Critical Decisions In Difficult Times

1 During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” 5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. 6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. 8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

Keys to victory over adversity:

1. Refuse to let adversity define or confine you (Daniel 1:1-7).

2. Make a conscious choice to live a life of commitment to God and his ways (Daniel 1:8-12).

3. Make the effort to do what it takes to live out your commitment (Daniel 1:13-14).

4. Trust in God to fulfill his promises (Daniel 1:15-21).

Video Illustration: Drew Brees Testimony

Adversities:

Parents divorced when Drew was 7 years old.

Serious knee injury (ACL) in his 11th grade year.

Most recruiters for college football teams overlooked him. Finally given offers by Purdue and Kentucky.

Considered too short for pro QB

Pro evaluation stated his arm strength not good enough

College success credited to the “spread offence” of Purdue

Struggled first years in pros (2001-2003)

Injury in 2005 was considered by many to be a “career ending injury” to his throwing shoulder

Chargers refused to renew his contract… only Miami and New Orleans even expressed interest in him. Miami turned him down because of shoulder.

Early life and high school

Brees was born in Austin, Texas, to Eugene Wilson "Chip" Brees II, a prominent trial lawyer, and Mina Ruth (née Akins; died 2009), an attorney. A Sports Illustrated article stated he was named for Dallas Cowboyswide receiver Drew Pearson[4] but in a 2014 interview Brees said this story was "just legend".[5] He has a younger brother, Reid (born 1981). When Brees was seven, his parents divorced and shared custody of the boys, who split their time between both parents' homes. Today, Brees admits that it was a very tough and challenging life after the divorce; however, Brees and his younger brother, Reid, supported each other and became very close.[6] They have a younger half-sister, Audrey, from their father's remarriage to Amy Hightower, daughter of the late U.S. Representative (D-TX) Jack English Hightower.[7][8]

Both of Brees' parents had athletic backgrounds. His father played basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team, and his mother was a former all-state in three sports in high school.[9] His maternal uncle, Marty Akins, was an All-American starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns college football team from 1975 to 1977[8][10] and his maternal grandfather, Ray Akins, had the third-most victories as a Texas high school football coach in his three decades at Gregory-Portland High School.[11][12][13] His younger brother, Reid, was an outfielder for the Baylor Bears baseball team, which made the 2005 College World Series and now resides in Colorado, where he works in sales.[10][14]

Brees did not play tackle football until high school and was on the flag football team at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, where his teammates included actor Benjamin McKenzie, who was in the same year. In high school, he was a varsity letterman in baseball, basketball and football[15] and was considering playing college baseball rather than football.[16] College recruiters quickly ran after Brees blew out his knee in the 11th grade.[6] After overcoming an ACL tear during his junior year he was selected as Texas High School 5A Most Valuable Offensive Player in 1996 and led the Westlake High School football team to 16–0 record and state championship.[8][17] As a high school football player, Brees completed 314 of 490 passes (64.1 percent) for 5,461 yards with 50 touchdowns including, in his senior season, 211 of 333 passes (63.4 percent) for 3,528 yards with 31 touchdowns.[18] Westlake went 28–0–1 when Brees started for two seasons and beat a Dominic Rhodes-led Abilene Cooper 55–15 in the 1996 title game.[11][18][19] Brees was given honorable mention in the state high school all-star football team and the USA Today All-USA high school football team[20] alongside former San Diego Chargers teammate and long-time friend LaDainian Tomlinson.[7][21][22] Brees had hoped to follow his father and uncle's footsteps and play for the Texas Longhorns or Texas A&M Aggies but was not heavily recruited despite his stellar record.[8][23]

College career[edit]

Brees received offers from only two colleges, Purdue and Kentucky, choosing Purdue for its highly rated academics.[9] He graduated in 2001 with a degree in industrial management,[24] and is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.[25]

