Denver Broncos Should Make Orange Their Primary Color Once Again

There are many NFL teams that have orange among their teams colors. It used to be when you would think about the color orange in the NFL, you would think Denver Broncos. I submit that it should be that way once again.

The Bears, the Bengals, the Browns, the Dolphins, and even the old school Buccaneers have had a measure of orange in their uniforms. These teams along with the Broncos have resigned orange to their secondary color. It really only gets showcased in their change of pace jerseys, worn only one or two games a year.

Gone are the days when orange is immediately associated with the Broncos. What happened to the Orange Crush?  What happened to the orange pride? 

To find the answer, lets take a look back.

The Broncos original uniforms were brown helmets, brown pants, white and mustard yellow jerseys with vertically striped socks. These uniforms were vilified by the public and the club eventually got rid of these jerseys two years after they debuted in 1960.

They celebrated the occasion by holding a public bonfire to burn the striped socks.

These uniforms will be revisited this year in honor of the AFL’s 50th anniversary for the following games:  Sunday, Oct. 11 New England Patriots (Boston Patriots) at Denver Broncos, and Monday, Oct. 19 Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers in prime time.

The Broncos changed their team colors to orange, blue, and white in 1962 and unveiled a new logo featuring a bucking horse.

In 1968, the Broncos debuted a design that became known as the “Orange Crush.” Their logo was redesigned so that the horse was coming out of a “D.” The helmets were changed to blue and thin blue stripes were put onto the sleeves.

Denver undated their logo and uniforms once again in 1997—a design that they continue to use to this day. The current logo is a profile of a horse’s head. The biggest change was that the Broncos changed their primary uniform color from Orange to Navy Blue.

The press and fans spoke out against the change from the signature color up until the Broncos won their first ever Super Bowl in the newly designed uniforms that same season.

The issue seemed to die there. 

Especially since head coach Mike Shanahan was not a big fan of the orange jerseys.  Joe Ellis, current chief operating officer of the Denver Broncos, has been pushing over the past few years for the Broncos to keep the current styling, but go back to orange as their primary uniform color.

Eilis is most likely a proponent of this change because he wants to sell more jerseys. Regardless of his reasoning, I agree with him.

The orange Jerseys were iconic. 

They separated the Broncos from the rest of the pack. During the glory days of the late 70’s and 80’s, they were called the “Orange Crush.”  They were feared and rightfully so. They even got deep into the playoffs, including several Super bowls dawning their orange colors with pride.

The orange Jerseys can be iconic once again. And what better time than now to make the switch. 

The Broncos have a new head coach, a new GM, a new 3-4 defense, just an overall new identity.  With all the changes, why not change the Broncos image back to the glorious orange jerseys?

Maybe I’m talking crazy, but I would love to see the orange restored to the Denver Broncos primary jersey color.

What do you think?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ New Coordinator Brings Change after 12 Seasons

Derrick Brooks is no longer in Tampa; neither is Jon Gruden or Jeff Garcia. Of all the changes to the Buccaneers’ personnel and staff this offseason, however, none will have as much impact as the switch at defensive coordinator.

Monte Kiffin is gone, following his son to the University of Tennessee, and he took his “Tampa 2” defense with him.

The “Tampa 2”, which began with the Bucs hiring Tony Dungy in 1996, has been a tweaked version of the basic cover two defense since Kiffin was brought in as defensive coordinator in 1998.

The “Tampa 2” was an aggressive cover two defense that relied on undersized, speedy linebackers that created pressure and covered the middle.

Undersized defensive backs with an explosive first step covered specific zones down field; specifically, the defense got its name from the two safeties that each covered half of the deepest part of the field.

The opportunistic and talented backs like Ronde Barber were counted on to cover their zone and step in and break up or intercept passes.

Kiffin and the “Tampa 2” relied on strong, rushing defensive tackles, such as Warren Sapp, to create pressure in the backfield up the middle, while the fast linebackers, like Derrick Brooks and Shelton Quarles, created pressure and containment on the outside edges.

