VIDEO – Drew Brees is one of the most accomplished players in the league on the field, and the only player in NFL history to ever throw for over 5,000 yards in a season twice. In spite of all of his on field accomplishments, some of his most inspiring work comes off the field.
Brees serves as Vice President of the NFLPA Executive Committee and was a key leader in keeping the players together through the NFL Lockout. ProPlayerInsiders caught up with him at the 2012 NFLPA Pulse Awards, and Brees talked about the importance of continuing the NFLPA’s work now that we have labor piece.
“One of our sayings within the union is past, present, and future,” Brees said. “It’s really letting those young guys know, all those who have come before them sacrificed for them. The responsibility that we have as current players to educate them and also prepare them to be future leaders.”
PPI – Now that the lockout is over, how do you continue to help the new players understand the business side of the game going forward?
DB (Drew Brees) – One of our sayings within the union is past, present, and future. Certainly we know who we represent as members of the Executive Committee. Having gone through what we went through in the lockout, but then in the end really coming to a historic ten-year CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), it’s really going to carry us forward for a long time. I think it’s really letting those young guys know, all those who have come before them sacrificed for them. The responsibility that we have as current players to educate them and also prepare them to be future leaders, so that they can to lead us through, hopefully not another lockout, but future agreements, and just carry forward the success of this league. It’s certainly a team effort, a joint effort, we are part of so many people. But it’s a responsibility that I take very seriously, as I know that our entire Executive Committee does, as well as the player reps. We are very excited about the deal we were able to achieve with the NFL, and excited about ten years of labor peace here.
PPI – Who would you say are some break out players in the NFL that aren’t on the Saints?
DB – There were a lot of great individual efforts this year. I guess guys just coming in the league, Cam Newton obviously had a phenomenal rookie season. I’m just trying to think off the top of my head because there are so many others, but that’s always fun to see. The crop of players just continues to get better and better, whether they are rookies or free agents from team to team. It’s nice when you get a few of those guys on your team also, you know, they make it that much better and we certainly had a few of those.
PPI – What are your feelings on the new rules regarding pass rushers and trying to prevent head injuries?
DB – You know what, rule changes as far as protecting the passer haven’t really influenced me I’m still going to play the game the way I play. It’s just a matter of whether the official is going to call a shot to the head or not. Obviously they make an emphasis on protecting defenseless players like quarterbacks in the pocket and receivers going up for a pass over the middle. There are certain situations where a guy does not have a chance to protect himself and so the officials are in place to do that and the rules are in place to do that. I think that’s what keeps guys healthy, nobody wants to see guys with head and neck injuries and especially significant ones. Really those rules are in place to keep them safe.
Brees is also well known for his charity work, and has been instrumental in rallying the people of New Orleans as they rebuilt from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. And with everything he has done for the community and his fellow players, he still continues to excel on the field as well. He just completed arguable his greatest year as a professional, breaking Dan Marino’s 27-year-old passing record as he threw for 5,476 yards this season.
Dominick Manfredo contributed to this piece.