After a relatively uneventful freshman season, Brees was given his first start during his sophomore year by Boilermakers head coach Joe Tiller and became an integral part of Tiller and Jim Chaney's unorthodox "basketball on grass" spread offense, serving as offensive captain during his junior and senior years.[26][27] He had the option to make himself available for the 2000 NFL Draft but chose to return for his senior year to complete his studies. In 2000, he led the Boilermakers to memorable last-minute upsets against top-ranked Ohio State[28] and Michigan en route to the Boilermakers' first Big Ten championship (shared with Michigan and Northwestern) in over three decades. The Ohio State game was replayed on ESPN Classic and is widely remembered for Brees' four interceptions and 64-yard touchdown pass to Seth Morales with 1:55 remaining to seal a vital 31–27 win, prompting commentator Brent Musburger to exclaim "Holy Toledo!" and a post-game field rush afterwards.[29][30][31] Due to head-to-head victories over Michigan and Northwestern, Purdue won the invitation to the 2001 Rose Bowl,[32] Purdue's first appearance there since 1967, where Purdue lost by ten points to the Washington Huskies.

Brees was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback in 1999. He won the Maxwell Award as the nation's outstanding player of 2000[33] and the NCAA's Today's Top VIII Award as a member of the Class of 2001.[34] Brees was also fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1999 and third in 2000. As a senior, Brees became the first Boilermaker since Bruce Brineman in 1989 to earn Academic All-America honors.[35][36][37][38] Additionally, he won Academic All-Big Ten honors a record three times,[39] was initiated into Mortar Board[36] and awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor[40] and the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award.[41][42] Brees also was awarded Purdue's Leonard Wilson Award for unselfishness and dedication.[43]

External video📷 Video of Brees' 99-yard touchdown pass to Sutherland on YouTube

In his college career, Brees set two NCAA records, 13 Big Ten Conference records, and 19 Purdue University records.[44] He left Purdue with Big Ten Conference records in passing yards (11,792),[15] touchdownpasses (90), total offensive yards (12,693), completions (1,026), and attempts (1,678).[26] He tied an NCAA record with the longest pass ever (99 yards), to receiver Vinny Sutherland against Northwestern on September 25, 1999 and held the NCAA record for pass attempts in a game (83) for fifteen years, until Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday broke it in October 2013.

In 2009, Brees was inducted into Purdue's Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.[45] The Big Ten Conference's Griese–Brees Quarterback of the Year award initiated in 2011 was named in his and Bob Griese's honor. He was named the Big Ten's best quarterback of the 1990s[46] and ranked number 48 on the 2010 documentary Big Ten Icons, featuring the conference's top fifty student-athletes.[47][48][49]

San Diego Chargers (2001–2005)[edit]

2001 NFL Draft[edit]

Brees' college success led to projections that he would be a mid–late first-round draft pick in the 2001 NFL Draft,[51] but he slipped due to concerns about his relatively short stature for a professional quarterback (6'), a perceived lack of arm strength, and a sense that he had succeeded in college in a spread offense. Brees was the second quarterback, behind Michael Vick of Virginia Tech, selected in the 2001 Draft, chosen by the San Diego Chargers as the first pick of the second round and 32nd overall.[52] San Diego originally had the first pick in that draft, but traded it to Atlanta (which had drafted Vick) in return for the fifth pick of the first round, with which San Diego drafted LaDainian Tomlinson.[52]

Early career[edit]

See also: 2001 San Diego Chargers season, 2002 San Diego Chargers season, and 2003 San Diego Chargers season

Brees played in his first professional game on November 4, 2001 against the Kansas City Chiefs. He finished with 221 passing yards and his first career passing touchdown, a 20-yard pass to Freddie Jones.[53] On August 19, 2002, he was named the starter for the 2002 season over Doug Flutie.[54] Brees started all 16 games for the Chargers during the 2002 season, leading the team to an 8–8 record. He finished the 2002 season with 3,284 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.[55] After a disappointing start to the 2003 season, he was replaced by Flutie, though he regained the job by the end of the season. In 11 games, he finished with 2,108 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.[56][57]

2004 season[edit]

See also: 2004 San Diego Chargers season

Brees' career with the Chargers was in jeopardy after San Diego acquired NC State's Philip Rivers after the 2004 NFL Draft.[58] With a looming quarterback controversy, Brees performed well through training camp and the preseason, while Rivers held out during training camp, essentially guaranteeing him the job to begin the season with Rivers as his backup.