This system produced seven top-five defenses since 1998 and, most importantly, one Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Now, Jim Bates has taken over for the departed Kiffin, and he brings a new defensive style with him that relies on speed and pressure to create turnovers and stop offenses.

While it may sound very similar, the differences are in the details.

Bates’ system relies heavily on larger, but exceptionally fast cornerbacks and safeties that will play bump-and-run coverage.

Quarterback pressure in Bates’ system comes from the defensive ends on the outside and some blitzing linebackers up the middle.

Bates’ resumé includes some highly rated defenses, especially passing defenses, during his stints in Miami, Green Bay, and Denver.

Bates is a fiery coach that demands perfection and has led some great NFL talent to Pro Bowl seasons. He’s coached Patrick Surtain, Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Champ Bailey, and John Lynch.

With the change in defensive philosophy will come a change in personnel.

The Bucs have already seen this first hand with the departure of long time fan favorite Derrick Brooks, as well as starters Philip Buchanon and Cato June.

These losses can be attributed to declining production and salary cap consideration, however, the switch to a bump-and-run coverage might hasten the departure of another fan favorite, Ronde Barber, as soon as next season.

However, for the 2009 season, barring any pick-ups after the June 1 cuts, the defensive roster will look very similar, save for the two new outside linebackers.

One of those outside linebackers will certainly be Angelo Crowell, who tallied 126 tackles in Buffalo in 2007 before missing the ’08 season because of injury.

Crowell is a fast, aggressive linebacker who will fill in nicely in Brooks’ spot in the lineup, even if not the fans’ hearts and minds.

In the secondary, 2008 first-round draft pick Aqib Talib will likely flourish in the new bump-and-run defense; while at Kansas Talib was a feared “shut-down” corner.

He has a large frame and incredible anticipation of the ball. In his first year, Talib led all rookies with four interceptions on the season.

However, Talib will have to grow emotionally before the Bucs can rely on him week-to-week to lead the secondary.

Recently, Talib was involved in a fight at practice with tackle Donald Penn, in which Talib swung his helmet as a weapon, striking fellow corner Torrie Cox.

Cox needed stitches to close his facial wounds.

This is not the first time that Talib was involved in an off-the-field incident. He was first reprimanded for a fight with the Denver Broncos’ running back Cory Boyd at a rookie orientation event last year.

While aggression and fire can be positive on the playing field, they can also lead to pass interference calls that hurt the team if not controlled.

The Bucs must get Talib under control or risk him washing out, like another Bates corner, 2005 Packers’ first rounder Ahmad Carroll.

Off the field incidences and an abundance of pass interference calls have severely limited his once-promising career.

Luckily for both Talib and the Bucs, Barber can prove to be a positive influence on Talib if he desires.

The last member of the Bucs’ defense that should see changes to his role is defensive end Gaines Adams.

As previously stated, Bates’ system will rely heavily on pressure coming from the end position; think about the sack totals of Taylor, Gbaja-Biamila, and Adewale Ogunleye.

This is the type of presence that the Bucs defense needs from Adams. The former first round pick has totaled a respectable six sacks in each of his first two seasons, but his performances always left the fans and coaching staff expecting more.

With a new, more aggressive role in the defense, expect Adams to as much as double his previous season’s total.

Bates’ previous stops in the NFL have been very successful, producing some of the best defenses in the league. The Bucs should not expect any drop off from the defensive side of the ball with the departure of Kiffin.

With a clock-eating running game and this aggressive defense, expect this year’s Bucs to exceed some of the experts’ low expectations.

Five Things Sage Rosenfels Must Do to Win the Vikings QB Job

This is a multiple part series in which I will be breaking down Vikings position battles and highlighting what players need to do to win their respective starting position.

 

A chance. That’s all Sage Rosenfels has wanted since coming into the NFL back in 2001 with the Washington Redskins.

Along the way, from Washington to Miami, then to Houston from 2006-2008, Rosenfels has had to work his butt off just to be in the conversation. He has received his opportunities to start football games at quarterback, but that has usually come at the expense of an injury (like last year’s game at the Metrodome when starter Matt Schaub went down).

