Try to say something bad about Drew Brees in New Orleans. Just try. I'll tell you what happens. You'll be cited statistics and records. You'll get excuses blaming his offensive line, the run game, the defense's shortcomings. You'll be reminded of the way things were in the years B.D.B. You might even have your mother insulted.
In this city, #9 has become something of a god, an untouchable deity. Think back to the spring after our Superbowl win. A picture of him holding up his son graced the walls of so many New Orleanians, my younger sister included. With that win, he, a man simply admired, became a man worshipped. A man that everyone wanted to meet. A man who became the third best-selling jersey in the NFL. A man whose fence in uptown New Orleans was covered with "offerings" left by devoted followers.
Five years and a 100 million dollar contract later, this undying devotion to our Legendary Quarterback has not faded in the least. If he throws an interception, the pressure is blamed. If he throws a bad pass, the receiver should have gotten there. It's not just Saints fans, either. Listen to the announcers on game day. Criticism is timid, if it makes its way onto the air at all. You could make a drinking game out of the number of times they cite Brees' history with the Saints and the number of records he's broken. (If you want to get drunk, though, rewatch the 2010 season and take a shot every time they mention Jimmy Graham's basketball history. You'll be passed out before the first game is over.)
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| Drew Bree's fence after 2009 Super Bowl-winning season |
The problem is, football is not a game of one. It is not even a game of few. There are more than twenty-five men who set foot on that field each Sunday, and each and every one of them contributes to the game at hand. Many of them do not receive the laud and honor that Drew does. Perhaps they shouldn't. But in the words of Spiderman's grandfather, "With great power comes great responsibility." Brees is both the leader of the team and the most valuable player on the team. He is the face of the Saints. When one part of the team falls apart, it is his responsibility to rally it back together again. When he falls apart, we get quiet.
The First Amendment, and the rights its defends, is arguably one of the most central tenants of the American democracy. Most specifically, the freedom to speak openly and with little restriction. We are legally given the time and space to cheer for what we love and speak out against problems. There are so many countries in history and in our present world that do not uphold this singular right, and we see clearly the flaws of these muted nations. Having graduated from Virginia, a Thomas Jefferson quote is what first comes to mind: "We are not afraid to follow truth, wherever it may lead."
American Football should be no different.
I should be clear here that I am not likening Drew Brees to a dictator. From what I know of him as a player, he strives to be a team player, to work hard, to encourage his peers. It is rather we, the Who Dat Nation, that mute ourselves. In our overzealous love of one man, we forget that he is just a man. Full of flaws. Short of perfection. With room to grow. With good games and less good games.
I think our history with Mark Ingram illustrates the need for honesty most clearly. He came into the league during the first round of the 2011 draft, a Heisman trophy in one hand and a championship ring on the other. We had great expectations; he had great faith in himself. The next four years proved to be something significantly less impressive. In 2009 alone, Mark ran for 1,658 yards with the BAMA offense. In his three years in New Orleans combined, he's only run 1,462. While there are plenty of factors that go into this reduced rushing record, it seems that a shear lack of execution ranks highest. Personally, I saw his performance as that of an overpaid, overrated player that should be cut as soon as we get the chance. "Bench him!" has been one of my favorite things to shout at the television during Ingram's "runs." BUT this former college superstar has shown us a new side recently, a glimpse of that guy he used to be. In the last two games, despite equal time-on-field granted to his fellow running backs, Ingram has picked up a total of 143 yards. That's near a third of what he's averaged per season over the last three years. In two games.
For those that don't know, Mark Ingram is in the last year of his rookie contract. The Saints chose not to pick up the fifth year option on said contract this year, and the statistics I've noted above give you a good sense of why. To get paid, to be a part of a team, you have to play hard and contribute. You have to be the best. If you don't, you'll hear about it, and Ingram has heard it loud and clear. He said in June of his looming free agency, "It's motivation."
In the world of football, from PeeWee through the pros, coaches' calls and players' performances have always been topics for discussion. Drew Brees and our beloved Saints should be no different. Criticism reminds us that we're human. It shows us where we need to grow. It makes praise that much more powerful.
So, it's time to stop this stunting idolization of our beloved quarterback. We have worshipped someone who eats, sleeps, and excretes like the rest of us for too long, and I'm afraid it's worked against him. But there's still time. There's still time to speak openly about the places that our dear Brees needs improvement and the skills he needs to refine. There's still time to be honest about the effect that age will have on him, if it hasn't already started its slow grasping. We need to remind him, as we remind ourselves, that we make mistakes, and that we learn from them. Hopefully, starting with an 0-2 record will motivate him to correct some of the errors he's made, and motivate the rest of the team and coaching staff as well.
In the end, we should criticize Drew in much the same way that we remind our children not to draw on walls or walk along the edge of a pool: out of love and a desire to avoid chronic hypertension.
American Football should be no different.
I should be clear here that I am not likening Drew Brees to a dictator. From what I know of him as a player, he strives to be a team player, to work hard, to encourage his peers. It is rather we, the Who Dat Nation, that mute ourselves. In our overzealous love of one man, we forget that he is just a man. Full of flaws. Short of perfection. With room to grow. With good games and less good games.
I think our history with Mark Ingram illustrates the need for honesty most clearly. He came into the league during the first round of the 2011 draft, a Heisman trophy in one hand and a championship ring on the other. We had great expectations; he had great faith in himself. The next four years proved to be something significantly less impressive. In 2009 alone, Mark ran for 1,658 yards with the BAMA offense. In his three years in New Orleans combined, he's only run 1,462. While there are plenty of factors that go into this reduced rushing record, it seems that a shear lack of execution ranks highest. Personally, I saw his performance as that of an overpaid, overrated player that should be cut as soon as we get the chance. "Bench him!" has been one of my favorite things to shout at the television during Ingram's "runs." BUT this former college superstar has shown us a new side recently, a glimpse of that guy he used to be. In the last two games, despite equal time-on-field granted to his fellow running backs, Ingram has picked up a total of 143 yards. That's near a third of what he's averaged per season over the last three years. In two games.
For those that don't know, Mark Ingram is in the last year of his rookie contract. The Saints chose not to pick up the fifth year option on said contract this year, and the statistics I've noted above give you a good sense of why. To get paid, to be a part of a team, you have to play hard and contribute. You have to be the best. If you don't, you'll hear about it, and Ingram has heard it loud and clear. He said in June of his looming free agency, "It's motivation."
In the world of football, from PeeWee through the pros, coaches' calls and players' performances have always been topics for discussion. Drew Brees and our beloved Saints should be no different. Criticism reminds us that we're human. It shows us where we need to grow. It makes praise that much more powerful.
So, it's time to stop this stunting idolization of our beloved quarterback. We have worshipped someone who eats, sleeps, and excretes like the rest of us for too long, and I'm afraid it's worked against him. But there's still time. There's still time to speak openly about the places that our dear Brees needs improvement and the skills he needs to refine. There's still time to be honest about the effect that age will have on him, if it hasn't already started its slow grasping. We need to remind him, as we remind ourselves, that we make mistakes, and that we learn from them. Hopefully, starting with an 0-2 record will motivate him to correct some of the errors he's made, and motivate the rest of the team and coaching staff as well.
In the end, we should criticize Drew in much the same way that we remind our children not to draw on walls or walk along the edge of a pool: out of love and a desire to avoid chronic hypertension.
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