All of the chaos makes perfect sense
When you're spinning round, things come undone
Welcome to Earth, 3rd rock from the Sun
This is a story of how one decision made almost four years ago impacted both the BCS and Super Bowl champions for the 2009 season.
Just prior to the 2006 NFL season, then Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban was about to enter his second year as a pro coach. Having amassed enormous success at the college level, Saban was looking to make his mark in the pro game. The first step was to acquire a legitimate quarterback to lead the Dolphins back into relevance. As a result, the Dolphins organization looked to San Diego.
Despite a lackluster beginning to his career with the Chargers, quarterback Drew Bress was coming of two very good seasons (2004 & 2005) until suffering a torn rotator cuff in the final game of the '05 campaign. The Chargers had Philip Rivers waiting in the wings so they were willing to deal Brees to the Dolphins. But after what was supposed to be a routine physical, the Dolphins' team physician would not clear Brees, thus leading Miami to instead make a deal for Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper.
This scenario allegedly so enraged Saban, who coveted Brees, that he was willing to listen when the University of Alabama came calling in late 2006. In that same '06 season, the New Orleans Saints took a chance on Brees and he ended up leading the club to a seven game improvement over 2005 and an NFC title game appearance. Saban officially left the Dolphins upon the conclusion of the '06 campaign and took the head coaching position with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
A little more than three years later, Saban lead the University of Alabama to its first national championship in seventeen seasons. And Brees quarterbacked the Saints franchise to their first ever Super Bowl appearance and subsequent victory.
No word if that Miami Dolphins team physician was grand marshal at either victory parade.
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1 comment:
Did not know that, Brad. Very interesting story.
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