After the 2008 season, Rosenfels went to the Vikings via trade for a fourth-round selection in the 2009 draft. Vikings Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Speilman had tried to make a play for Rosenfels before the 2008 season, but the Texans wanted more than Speilman was willing to give up.

Now that he’s a Minnesota Viking, Rosenfels will get his shot this training camp in Mankato, Minn. to win the starting job when he competes with fourth-year man Tarvaris Jackson.

In order to win this job, Rosenfels will have to pick up a lot mentally before the last week of July when practices start. Here is my list of what he needs to show head coach Brad Childress and the assistants in training camp if he wants to lead this team in September.

 

1. Eliminate the Turnovers

Ask any NFL fan what first comes to mind when they think about Sage Rosenfels and they will tell you it was the helicopter dive against Indianapolis in week four of the 2008 season in which he lost the ball and Colts linebacker Gary Brackett picked it up and returned it 68 yards for the touchdown. Rosenfels later threw the game-ending interception in a 31-27 loss in a game that the Texans had led by 17 with under five minutes left in the game.

And that’s exactly how you pour opportunities down the drain in the NFL. Rosenfels was the backup the following week at home against the Miami Dolphins.

In 2008, he threw 10 interceptions to only six touchdowns. In training camp, Rosenfels’ duty will be to show the coaching staff that he can take care of the ball and not make the foolish pass when it doesn’t need to be thrown.

Many fans will tell you that the Vikings need a playmaker running the offense, and that is not true. They need a quarterback that can step in and effectively manage the offense and take care of the football so that they can win the time of possesion battle and give a guy named Adrian Peterson enough shots at breaking a bigoff a big run.

 

2. Don’t Do Too Much

With the Texans up on the Colts 27-17 in the game I mentioned above where Rosenfels fumbled the ball, he was scrambling to the left to try and pick up a first down.

Well, instead of sliding and holding on to the ball to chew up more time, Rosenfels decided he would try to be a hero and virtually ended up costing Houston an important game against an AFC South rival.

In practice, he must learn how to hold on to the ball before diving for a first down or forcing a pass into a tight spot when it’s just not worth it.

That would be a big step in proving to the coaching staff that he is the man for the job, especially since Jackson has also been known to take some chances in close games that just aren’t worth it.

 

3. Show His Quick Release

When watching film on Rosenfels, the attribute he possesses that impresses me the most is his ability to get rid of the football quick and on time to receivers.

This is one quality Jackson has struggled with when I watch him drop back to pass. He seems to take his time when setting up in the pocket and doesn’t get rid of the ball with a quick motion, letting defenders read him a little more accurately.

In training camp this summer, Rosenfels will need to continue to show his quick release in passing drills and in scrimmage. This will help the offense click, eliminating sacks to put them in long yardage situations.

 

4. Show That He Can Pick Up the New Offensive Terminology and Playbook

Although Houston’s offense is similar in some ways to what offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Childress want, it will be a huge change for Rosenfels from a mental standpoint.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak ran more of a zone blocking scheme in the run game while letting the quarterback make plays down the field on bootlegs.

This season, Rosenfels will throw more timing and shorter routes while staying in the pocket most of the time.

Right now, he is doing his best and studying the playbook and building chemistry with his receivers during mini-camp sessions while also studying film on what the Vikings want from their quarterback in the west coast system.

This summer at camp, Rosenfels will need to prove that he has a grasp on Childress’ scheme and that he is the piece of the puzzle that fits perfectly within the offensive picture.

 

5. Don’t Force Passes in the Red Zone

In week nine against the Vikings at the Metrodome, the Texans were driving into the red zone at the end of the third quarter in a close game. Rosenfels, stepping back in the pocket and not finding a receiver available, floated a pass into the end zone that Vikings safety Madieu Williams intercepted to give the ball back to Adrian Peterson and company.

This should be another area of concern if Childress sees Rosenfels as the future starter at QB for this offense.

Vikings fans saw Tarvaris Jackson throw a costly interception to Giants safety James Butler in the end zone last season in week 17, and don’t want to see more of the same in big games.

