FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.– We saw Drew Brees on Sunday night hold his son Baylen on the field and whisper to him after winning Super Bowl XLIV and the game’s most valuable player award. There was a twinkle in his eyes that set everything around him aglow
And then on Monday morning in his news conference here, Brees cradled his MVP trophy much like he had his son. The glow from the silver prize illuminated his face. The stars on the trophy reflected to form a line of stars on the ceiling above him
Saint Brees.
That is how New Orleans Saints fans now regard him. It is how his coach, Sean Payton, in some ways considers him. And for Brees, the feeling is mutual.
Brees and Payton reminded every NFL team that if you want to get where they just reached, you had better develop an encompassing head coach/quarterback relationship that colors your team. The head coach and quarterback garner much of the credit and much of the blame in any NFL city. That duo’s aura — or lack of it — sets the template for the entire roster.
You are going nowhere in this league if first you do not have a franchise quarterback. And accompanying it a quarterback/head coach relationship that sets the standard for team-wide relationships.
“With Sean, it’s like ESP,” Brees said. “We have trust, faith and confidence. I feel like I know the play that’s going to be called.”
Brees said that this Saints team “will walk together forever” even though there certainly will be roster changes next season.
But this Brees-Payton connection looks solid for the next few seasons. And that is great news for both. And for Saints teams to follow.
HURRY UP AND WAIT
Payton here on Monday morning discussed his decision to attack the Indianapolis Colts Cover 2 defense that played deep and insisted on preventing big plays over the top. Payton was content having Brees throw short and intermediate passes to his receivers for nearly all of Super Bowl XLIV.
This required immense patience and rigid discipline.
The Saints during the regular season completed …
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