Saints quarterback Drew Brees said all the politically correct things before the game, but beating his former Chargers team 37-32 Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London meant something special to the gunslinger. The fierce competitor couldn't help himself.
Brees minced San Diego (3-5) for 339 yards and three touchdowns. He wasn't sacked and didn't throw an interception.
"Knowing we were coming to London to play the Chargers, I had it marked on my calendar," said Brees. Brees was allowed to walk away from San Diego to New Orleans, and he hasn't been happy about it since, even though he's found great success with the Saints and has become one of the NFL's top quarterbacks.
"Maybe it was in me all the time and you never saw it," Brees told the San Diego pressboxers after the game.
One thing the quarterback doesn't lack is confidence. It's difficult to imagine a more confident athlete in any sport. He found a perfect fit with coach Sean Payton's passing offense.
Brees has to stretch to hit 6 feet, but when he has time to see the field he can shoot up a secondary, read defenses and manage a game.
Chargers linebacker Tom Dobbins said, "Brees is just a great veteran player. I think he could look at our coverage and tell what we had. Just an old-fashioned, good quarterback"
"This was a great performance for Drew," said Payton. "I thought he played with a lot of confidence. He located the ball well. Really did a good job of managing the game and gave us a bunch of momentum early. It makes it easy to call plays when he's throwing it that well. He got a game ball, too."
And, of course, a bit of revenge.
"It feels good now that it's over," said Brees. "I'd be lying if I said it was just another game. I wanted to beat these guys.
"But the media wanted to blow the game up bigger than it was. We were coming off a bad loss, had get on a plane and fly 7 1/2 hours and your body is out of whack. You stay in two different hotels. A win makes it worth it."
Philip Rivers was Brees' understudy with the Chargers and the man who made him expendable.
"Drew played outstanding," said Rivers. "He's been that way all season long. Just consistent and as efficient a guy as there is in the league. He continued to throw completions over and over."
With Reggie Bush out mending from surgery, Deuce McAllister did most of the Saints' rushing with 55 yards,a touchdown and 30 more receiving. Although Deuce was 4,626 ,miles from home, he played like he was in the Superdome. The sound of "Deuuuuuuce" accompanied ever touch by McAllister.
"It felt like a home game, but it probably had more of a playoff feel to it," said McAllister.
About 4,000 Saints fans were at the game and a jazz band greeted them as they walked onto the Wembley grounds while a juggler performed his act. Thousands of fans a New Orleans-themed tailgate party. It was a Saints "home" game and the stadium was decorated in black and gold. A win was icing on the cake for Saints fans, who spent several thousands of dollars to make the trip.
Linebacker Jon Vilma intercepted a Rivers pass late in the game to seal the victory.
A Japanese TV reporter asked Vilma if he'd like to show off the NFL in Japan. Replied the linebacker, "That's a long flight."
The Saints, still on the bottom of the NFC South, have a bye week this Sunday. At 4-4 they are still in the division race and can control their own destiny.
DEUCE DENIES ANY WRONGDOING
McAllister said he knew before the London trip he was being investiagted for violating the NFL's steroid policy, but insisted he had done "everything that we were asked to do" to follow the league's drug policy. McAllister, Will Smith and Charles Grant tested positive for a weight-loss diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids.
"Four years ago I sent that drug to the league office to see if was OK," said McAllister. Deuce was drug-tested during training camp in Jackson.
Saints officials have refused to comment on the reports because it is a league matter.
"I've hired counsel ," said the running back. "He's going to do his job to kind of put the case together and however the NFL rules, that's the way it will be."
The players face a four-game suspension if their appeals are denied.
SOME HITHER, OTHERS YON: The defending champion Celtics jump start the 2008-09 NBA season on Tuesday night against the shimmering Cavaliers. They are almost guaranteed to meet in the Eastern Conference finals in late May.Author Peter Vecsey, who covers the NBA for the New York Post, likes the Hornets over the Lakers in the Western Conference. Write Vecsey about the Bees: "Body language is loud and clear. Painful lessons learned from last season are serving as a constant reminder the margin of error is this league is infinitesimal between a payoff and a layoff. The difference is their defensive approach is most conspicuous, making Byron Scott's job easy.Chris Paul is demanding teammates use their hands, feet and mouth to lock into the mindset that failure to sweat, crowd shooters and help is unacceptable.
"Questions still nag regarding contributions of Melvin Ely and Hilton (doing a better job battling in the crowd for 'bounds) Armstrong. Julian Wright is making quicker good decisions -- when to pass or shoot -- and busts his butt running the floor and chasing the ball. When paired with James Posey I see deflections and disruptive attempts vs. post feeds. Very healthy peer pressure has made an impact on Devin Brown, who looks like he took an assertive training class. Shooting is streaky (a la Pargo) but shares and handles and drives the gap for kick-outs."...
The Hornets open their home season on Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Cavaliers in the Arena. Dennis Rogers, the Hornets director of basketball communications, said the Bees' trip to Europe was "a great experience for all involved. We were able to win games in Europe. When I would go into stores you would see plenty of soccer merchandise and plenty of NBA merchandise. The NBA is a thriving business and has a good future in Europe."...At this point, the Detroit Lions might be doing coach Rod Marinello a favor if they fired him...HALLOWEEN. Thus season new costume is Joe the Pumber. Comes with jumpsuit, cap, nametag holder and plunger, $49.99...MLB Commissioner Bud Seeling, on Monday night's action-suspended World Series game in Philadelphia: "I can't tell you when we'll resume. We'll stay here of we have to celebrate Thanksgiving here. They could play Tuesday night, but it looks doubtful because of more rain and a sloppy playing field....
Former Saints defensive tackle Grady Jackson hasn't denied a report that tested positive for a water pill that violated the NFL's drug policy and faces a four-game suspension. The former Saint was one of six to eight players under investigation. The list includes Deuce McAllister, Charles Grant and Will Smith, Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. Attorney David Cornwell, who has represented several players who have appealed their drug suspensions. "Under the NFL drug policy they are subject to whatever the appropriate level of discipline," said Cornwall. "Upon the receipt of the letter from the NFL, they have five days to appeal. That's is where everyone is now." During the appeals process, players have a hearing to present evidence to show they were not in violation of the policy. The discipline for the violation is stayed until a decision on the appeal is made. "They are not in lockstep," said the attorney. "It takes time for the prepration for the hearings."
Ed Staton can be reached at edcoachstaton@yahoo.com