If Rosenfels wants to earn starting quarterback points this summer, he will need to show that he is willing to throw the ball away in the red zone if nothing is available. Although field goals can come back to haunt a team, no points can kill a team.

 

Next Article: Five Things Charles Gordon Must Do to Win the Nickel Job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Brady: Like A Kid In a Candy Store With Sweet Offensive Weapons

Tom Brady looked a little bit like a fat kid in a candy store as he took the field for the first time since tearing his ACL last October.

No, Brady hasn’t put on weight during his recovery. He just truly looked wide-eyed and on a bit of a sugar high after participating in OTA drills at the Patriot’s training camp this week.

In an upcoming story by Sports Illustrated Peter King, Brady described himself “as confident as anyone could be that I’ll be ready to play, back to playing normally, when the season starts.”

“I’ve done everything I could to push myself, sometimes too hard. Right now, I’m doing everything. Literally everything. There’s nothing I can’t do.”

That confidence, along with Brady’s showing at this week’s first full team practice, has his teammates equally “buzzing”.

ESPN reporter Wendi Nix reported that Brady’s teammates were “re-energized” after watching Brady throw and that Brady himself was “upbeat and confident.”

And confident he should be. Brady finds himself with some sweet offensive options as he enters the 2009 campaign.

Brady should feel like Charlie Bucket finding the Golden Ticket after the team added running back Fred Taylor, wide receivers Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis and tight ends Chris Baker and Alex Smith to an offense that scored 410 points (25.6 p/g) last season.

In Taylor, who was signed as a free agent after 11 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Patriots are getting a power runner with breakaway speed to compliment their existing stable of rushers.

Coupled with running backs Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk, the Patriots should add to a running attack that compiled nearly 2300 rushing yards a year ago.

Though he won’t be expected to shoulder the entire load as he did in his years with the Jaguars, Taylor claims there is still a lot left in his tank.

“I’ve always said I’ll run until the wheels fall off. Drive this car, get rotations, you’re going to keep pushing, because if those tires come off you’re in trouble. I’m going to keep going forward.”

“I want to learn the playbook so I don’t have to hesitate,” explained Taylor.

“I don’t want to feel like a rookie out there. So I listen, I’ve always been coachable. Whatever I gotta do, I gotta do it. But it starts with learning the playbook.”

Familiar Brady targets of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and tight end Benjamin Watson will be joined by veterans Lewis, Galloway, Smith and Baker to form an experienced and versatile passing attack.

Under Cassel’s regime last season, the team racked up over 3,500 yards via the air after throwing for 4,731 behind Brady in 2007.

In Lewis, the Patriots get a possession type receiver to replace spare part Jabar Gaffney, who signed with the Broncos during the off-season. Lewis had only 19 receptions a year ago, but has a career high of 48 receptions for 561 yards in 2005  when he was Donovan McNabb’s third receiver.

He is expected to be an added receiver when Brady goes four or five wide, along with Moss, Welker, Galloway and perhaps rookie Brandon Tate.

Lewis is also expected to see time on the special teams as he has recorded 41 special teams tackles while playing for the Eagles.

Galloway, who enters his 15th NFL season, provides another deep threat to Brady’s arsenal. Though he  caught only 13 passes last season in nine games, Galloway is coming off seasons of  57, 62, and 83 receptions in the three years prior.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 197-pound wide receiver has 682 career receptions for 10,710 yards (15.7 avg.) and 77 touchdowns in 185 career games.

Galloway’s career average of 15.7 yards per reception, ranks him at number one for  active NFL players with 300 or more career receptions. Moss ranks second at 15.66 yards per reception.

In addition to Galloway’s receiving accomplishments, he has recorded 141 career punt returns for 1,349 yards (9.6 avg) and five touchdowns.

The Patriots also added tight ends Chris Baker and Alex Smith during the off season, to compliment the tandem of Watson and David Smith. Baker and Smith both caught 21 passes last season for the Jets and Buccaneers, respectively, while Watson and Smith caught 22 and nine balls in 2008.

With all of these sweet offensive weapons, it may be opposing defenses who leave Foxboro writhing in pain this season. Only this time it will be from one big dose from Tom Brady’s candy store. 

