[VIDEO] NEW ORLEANS—Drew Brees, the consummate team-first player and unquestioned leader of the New Orleans Saints, found a way to combine player workouts with an opportunity a few lucky fans won’t soon forget.
Brees organized a workout attended by approximately 30 of his Saints teammates here at Tulane University, incorporating a rare chance for four fans to “be a professional football player for a day.” The fans, who won an online raffle, earned the chance to train with Brees, Jon Vilma and dozens of their Saints teammates. They trained like pros while helping support various Louisiana charities to the tune of more than $40,000 raised.
“Welcome, guys, you’re all going to have a great time,” Brees told the winners. “At times, we’ll split you up and put you with different groups, but this is designed for you guys to just have a great time. Only do what you feel like you can do; certainly don’t feel like you have to do everything.”
In addition to working out with the players, the raffle winners received a guest VIP pass to watch players train, as well as a private breakfast with Brees and other players. Their transportation and lodging were covered, and Brees added special giveaways such as an autographed football signed by New Orleans players, a player gift bag including Nike apparel, Verizon AirCard, Advocare supplements, PowerBalance bands, Vicks products, Pepsi products and TRX equipment.
The winners received $300 in travel and food-related expenses, and they posed for a group photo with all players in attendance.
Eleven-year-old Dawson Schoening found himself in the middle of the action, running routes against Saints defenders and earning cheers from the onlookers while hauling in passes from Brees—something he said he could never imagine. He even saw the ins and outs of responsible weight training as players gave the winning fans tours of Tulane’s locker room.
The four winners were: Schoening, of Texas; Shane Dunshee, 35; Emily Gilly, 29, a New Orleans-area native who lives in Columbia, Md.; and James Begnaud, 34, of Youngsville, La.
Despite being locked out by NFL owners, Brees and his teammates are making the best of the situation by continuing to work out with each other and bond with the community. Several players, including Vilma, Mark Ingram, Heath Evans, Jon Stinchcomb, Roman Harper and Chase Daniel, lauded Brees for his leadership efforts in gathering the players for what promises to be the first of multiple similar events while the players are locked out by owners.
Brees said, “You know, we’re locked out. We can’t be at the [team] facility, so we’re having to assemble as a group together offsite.”
