Drew Brees Doesn't Plan to Fall into the Peyton Trap

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees told reporters in Miami this afternoon that he has no plans to fall into the "Peyton Manning" trap.

"That's exactly the trap that I'm going to try not to fall into," Brees said at his first Super Bowl press conference. "I know that Peyton is going to make his plays and he's going to be Peyton and that just means I need to be me."

"Certainly, this is a game that very well could be back and forth, or one team gets out to a lead and then, all of sudden, the other team closes the gap. I think we've both [the Saints and the Colts] shown the ability to come back from big deficits," said Brees.

"The game is always within reach no matter what the situation. It's me and my offense against their defense and vice versa."

"Certainly, I have a lot of respect for Peyton and what he has been able to accomplish but it's not me against Peyton Manning."

Brees addressed a variety of topics with reporters in a 30 minute session in Miami on Monday afternoon.

• On Sean Payton: "You could very easily get to this week and put too much pressure on yourself or feel the pressure of the hype, the media and everything else, but I think that's one of Sean's great strengths to constantly have his pulse on the team."
• On Saints offensive philosophy: "It's a simple philosophy to get our guy away from their guy. Just because your guy is running right next to their guys doesn't mean their isn't a place where you can try to throw the ball where only you and he [the receiver] can see it."
• On his decision to come to New Orleans: "I went to New Orleans and I came to Miami as free agent possibilities. I had great visits at both places. I have a lot of respect for both organizations, but in the end, I felt that New Orleans was my calling. That's where I belonged not only to help rebuild that organization but also to rebuild a community and a region—to do something special."
• On the shoulder injury that threatened his career: "I was picturing myself the San Diego Chargers quarterback for my entire career. That was my dream and goal at the time, but for that to be taken away and, all of a sudden, you're in limbo—not only what team other team am I going to go to, but am I ever going to play at the level I know I can play at ever again because of this serious shoulder injury, but God puts you in a position for a reason and it goes way beyond football."
• On Reggie Bush: "I think the sky is the limit for Reggie Bush. I think he can continue to get a lot better...obviously, he's one of the most talented players in the NFL."

On another note, former All-Pro quarterbacks Dan Fouts and Boomer Esiason left no doubt in anyone's mind that they feel the New Orleans Saints have no chance.

During Westwood One's broadcast of the NFL Pro Bowl Sunday night, Esiason said the Saints offense is sputtering as of late and the team's outburst against Arizona didn't impress him at all because it was, well, Arizona.

As for Fouts, the bearded one said he saw no way that Brees could cope with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis firing off the edge and he referred to a Bobby McCray's hit on Brett Favre as nothing but "a cheap shot."

But let's no be too hard on Fouts. It has to be hard on him this time of year.

Afterall, Dan could never quite get the San Diego Chargers to the Super Bowl despite having the likes of Kellen Winslow, John Jefferson, and Wes Chandler surrounding him.

He never had the opportunity Drew Brees will have on Sunday and maybe that's still stuck in that ole' gray beard of his—the poor bastard.