Saints Hope To Correct Short-Yardage Rushing Woes from Within

Despite leading the NFL in points and yards, the New Orleans Saints had a significant offensive weakness in 2008. They struggled to pick up first downs in short-yardage situations, particularly when power running back Deuce McAllister was not on the field.

While they tried to fix their leaky defense in the offseason, the only significant move they made in the running game was releasing McAllister, whose damaged knees kept him from being an every-down back. They are gambling that holdovers Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush will pick up the tough yards they weren’t able to get in crucial situations last season.

That liability might have cost the Saints a playoff spot, contributing to two excruciating losses in consecutive weeks after they beat the Tampa Bay Bucs to open the season. 

Trying to protect a 24-22 lead at Washington with a little more than four minutes left, they handed the ball to Thomas on 3rd-and-1 at their own 37-yard line. He hesitated, got caught from the backside, and was tackled for no gain.

A first down would have forced the Redskins to use their timeouts and put the Saints in position to run out the clock if they moved the chains one more time.

Instead, they punted. Santana Moss caught a 67-yard touchdown pass on the next play, and the Redskins won, 29-24.

A week later, the Saints faced a 3rd-and-1 at the Denver 24 with 2:19 left, trailing by a 34-32 score. They gave the ball to Thomas again, and he was dropped for a 1-yard loss.

With a first down, they could have milked the clock and attempted a chip-shot field goal in the final seconds. 

Instead, they settled for a 43-yard attempt by unreliable kicker Martin Gramatica at the two-minute warning. It went wide right.

Just like that, New Orleans was 1-2 instead of 3-0. The Saints never were more than a game over .500 the rest of the way.

Unless New Orleans signs a late, available free agent like Edgerrin James, an unlikely move at this point, the solution will have to come from within. The list of running backs on the summer roster includes Mike Bell, Lynell Hamilton and undrafted free agents P.J. Hill and Herb Donaldson, but Thomas and Bush are the only serious candidates.
 
Thomas is a better bet than Bush, who is stronger in open space than tight quarters.

Thomas says he has increased his weight from 215 pounds to 225. He averaged 4.8 yards a carry last season, a yard better than Bush. He should benefit from the experience he gained as a featured back for the first time, leading the Saints with 625 rushing yards.

He watched how McAllister picked a spot and plowed into the line to pick up first downs when Payton started using him more in the second half of the season.

As good as the offense is, the Saints cannot afford similar breakdowns this year. Payton lost so much confidence in short-yardage situations that he called for an end around to wide receiver Devery Henderson on 4th-and-1 from the Tampa Bay 30 on the first series of a November meeting between the teams.

Henderson was pushed out of bounds three yards behind the line of scrimmage. The Saints lost that game, too, 23-20.

Saints fans screamed for McAllister in short-yardage situations all year. Then they screamed at Payton when the plays failed while McAlister stood on the sideline.

If chants of “Deuuuuuce” are still reverberating around the Superdome this season, we’ll know the Saints should have upgraded at running back.

If McAllister’s name never gets mentioned, the offense will have solved its only trouble spot.

How I’d Get To Know Dwayne Bowe

Dwayne Bowe’s an extremely intriguing player who I’d like to learn more about. I’ve compiled a list of questions I’d ask him if I were to interview him.

I wouldn’t necessarily ask him in the order they’re written nor would I necessarily ask all of them. I’d see where the interview takes me and try to follow up with good questions when I learn something interesting. 

How did you get into football? Do you play any other sports recreationally?

What’s your favorite sport to watch? Favorite player?

Describe your typical offseason.

What do you do for relaxation?

Who did you look up to when you were younger? Who do you look up to now?

Who’s your best friend on the team? What kind of activities do you do together?

Will you please talk about your childhood in Miami and what it was like being raised by your grandmother? Was she a pretty tough grandmother? Do you have any stories?

There was some talk that you were working out with Larry Fitzgerald this offseason. Can you talk about how that started and what kind of routine you two did? What have you learned from him?

