and file teams, such as Utah and Phoenix, actually are challengers. How long will the NBA stand for this? …
Saw Giannis Antetokounmpo score after an absurd, monumental travel. The last Greek freak to take that many steps without the ball was Pheidippides, who passed away after inventing the marathon . ...
Golden Globe Awards ratings down 62 percent. I watched a few minutes. No drunks. Should have been 100 percent. …
No Proof Necessary Dept: If you live in North Carolina and smoke or have smoked 100 cigarettes in your life, you can get vaccinated. Now, there’s a long line, which probably includes children, pets and zoo animals. …
Nick Faldo uses a driver on slumping Rickie Fowler: “Good news. If he misses the Masters he can make six more commercials that week.” ...
Kearny Mesa Bowl is closing.
Another strike against history. …
Texas declared mask-free! Seriously, Californians? You want to live in Texas? …
Fans back in Petco. Ditch the cardboard cutouts . ...
Vaccines are great. When they’re put into arms. …
The oldest lightbulb has been burning continuously since the early 1900s. It is not in Washington. …
No Worries Study: Multitasking can lower your IQ by 10 points. As the great Rick Smith would tell me: “You’re fine.” ...
Age is just a number. But, damn, it can be a high number.
sezme.godfather@gmail.com Twitter: @sdutcanepa
Do you think Drew Brees is retiring from the NFL?
1. Yes
2. No
Call (619) 293-2727 to vote by midnight Wednesday or go to www.sandiegouniontribune.com to cast your vote until noon Saturday.
Last week
Which starter will win more games for the Padres this season?
1. Yu Darvish, 92 (34)
2. Dinelson Lamet, 39 (14)
3. Joe Musgrove, 25 (9)
4. Chris Paddack, 15 (6)
5. Blake Snell, 100 (37 percent)