The talk is all about Payton.
Having overtaken the career passing yards record (set by Brett Favre) this past year, all the conversation regarding the league's best quarterbacks has veered away from other players long enough that we forget all about them. The only two others talked about this past season were Tom Brady (deflategate) and Cam Newton's MVP season. Now that Payton has retired, the talk must change.
I'm a big fan of the Dan Patrick Show. I watch it every morning that I am able to. This past week a common theme of small talk at the start of the show has been based on NFL statistics and Hall of Fame discussion. I'm a joking manner, there was mention of whether Tom Brady will reach Payton's newly set record. I see this all too much. Brady has played 17 seasons and is almost 14,000 yards behind Manning but he is all too often the lone subject of these conversations. There happens to be a quarterback that has only played 16 seasons and is only 11,000 yards behind Payton. That man is one of the most overlooked, future hall of fame members in the league. That man would, of course, be Drew Brees. Over his 16 seasons in the NFL, Brees has averaged 4,060 yards per season. (This number is counting his first season in the league where he only threw for 221 yards).
Looking at this number, in three seasons, Brees will overtake Manning's record. In reality, it should be far less than three full seasons. Since joining the New Orleans Saints, he has averaged 4,855 yards per season. He is 37 years old and with the offensive line he has protecting him, the matter of him staying healthy enough for three more seasons isn't really a question. Nor is the conversation that came up with Manning over whether he had the arm strength to continue at an older age. No, if Brees remains healthy, he is definitely capable of playing three more seasons in the league.
The question that many people may raise is my earlier claim of a shoe-in hall of fame member. I'll back that up for you. I already covered the career passing yards statistic earlier in which he stands 4th all time. As for passing TDs, Brees and Brady are tied for 3rd all time at 428 career passing TDs. There have been eight times in NFL History that a quarterback has thrown for 5,000+ yards in a season. Drew Brees has four of those eight times. And don't talk to me about rings. Dan Marino, one of the greatest to play, never won a SuperBowl. Brees has one. I'm sure he is a first ballot HOFer.
Overall, let's give credit where credit is due. I have no problem with Tom Brady being the main focus of the current best quarterback conversation, but let's include Drew Brees. He deserves it.