You had extremely high expectations going into last season (1,300 yards) and fell short. Have you scaled them back a bit? What are your goals for this year?

Now that Tony Gonzalez is gone, you’re expected to produce even more. Do you have a chip on your shoulder?

Compare and contrast Coach Haley with Coach Edwards. What’s similar about them? What’s different? What do you expect to learn from Haley that you didn’t from Edwards?

When you went to LSU, you won a championship your first season. How close do you think the Chiefs are to the Super Bowl?

What’s it like playing against your former teammate, Jamarcus Russell, twice a year? What do you two say to each other when you reunite?

What do you do before a game? After a game?

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

Thank you for talking with me. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

 

 

Steelers Casting New Ideas in Hopes of Same Results

One word comes to mind when describing the typical Pittsburgh Steelers offseason: boring.

The 2009 draft came and went, the typical low-key free agents were signed, and the coaches who led the Steelers to Super Bowl glory are still in their same spot. 

However, that doesn’t mean that the men of steel won’t change. 

Whether it is on offense or defense, the Steelers can look toward training camp with an eye on not only solidifying what has worked so well, but also on new techniques that will enhance the Super Bowl champions. 

On defense, the arrival of first-round draft pick Evander “Ziggy” Hood could add a whole new scheme to defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau’s defense.

Hood, who played defensive tackle at the University of Missouri, has reportedly been playing that position in a 4-3 defense at offseason team activities (OTAs).

A full switch to the 4-3 isn’t likely, nor even close to a reality after the Steelers dominated offenses with their staple 3-4 defense, but a hybrid defense is possible.

Lebeau is known to mix things up and throwing in a couple of plays that are based out of a 4-3 defense is not out of the question.

Adding to possible variations on defense was the release of inside linebacker Larry Foote. Speedy Lawrence Timmons will replace Foote, allowing Lebeau to let safety Troy Polamalu roam even more since Timmons can cover opposing tight ends.

The changes on offense will focus around the running game.

Running back Willie Parker will start, but the Steelers hope to get a full season of last year’s first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall. 

Adding to the one-two punch of Parker and Mendenhall, fifth-round pick Frank “The Tank” Summers provide an added punch on goal-line and short-yardage situations, assuming he makes it out of training camp.

Last year, the Steelers were able to muscle their way to a sixth Super Bowl championship.

This year, new techniques and formations will be attempted in hopes of capturing a seventh title.

 

Haynesworth Anchoring a New Look Redskins Defense

When you are 6’6″ and 320 pounds, you should be able to command a strong presence on the defensive line.

When you are that size AND you sign a $100 million contract in the offseason, the word “should” turns into “must” with each paycheck you receive.

That is the type of pressure Albert Haynesworth will receive (and then some) from the Washington Redskins fanatics when he steps on the grass at FedEx Field this season. 

Haynesworth, along with veteran defensive back DeAngelo Hall and rookie defensive lineman Brian Orakpo, will be expected to bolster a defense on a team that already ranked in the top five in total defense last year, yet still missed the playoffs. 

With the addition of these three big names, the Redskins will look to put more pressure on the defensive side of the ball, going into a possible 3-4 formation with Haynesworth in the middle and Orakpo manning one of the two outside end spots. 

Despite their top give defense, the Skins only recorded 24 sacks as a team last season, ranking 28th in the NFL and last in the NFC.  Those numbers will only improve, as Haynesworth had 8.5 sacks alone for the Titans in ’08

Hall will also be able to strengthen the Redskins’ secondary, a unit that finished in the middle of the pack in passing defense.  Hall, who picked up a nifty six-year, $54 million contract in the offseason, will be the leader of the Redskins’ secondary.

By picking up key additions on the defensive side, the Skins will look to build upon their success from last year, running a primary 4-3 or 3-4 defense to use the skills of Haynesworth and Orakpo. 

Thanks to Hall’s shutdown speed, the team can also afford to play more man-to-man  defense rather than zone, keeping the other team’s primary receivers from reaching the endzone.

The Redskins will not have to change up their defensive schemes too much, but by making minor tweaks to their base packages, the Skins will be even tougher as they compete in the NFC East.

