Tag: age

Drew Brees turns 41 ahead of critical 2020 Saints offseason

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is celebrating his 41st birthday in Washington, D.C., supporting former teammate Steve Gleason.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is celebrating his 41st birthday in Washington, D.C., where he’ll be supporting former teammate and Saints living legend Steve Gleason during a ceremony at Capitol Hill. Gleason is receiving the Congressional Gold Medal for his efforts in raising awareness of and promoting research in ALS, the degenerative nerve disease that he’s battled since 2011.

Brees and Gleason are two icons in Saints history, and the legacy Brees will leave behind when he steps away from the game is something that’s often been on his mind in recent years. He’s made a point to reach out to younger athletes ranging from LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow and New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson to rising tennis phenom Madison Keys, doing what he can to recognize the next generation of star talent.

It all precedes what could be a tumultuous offseason in New Orleans. The Saints have suffered three frustrating playoffs exits in the twilight of Brees’ career, finally finding a winning formula after spending much of the 2010’s in mediocrity. Brees has admitted he’s playing on borrowed time right now, and is acutely aware that his window to win another elusive Super Bowl is closing.

All three Saints quarterbacks — Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill — will be free agents in March, barring contract extensions with the team. It’s possible the Saints find ways to retain each of them, but it won’t be easy. As always, the Saints are pressed for salary cap space, and Bridgewater can’t be expected to wait forever to take the reins once Brees hangs up his cleats. The team could be forced to make some dramatic personnel decisions in the months ahead.

But for now, we’ll focus on the greatness Brees has brought to New Orleans. He’s played 216 regular season games (and 15 playoff matchups) at a Hall of Fame-worthy level, putting himself among the greatest passers of all time. He delivered the first championship title in Saints history, seeing the team through a period of sustained success that past generations of fans could only dream about. On the occasion of his birthday, he’ll rightly take some time to reflect on how he’s gotten here, and what may be in store for him in the future. Saints fans should take that same approach and be thankful that they’ve even gotten here.

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Heisman Trophy winner and NFL MVP history could happen this year

Heisman Trophy finalists were announced today and the list didn’t have any surprises. Joe Burrow (Quarterback, LSU), Chase Young (Defensive End, Ohio State), Justin Fields (Quarterback, Ohio State) and Jalen Fields (Quarterback, Oklahoma) will make …

Heisman Trophy finalists were announced today and the list didn’t have any surprises. Joe Burrow (Quarterback, LSU), Chase Young (Defensive End, Ohio State), Justin Fields (Quarterback, Ohio State) and Jalen Fields (Quarterback, Oklahoma) will make their way to New York to find out who wins the prestigious award. Burrow is the odds on favorite to walk away with the award and he may end up being the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.

The NFL MVP race doesn’t work that way but right now the favorites to win the award essentially comes down to two players: Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson. No one else really has a shot.

That brings up an interesting scenario. For the first time in history, the Heisman Trophy winner could be older than the NFL MVP winner.

Burrow is in his fifth year of college after redshirting his first year at Ohio State. He turns 23 tomorrow on December 10th — happy birthday, Joe! — and is going to win the Heisman Trophy unless something crazy happens with Chase Young becoming the first defensive player since Charles Woodson to win the award.

Jackson is the favorite to win MVP unless Wilson goes on a complete tear in the final three games. Even then, Jackson’s season and story may be too hard for voters to pass up. Jackson doesn’t turn 23 until January.

So, it’s only a few months difference but that means the Heisman Trophy favorite — Burrow — is older than the NFL MVP favorite — Jackson. If things play out as most expect them to, history will be made this year.