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METAIRIE, La. – Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he could have played several more years in the NFL if not for degeneration in his right shoulder.
“Honestly, if my right arm was still working, I probably would have played another three years,” Brees said Thursday. “My body feels great. My body can play, my right arm can’t. Unfortunately that’s what forced me to step away. And it was also time.”
Brees, who retired after the 2020 season after a 20-year NFL career, said he seriously considered coming out of retirement, but the declining capabilities of his surgically repaired shoulder prevented his return.
“At the end of the day, it’s like, how capable… am I to do the job, right? I would have run QB draws, I would have done anything. I would have done some spin option. “I would have done everything possible. He was ready. Take out the high school playbook,” Brees joked.
Brees said he felt like closure was missing after concluding his NFL career in front of a nearly empty stadium. The Saints had fewer than 4,000 fans in attendance for the Saints’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card round of the 2020 playoffs due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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“Certainly being in a situation like that where you can’t really be with the fans and celebrate with all those who are so important, I felt like there was a little bit of closure missing,” Brees. saying. “I try not to think about looking back at the Dome because I wish it had been with a full house. That energy that is so synonymous with the Superdome that I will always remember and that we always fed off of.” every game day. “My image of the Dome is very different from the previous one.”
Brees said he can no longer throw with his right arm and uses his left hand when playing football with his sons.
“I can throw a dime about 30 yards, left-handed. Unfortunately, you need a little more than that to compete at this level,” Brees said. “I throw left-handed with the guys, with everything. Anything below the shoulder, below the waist, racquet sports, golf, is fine.”
The Saints announced Thursday that Brees, now 45, will be the only player inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2024. Brees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the fall and will be recognized during one of the Saints’ home games. team this season.
Former Saints coach Sean Payton, now with the Denver Broncos, said he doesn’t know in which game the Saints plan to recognize Brees. He smiled and said “maybe” during a Broncos press conference Thursday when it was suggested that the Saints’ Week 7 primetime matchup against the Broncos could be the game.
Brees spoke at length Thursday afternoon at the Saints practice facility in front of his family, current Saints staff members and several former teammates about his 15 years in New Orleans and five seasons with the San Diego Chargers . Brees had a 360-degree tear in the labrum in his right shoulder, which ultimately led to him signing with the Saints as a free agent before the 2006 season.
Brees said the injury was significant enough that he considered cashing in on an insurance policy he took out during his final season in San Diego.
“I really thought my career was over. Five years later. I really thought I might never play again,” Brees said. “…There came a time after the surgery where I could have taken out the insurance policy…Here I was facing a career-ending injury and if I never played again, I could cash in on the insurance policy. And So it was a good insurance policy. The point is, when that happens and you suddenly get a second chance… you feel so much gratitude in your heart.”
The surgery was successful enough to extend Brees’ playing career by 15 years, but he said Dr. James Andrews warned him that the shoulder would eventually degenerate to the point where throwing would no longer be possible.
“He said, ‘You’re on the fast track to a degenerative shoulder. And at some point this is going to catch up with you,'” Brees recalled. “All that wear and tear and all the work that was done… Unfortunately there will be wear and tear at some point. I stuck it out as long as I could.”
Brees, who was a color analyst for KeynoteUSA for one season and spent some time as a volunteer assistant coach for Purdue, has not ruled out returning to broadcasting or coaching in some capacity in the future.
“I have a passion for football. I still love the game. I love coaching, I love watching the game, I love analyzing the game. And that will never go away… You have to do it. Feed the flame somehow. So, to me, I worked for KeynoteUSA for a year and honestly I had a great time, it was amazing, the only problem was the travel schedule… I love the game and would love to broadcast NFL Games at some point.
“…But otherwise, coaching. I love coaching my guys, I love coaching high school kids, I love coaching 7-on-7. I love being a mentor to guys. Probably five NFL quarterbacks They reached out to me this offseason, just to talk… I love being in that role and I always want to be a resource for the next generation. I feel like it’s part of our responsibility. We wouldn’t be where we are without having those guys in it. path. and now that baton has been passed to us to be the next generation of mentors for the boys who are to come.
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