 

Mark Sanchez- Feature Interview Questions

1. Why do you think your hype and draft stock soared so high in May and early August?

2. With all the rumors of the teams that were going to draft you, did you have a preference?

3. What was going through your mind when the Jets moved up to No. 5, obviously to draft you?

4. How do you think you will be able to handle the rough media athletes face in New York?

5. With such a tight-knit family, is moving from coast to coast going to be difficult for you mentally?

6. Would you say the comparison of you to Joe Namath is a fair assessment after your GQ photo shoot with model Hilary Rhoda?

7. Do you think playing in an atmosphere like the Rose Bowl and with a team with high expectations like USC has prepared you for playing on a stage as big of the NFL?

8. Do you think your lack of college experience, one full season, will hinder your development in the NFL?

9. Your head coach at USC Pete Carroll was openly opinionated in his thought that you should stay at USC for a few years to benefit your development. Why did you not take his advice?

10. Where do you feel your role with the New York Jets is entering your first season?

11. Have you spoken with Kellen Clemens, and has he given you any advice?

12. How do you think having a defensive-minded coach will affect how you play on your side of the ball?

13. Since you have become a public icon, have you had a new acknowledgement to your Mexican-American identity?

14. Do you feel the pressure of not only playing for yourself, family, and team, but for the Spanish-American community?

15. How have you prepared mentally heading into your first few weeks of camp?

16. What has been the toughest part of being a rookie, and have the veterans given you a hard time?

17. After having a rough start to camp, how do you prepare mentally in order to stay positive and maintain a high level of confidence?

18. What are you expectations of this team and yourself in the next few years?

The Top 15 Questions I Would Ask Drew Brees

If I could sit down one-on-one with Drew Brees, I would probably come up with at least a million questions to ask him. Fortunately for the readers, I have narrowed it down to only fifteen:

1. You’re half-way through your six-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. What has your experience been like in New Orleans—both on and off the field?

2. It has been widely reported that you and your wife Brittany feel like you have found a home here in New Orleans. Could you see yourself retiring as a New Orleans Saint?

3. What are some of the ways that the Drew and Brittany Brees Dream Foundation has impacted the children of New Orleans, as well as around the country?

4. Which is the better Mardi Gras experience; being a spectator, or being the Grand Marshal of the Bacchus Parade? (Brees was given this honor in 2007. The Krewe of Bacchus, named for the god of wine, is a very popular parade that rolls on the Sunday prior to Fat Tuesday)

5. Do you agree with Reggie Bush’s prediction to Regis Philbin that this will be the year the Saints make it to the Super Bowl?

6. Which hurt more; losing the 2006 NFC Championship Game, your shoulder after the 2007 Pro Bowl, or falling 16 yards short of breaking Dan Marino’s single-season passing record last year?

7. Scouts have criticized your height throughout your career, but it hasn’t stopped you from becoming the top-rated quarterback in the NFL. Have you ever considered adding at least one more step to your drop to avoid having some of your passes swatted at the line?

8. Personal feelings aside, how do you feel the release of Deuce McAllister will affect your offense’s rushing attack this season?

9. How will the release of Mike Karney impact not only the success of the running game, but also your own protection in the pocket?

10. What is your confidence level in your offensive front this season? Do you see any immediate areas of improvement?

11. Do you feel that the coaching staff has set forth realistic goals for the team in 2009? 

12. The Saints have signed several offensive free agents in the offseason. What has been your impression of the new players so far?

13. You have now practiced against Gregg Williams’ new defense. What are the main differences you have seen as compared to Gary Gibbs’ defense?

14. You have obviously been the standout team leader since coming to New Orleans, and Sean Payton has made no secret that your leadership skills are a large part of why he wanted you as his starting quarterback. What other players, young or old, have seemed to step up and take leadership roles this offseason?

15. Much of the criticism levied at the Saints over the last two seasons have rested with the defense. What do you feel are key improvements the offense can make in order to finally get past the playoff drought?

I plan to actually interview Drew Brees this season, so please stay tuned for version two of this article, which will contain the answers to the preceding questions.

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