Omission of Brees from NFL anniversary top 100 borders on absurdity

You have heard it all.

It is all about the system, he is a statistic compiler.

It is because he has played so many games indoors in perfect conditions in New Orleans and played in weather friendly San Diego previously.

He does not have a big arm.

He is not big.

He cannot win on the road in the playoffs.

He has only won one Super Bowl.

He is a victim of his own consistency.

He simply goes about his business in the most professional fashion imaginable and commands the respect of his teammates, coaches and opponents.

Brees does not draw attention to himself, nor does he seek it.

He is not a gunslinger, taking huge chances, trying to fit a dart into a dime.

He is not a wild scrambler, making big throws on the dead run.

Speaking of running, he does not run for big yards and never will.

Drew Brees was not included in the Top 10 quarterbacks in NFL history for the first 100 years released Friday.

The 10 quarterbacks selected to the #NFL100 All-Time Team! pic.twitter.com/PlM0gABnes

— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2019

Call me a “homer,” if you wish. In my mind’s eye, it has not been difficult to separate the bias of watching No. 9 play for our hometown team from comparing him to other greats who have played the game.

In his NFL and Saints career, Brees has hit a home run, if not a grand slam. He is unquestionably one of the Top 10 quarterbacks in NFL history, in my humble estimation.

When the NFL tweeted that Drew Brees was not a top-10 QB  🤣 #Saints pic.twitter.com/W8AhfmqxOg

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 28, 2019

Let us debunk every one of these positions of criticism levied against Brees by those who are not admirers, if not haters of him.

Brees has compiled statistics. Those statistics are undeniable. He holds more records than any quarterback in NFL history and he is far from finished.

In fact, Brees is still playing at an incredibly high level, a top five level in the league at the age of 40.

The QB that holds the NFL record for career TDs, yards and completion percentage did not make the list 🤣 #Saints https://t.co/5ltOhv950p

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 28, 2019

He has played in San Diego and New Orleans. If you want to hold that against him, feel free to do so.

The NFL is the NFL. Teams and players are extremely gifted. Schemes are concocted to affect opposing quarterbacks daily, weekly, monthly, annually. Brees continues to get the better of those schemes and teams.

Brees has never had a big arm, like that matters.

Tom Brady has never had a big arm. Joe Montana never had a big arm and those are the two best that ever played. Peyton Manning had a good but not great arm and he is right near the top of the discussion.

He is not big. Do you want to hold that against him? Every player on the 10 quarterbacks picked ahead of him on the 100-year team are taller than Brees. Players have always been discriminated against for their height. Explain his omission, otherwise.

The “winning on the road” equation is nearly laughable.

The Saints lost at San Francisco in 2012 when Brees was fabulous against the best defense in the league. The Saints could not a get one stop in the fourth quarter and lost 36-32.

New Orleans lost at Minnesota when a defensive back made one of the biggest gaffes ever. Brees played extremely well, driving his team to what should have been a game-winning field goal.

In 2011, the Saints lost in Seattle despite Brees and the offense putting up 36 points.

In the 2006 season, the Saints lost at Chicago in the NFC championship teams to a better team in difficult conditions as the first year of Sean Payton maxed out its potential.

In the 2013 season, the Saints lost at Seattle to a better team.

You really want to blame or hold it against Brees for that road record? Seriously?

Brees has won just one Super Bowl.

By the way, he was 32-of-39 in that Super Bowl and earned MVP honors.

By the way, he should have had his team in the Super Bowl a year ago but we all know what happened which was beyond his control. By the way, I sincerely believe the Saints would have beaten New England in Atlanta.

Dan Marino is on the Top 10 list. He never won a Super Bowl and Brees has simply had a better career in terms of longevity and productivity. Of course, Marino was admired for his lightning quick release and rocket arm. He was tall, too!

Then, there is Terry Bradshaw.

He won four Super Bowls and he is not on the list.

Of course, Bradshaw’s statistics are not all that impressive but there is no denying the success his teams had. Of course, he was surrounded by Hall of Fame players.

John Elway and Manning definietely belong on the list but both won second Super Bowls with supporting casts that carried them after they played a large role in carrying their teams in their first Super Bowl victories.

Sammy Baugh quarterbacked two teams to NFL titles in an era with far fewer teams and he did not play as long as Brees.

Otto Graham belongs on the list. He won seven overall championships at the highest level, including three in the NFL.

Johnny Unitas was the best quarterback in the league over a period time and he played 18 seasons. In his last three seasons, he only played in five winning games as his health suffered and his skill eroded gradually, if not dramatically. Still, Unitas belongs on the list, having been voted best in the NFL in four different seasons.

Brett Favre did it for 20 seasons and won 186 games. He won a Super Bowl and was exceptional. His gambling style made him a richer version of Joe Namath. Favre belongs on the list.

With all due respect to Roger Staubach, he only played 11 seasons in the NFL due to his Naval commitment, which commands the ultimate respect.

Staubach is a great person and was an excellent player. Staubach won a Super Bowl and was an MVP. Still, Brees has better numbers, a longer career and similar honors with the exception of Staubach winning league MVP honors once.

In my estimation, the only quarterbacks who deserve to be ahead of Brees, at this stage, are Brady, Montana and Manning. You can make an argument for Graham, Unitas and Favre, along with Brees.

It is admirable that Brees does not stick his chest out all the time, if at all. He always gives teammates credit for his success. Opponents respect him, as do his own coaches and opposing coaches. He does not toot his own horn.

Brees manipulates defenses with his eyes and with intelligent audibles. He is a great timing thrower who has great rapport with his receivers through diligent, hard work. He does not need the “big” arm.

Brees will climb in the pocket or roll out, when necessary, to avoid pressure. Who gets sacked less than Brees? He has a great clock in his head, has enjoyed good protection, goes through his progressions as quickly as anyone who has ever played the game and gets the ball out in timely fashion with uncanny accuracy.

Brees is not Lamar Jackson, Michael Vick, Randall Cunningham, Steve Young, Patrick Mahomes or Russell Wilson. They were and are brilliant athletes, dynamic players who became superb quarterbacks.

While Jackson, Mahomes and Wilson are the rage, would you take their career body of work over Brees?

Simply put, Drew Brees is clearly one of the top 10 quarterbacks in NFL history. His career and numbers, which he continues to build on, speak volumes on that fact. He doesn’t need the pat on the back of those involved in the process. Brees is fourth all-time in wins by a quarterback in league history and will build on that resume.

He will simply go about the business of putting his team on his back and hoping they ride him to Miami in February, leaving no doubt as to his status as one of the all-time greats, which fans in south Louisiana already knew.

Then, the Top 10 quarterback list for 100 years of NFL history will look absurd without the presence of Brees.