thependulumswings

The BBR staff is off today as we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King and his too soon, unfortunate passing.

Some also are mourning the unfortunate passing of Drew Brees last evening.  No, he is still very much alive.  It’s his right arm that isn’t with us any longer.

It was a great run.  But it’s time, says Father Time.

Century to date only the man that beat him yesterday, Tom Brady, has had a clear-cut better run.  Peyton Manning might have a strong argument, too.  And with how Aaron Rogers is playing his body of work might soon pass Brees as well.

Brees will be remembered on the field for what was and was not.

What was, was a statistical rewrite of the QB passing record books.  He’s the career leader in passing rating, completion percentage, total yards, touchdowns, and a few other significant measures.  He won nearly two handfuls of playoff games and one Super Bowl.

What wasn’t, was more Super Bowls than one.  History judges QBs with two or more Super Bowl wins on a different level.  It’s almost as if “you did it once, now prove that wasn’t a one time deal.”  For Brees and for Sean Payton (so far) it is a one time deal.

And, Payton, who has had a magnificent run with the New Orleans Saints franchise, does and should get credit for molding the team’s run of success.

But Payton must shoulder blame that the run has so far stopped at one.  From 2012-2016 he failed to field a defense to match his high octane offense.  From 2017 till now they’ve greatly underachieved come playoff time.  Last year they didn’t have enough skill position weapons around Drew but had a salty defense.  This year Payton basically played the same hand and got the same results.

Off of the field, Brees has been a tremendous asset in the community.  The kneel/no kneel controversy aside, his foundation, charity work, and business ventures have helped hundreds and employed hundreds more.

He said after the game that he would take some time to decide if “this was it.”  But, minutes before he had tears in his eyes for a reason while walking off of the Superdome’s floor.

Next year he’ll take a seat in the NBC broadcasting booth.

And, in five years a spot in Canton will have his name on it.  After all, as Dr. King once said, “the time is always right to do the right thing.”