Brees remained the starter throughout the 2004 season, where he started 15 games and led the team to a 12–4 regular season record. In Week 8, against the Oakland Raiders, he was 22 of 25 for 281 yards and five touchdowns in the 42–14 victory to earn his first AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor.[59][60] Brees posted spectacular numbers, completing 65.5% of his passes for 3,159 yards, with 27 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions, giving him a 104.8 passer rating.[61] The Chargers won the AFC West for the first time in 10 seasons and Brees was selected to the 2004 Pro Bowl.[62][63] He was named 2004 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.[64]

2005 season[edit]

See also: 2005 San Diego Chargers season

Brees became a free agent after the season and was not expected to return to San Diego, which had already committed a large sum of money to Rivers. The team eventually designated Brees a franchise player, giving him a one-year contract that quadrupled his pay to $8 million for 2005. Under the terms of the franchise player contract, Brees was eligible to be traded or to sign with another team, but the Chargers would receive two future first round draft choices in return. He was not traded and continued as the starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2005 season.[65]

Brees continued his productive play in 2005. In Week 4, in a 41–17 victory over the New England Patriots, he was 19 of 24 for 248 passing yards and two touchdowns and earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week.[66][67] He posted a career-high in passing yards with 3,576. Brees also posted an 89.2 rating, 10th best in the NFL.[68][69] However, in the last game of the 2005 season against the Denver Broncos, Brees tore his labrum while trying to pick up his own fumble after being hit by Broncos safety John Lynch. Denver tackle Gerard Warren hit Brees while he was on the ground, causing the injury. Brees underwent arthroscopic surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews, to repair the torn labrum in his right (throwing) shoulder on January 5, 2006. Subsequent reports mentioned additional rotator cuff damage and he also was treated by Dr. Saby Szajowitz to recover and regain muscle movement.

After the season, the Chargers offered Brees a 5-year, $50 million contract that paid $2 million in base salary the first year and the rest heavily based on performance incentives. Brees evaluated the incentive-based offer as a sign of no confidence by the Chargers and promptly demanded the salary a top 5 "franchise" quarterback would receive.[citation needed]

New Orleans Saints (2006–present)[edit]

After the Chargers refused to increase their offer, Brees met with other teams. The New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins were interested in Brees. New Orleans made an offer that included $10 million in guaranteed money the first year and a $12 million option the second year. Miami was unsure if Brees' shoulder was completely healed and doctors suggested the team not sign him because of the injury.[70] The Dolphins ended negotiations and traded for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper instead. Brees signed a 6-year, $60 million deal with the Saints on March 14, 2006.[71]

Accomplishments:

Collegiate Records and awards

Big Ten conference records

Most career passing yards (11,792)[1]

Most career pass attempts (1,678)[2]

Most career pass completions (1,026)[3]

Most passing touchdowns in a season (39; 1998)[4]

Most pass attempts in a season (569; 1998)[5]

Most pass completions in a season (361; 1998)[6]

Awards[edit]

Maxwell Award (2000)[7]

Socrates Award (2000)[8]

Big Ten Player of the Year (2000)

National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award (2000)[9]

2× Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (1998 – media, 2000 – coaches & media)[10]

Alamo Bowl MVP (1998)

Outback Bowl MVP (1999)

Academic All-America Team Member of the Year

Big Ten Medal of Honor (2001)

Today's Top 10 Award (Class of 2001)

Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame (inducted 2009)

NFL records

1. Most games with 300+ passing yards – 110[11]

2. Most games with 400+ passing yards – 16[12]

3. Most touchdown passes in a single game – 7 (Tied), 11/1/2015 [13]

4. Most consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass – 54

5. Most consecutive home games with at least one touchdown pass – 60

6. Most Seasons with 5,000+ passing yards – 5 (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016)

7. Most consecutive games with 20+ completions – 57 (2009–2013)[14]

8. Most pass attempts in a playoff game with zero interceptions – 60 (at Seattle, 1/8/2011)[15

9. ]Most pass completions in a playoff game with zero interceptions – 39 (at Seattle, 1/8/2011)[15]

