Saints Sideline Blog

BREES’ TOUGHEST LOSS

Friday, August 21st, 2009      Email Print

DATELINE: Houston,TX/ August 21st, 2009

(Saints Family comes together for its leader)
 
Drew Brees has suffered tough losses on the football field and has endured career threatening injuries but there is no playbook or specific handbook on how to handle his latest loss, the loss of his mother. I know firsthand, I lost my mom nearly a month ago and its something I continue to try to process, something I will never get over, something you continue to learn how to handle on a day to day basis.. There is no comparison to losing your mother and losing a football game, but doing what you love to do, whether it be reporting or playing, sometimes is the best therapy.
 
Brees knows football is good for him now and even though he admitted it took a few snaps to get back in the flow this week, doing what he loves will help heal his pain. His teammates know nobody on this team is sharper or more mentally tougher than Drew, but he is a human being and needs the proper time, space and support to cope with such a loss. I know people told me my mom would want me to move on with my life but like Brees that doesn't make it any easier. Its much too soon for me to move on, an emotion Brees understands.
 
Brees had three days with friends and family to pay tribute to his mom but its never enough.You need time to work out your feelings, time to clear your head, and time to think about how your life will be without someone who was such a big part of it. Drew Brees has a great support staff and to his credit a football family in the Saints where its leader Sean Payton knows exactly how he feels. The Saints Head Coach lost his Mom to cancer in the middle of the 2002 season when he was the offensive coordinator with the Giants. Payton understands how it feels to lose somebody and to quickly turn around and focus on football. He will serve as a great resource to his quarterback who is much more than that to the Saints head coach. The two are great friends, a friend Drew Brees needs now more than ever.
 
The Saints family really came together for Brees this week. Tom Benson allowed select team coaches and players his private jet to attend the memorial service on Monday. The flight included the likes of Payton, Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael, Billy Miller, Will Smith,Charles Grant, Scott Fujita and Reggie Bush. For those who have never lost a parent, trust me it feels great to have those close to you be by your side, something Brees felt on Monday. Sometimes you may feel like you are bothering someone by calling or sending an e-mail or simply writing a letter to let someone know you are on their minds during a time of crisis. Trust me, don't hesitate, it means the world to someone who is mourning the loss of a parent, I can attest and so can the Saints Quarterback.
 
 
AROUND THE CAMPFIRE:
 
NOTABLE NO-SHOWS: Missing from Saturday's game against the Texans will be Jammal Brown who continues to have doctors in Philadelphia look at his hernia, Charles Grant and his hamstring and Lance Moore who despite looking great in practice is still recovering from his shoulder injury.
 
BUSH IS IFFY: Reggie Bush didn't practice on Thursday afternoon and showed a noticable limp walking off the practice field but Sean Payton says its a strained calf and he could play tommorrow night.
 
BUSH-ROD ISN'T: With Jammal Brown out, second stringer Jermon Bushrod will get the start and how's this for an assignment. Bushrod will hunker down to block the Texans All-Pro Mario Williams.
 
CAMP BATTLES: Sean Payton acknowleged their are many things to look for in preseason game number two as their are several battles such as the competition for the 5th wide receiver, the running backs, the safeties and the linebacker position.
 
SUGAR AND "SPICER": A great Saints addition could be veteran defensive lineman Paul Spicer who is getting more reps with the first team with the injury of Charles Grant. Spicer is likely to play a lead role on this defense with the impending suspension of Grant and Will Smith where Spicer and Bobby McCray will have to step up in the first four games.
 
CST COVERAGE: For the best Saints coverage tune it to CST on Saturday. It all begins with our pregame show at 6:30 followed by the game and then the best postgame show in the business!
 
UNTIL NEXT BLOG,
Mike Nabors
CST

By: Mike Nabors

An Emmy award winning sports reporter who covers a wide variety of events for CST. Primarily, Mike serves as the network's reporter for Saints coverage.

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