NFL: Ex-Charger Brees hasn't forgotten San Diego

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Thursday, July 17, 2008 11:24 PM PDT ∞

CARMEL VALLEY ---- Drew Brees sat in the middle of 43 youngsters posing for a "team photo" Thursday afternoon when the photographer urged for bigger smiles.

Brees interjected with the following suggestion: "Go Saints on 3," said Brees, the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. The kids from the Boys & Girls Club of San Diego got the message, pumping their right fists in unison and yelling "Go Saints."

Brees hopes that isn't the only message that will stick after leading the fourth, fifth and sixth graders through fitness exercises at Cathedral Catholic High's gymnasium as part of the NFL's Play 60 campaign.

"This is important because childhood obesity in this country is a major problem," said Brees, the former Charger who still owns an offseason home in Carmel Valley. "When you talk about this Play 60 campaign, it's urging kids to get out 60 minutes a day and get some form of exercise. It can be sports-related ---- whether playing a sport or a hobby ---- or just playing out in the yard with their brothers, sisters, parents or friends.

"The point is that it's activity and it's exercise. I think it's good for their bodies, good for the soul and I think it teaches them good habits moving forward into adulthood."

Brees interacted with the youngsters for nearly 90 minutes, throwing passes to the kids and even showing them proper jump-roping techniques.

All along, he was doing so while wearing his Saints No. 9 jersey. Two seasons have come and gone since the Chargers opted for Philip Rivers instead of Brees as their starting quarterback, but Brees continues to do good deeds in San Diego County.

"I lived here five years and I started my career here," Brees said. "I still have a lot of fond memories. I love the people and I loved the fans while I was here.

"Whenever my wife and I come back, we get a very warm reception. Everybody is very positive. That means a lot. It's not always like that for guys that end up going to play for another team, for whatever reason.

"The fact is, I had a lot of great years here and I care about this community and I still want to give back in every way that I can."

Brees, about to embark on his eighth NFL season, has become one of the league's shining examples of players who provide stellar community service. He was co-winner of the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award with former Chargers teammate LaDainian Tomlinson following the 2006 season and has taken a lead role in helping New Orleans bounce back from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. His Brees Dream Foundation, established in 2003, is highly active in New Orleans, San Diego and West Lafayette, Ind., the last city being where Brees attended college at Purdue.

But Brees briefly bristled when it was suggested that too many NFL players get in trouble and do the wrong thing instead of following his lead.

"I will say this about that: There are probably only a handful of guys in the NFL that are making the bad decisions," Brees said. "Unfortunately, those are the guys that always get all the attention.

"This is not a league of misfits. This is a league full of a lot of guys who are doing the right thing. Unfortunately, we need you media guys to help us out a little bit and focus on the positive things that guys are doing.

"There are a lot of guys doing good things. It's not just me."

Either way, there was Brees doing good deeds at Cathedral Catholic just seven days before the opening of New Orleans training camp in Jackson, Miss. Brees is 29 years old but has never forgotten the joy of being a kid and how he and younger brother Reid spent countless hours playing sports or just simply wrestling and tackling each other.

"I understand that not every kid is going to be an athlete," Brees said. "So for the kids who aren't out playing sports necessarily, this Play 60 still applies to them. They could be out running around and playing tag with friends.

"The earlier you can instill these lessons to these kids, I think the better it serves them later on in life."

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.