10, All-time leader in completion percentage – 67.07%

11. Highest career regular season passing yards per game – 283.37

12. Fastest to reach 40,000 yards passing[16]

13. Fastest to reach 50,000 yards passing[17]

14. Fastest to reach 60,000 yards passing[18]

15. Fastest to reach 70,000 yards passing.

16. Most seasons leading league in passing yards (7)

17. Most consecutive seasons with 4,000+ passing yards (12)[19]

18. Most consecutive seasons with 5,000+ passing yards (3)

19. Most consecutive seasons with 20+ touchdown passes (14)

20. Most consecutive seasons with 30+ touchdown passes (9)

Saints franchise records

Career[edit]

Most victories, career – 115 (2006–2018)

Most pass completions, career – 5,219 (2006–2018)[20]

Most pass attempts, career – 7,646 (2006-2018)

Highest completion %, career – 68.28% (2006–2018)

Most passing yards, career – 59,392 (2006–2018)[21]

Most passing touchdowns, career – 416 (2006–2018)

Most interceptions thrown, career – 175 (2006–2018)

Lowest interception percentage, career – 2.28% (2006-2018)

Highest yards per attempt, career – 7.8 (2006–2018)[22]

Most pass yards per game, career – 306.14 (2006-2018)

Highest passer rating, career – 99.9 (2006–2018)[22]

Most fourth quarter comebacks/game-winning drives, career – 26/37 (2006–2018)

Most 4,000-yard passing seasons – 12 (2006–2017)[22]

Most consecutive 4,000-yard passing seasons – 12 (2006–2017)[22]

Most consecutive games 300+ yards passing – 9 (2011–2012; 2012–2013)[23]

Most consecutive pass attempts without an interception – 305 (2015–2016)

Season[edit]

Most completions, season – 471 (2016)[22]

Most pass attempts, season – 673 (2016)[22]

Highest completion %, season – 72.0% (2017)[22]

Most passing yards, season – 5,476 (2011)Most games w/ 300+ yards passing, season – 13 (2011)[23]

Most touchdown passes, season – 46 (2011)[22]

Most passes intercepted – 22 (2010) (tied with Aaron Brooks)

Highest yards per attempt, season – 8.5 (Min. 500 attempts) (2009)[22]

Most pass yards per game, season – 342.25 (2011)

Highest passer rating, season – 110.6 (2011)[22]

Most game-winning drives, season – 6 (2009)

Single-game[edit]

Most completions, game – 39 (four times) most recent vs. Atlanta Falcons, 9/23/2018

Most pass attempts, game – 60 (tied with Aaron Brooks) vs. Chicago Bears 12/30/2007[24]

Highest completion %, game (Min. 20 attempts) – 89.7% vs. Washington Redskins, 10/8/2018

Most consecutive completions – 19 (thrice) most recent vs. Los Angeles Rams, 11/27/2017[24]

Most passing yards, game – 510 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 11/19/2006

Most passing touchdowns, game – 7 vs. New York Giants, 11/1/2015

Highest passer rating, game – 158.3 vs. New England Patriots, 11/30/2009

Highest passing yards per attempt – 16.1 vs. New England Patriots, 11/30/2009

Longest touchdown pass, game – 98 yards vs. Oakland Raiders, 9/11/2016

Awards

AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2004)

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award (2006 joint winner)

Miller Lite NFL Player of the Year (2006)

PFWA George S. Halas Courage Award (2007)[25]

NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2011)

Super Bowl XLIV MVP (2009)

Bert Bell Award (2009)

ESPY Award Best Male Athlete (2010)

ESPY Award Best NFL Player (2010)

ESPY Award Best Championship Performance (2010)[26]

ESPY Award Outstanding Team – New Orleans Saints (2010)

Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award (2011)[27]

Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award (2011)

ESPY Award Best Record-Breaking Performance (2012)

Texas Sports Hall of Fame (inducted 2013)[28]2×

NFL Alumni Quarterback of the Year (2006, 2009)

Walter Payton Man of the Year (2006)

Bart Starr Man of the Year (2011)

Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2010)[29]

Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year

(2010)PFWA Good Guy Award (2010)[30]

Related Media

Related Sermons