Passing Is a Brees: Saints QB Doesn't Need the Best To Dominate

Back during this time in 2006, the Saints and owner Tim Benson wanted a quarterback who they could build around for the future, someone who could run an offense, and more importantly, throw the football. And that guy was Drew Brees.

Fast-forward to the week of Super Bowl XLIV, and Drew Brees has led the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl in team history. Not only that, but he has began to make a household name for himself as a prolific passer and a team leader.

Playing with LaDainian Tomlinson never helped his popularity nationally, but since he has united with Sean Payton in New Orleans, things have only gotten better. He has risen to the top of the NFL in terms of his position, as well as his team offense.

Despite not having weapons like most of the past and present NFL quarterbacks, Brees has continued to perform, no matter what. It seems like it all is coming natural nowadays.

Coming into the season, who could have thought that Brees would be spraying and sharing the football all around the field? I sure didn't. Maybe because I'm not a big follower of the Saints, but even if you are, it is a little bit of a surprise to see some of these receivers flourishing this season.

Marques Colston was about my only safe pick coming into the season. Besides that, all the other wideouts were questionable to me. Well, they all proved me wrong. That's for sure.

Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem each became threats for Brees and the Saints' offense, and at the same time, they produced. I don't think Sean Payton could want anything more than what he has got from the two so far. After all, they will be playing for the Lombardi Trophy come Sunday.

Henderson evolved into a speed threat who could get off the jam and go all the way if needed. As the season progressed, I got excited every time I saw him touch the ball, just for one reason: I knew it was possible for him to take it the distance each touch.

Meachem was more of a red-zone threat, as he grabbed nine touchdown catches during the regular season. Not bad for a Tennessee Vol and Phil Fulmer receiver, if I do say so myself.

If you look at other highly-touted quarterbacks this season, you could make a case that they had better weapons around the them than Brees. It's not hard to notice it at all. Brees threw for 4,388 yards this season. Take a look at some comparisons.

Tom Brady has an array of top receivers in the huddle with him, most notably Wes Welker and Randy Moss. Brady threw for 4,398 yards with those guys, along with some other nice targets. Brady only out-gained Brees by a mere 10 yards.

The ancient Brett Favre may throw some interceptions, but the guy can still produce some yards. Brett threw for 4,202 yards with guys like Bernard Berrian and rising stars in Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe.

And now to his counterpart in the Super Bowl: Peyton Manning. In my opinion, he will go down as the best quarterback of all-time, but let's examine Manning's resume. He threw for 4,500 yards in a pass-happy offense. But who wouldn't with Peyton Manning?

Manning has some of the best receivers in the NFL. Granted, Manning is a great quarterback and puts the football in a perfect place, but you still need decent receivers to put up numbers. Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark each caught 100 passes this season. Can you imagine what Brees' numbers would be like if he had these two guys on his team? Scary.

Those are just a couple of examples, but I hope I've made it clear that he hasn't had to have the best players around him this season or his career, but he still can put up great numbers.

Passing is becoming a breeze for the Saints quarterback, or even better, passing is becoming a Brees.

Watch out for Drew Brees and the high-powered New Orleans Saints' offense come Sunday when the suit up against Peyton Manning's squad. Brees could lead his team to their first-ever Super Bowl victory, with him being the MVP of the game. It wouldn't surprise me at all.

Stay tuned for more as I continue to break down the Super Bowl, along with some of its top players, which will all lead up to the big game come Sunday.