SAN DIEGO -- Philip Rivers was concluding his second season as the Chargers' backup quarterback and just knew he couldn't spend a third consecutive year watching instead of playing.

Game days were excruciatingly tough for the highly competitive player who had started 51 straight college games at North Carolina State.

But what he saw unfold in the final game of the 2005 season wasn't what Rivers envisioned on the road to becoming a starting NFL quarterback. Teammate Drew Brees badly injured his throwing shoulder in the meaningless game against the Denver Broncos and would need major surgery.

Brees, a four-year starter, also was about to become a free agent, and the injury greatly complicated a decision-making process that boiled down to this: Stick with Brees or switch to the promising Rivers, the fourth overall pick of the 2004 draft.

The Chargers never came close to offering Brees the type of financial package he was seeking, and he eventually signed with the New Orleans Saints. Finally, the Chargers were Rivers' team, but it was hard for him to do much celebrating.

"Even me, I hated the way it had to end with the injury and all that," Rivers said recently, reflecting on the situation. "What would the outcome have been without the injury? That's all speculation. Would we both be here? Would I have been gone? Who knows?

"I just hated the way that kind of added to the whole drama, ending with an injury like that in the last game."

Brees hated it even more. In 2004, he produced one of the top all-around quarterbacking seasons in franchise history and hoped he'd be a Charger for life. He had purchased a home in Carmel Valley and was one of the more visible players in the community.

He loved San Diego and desperately wanted to re-sign with the club. Then, suddenly, he was off to New Orleans.

Not because he wanted to leave, but because, in his view, his talents weren't appreciated by general manager A.J. Smith.

"I felt like there was one person who really just didn't quite believe in me like the rest of them," Brees said earlier this month, referring to Smith. "That's unfortunate.

"I think everything happens for a reason. Life goes on. I have a great thing going in New Orleans. Had that not happen, I never would have had the opportunity that I have there -- not only with the organization and winning football games for the Saints, but what we can do for the community.

"I guess sometimes things happen and you wonder why they are happening -- 'Why is this happening to me?' and 'This isn't the way it's supposed to be' -- but you've just got to know that God has a plan for you and our plan was to go to New Orleans."

Given an opportunity to respond to Brees' comments, Smith took the high road.

"That's his opinion, and he's certainly entitled to it," Smith said. "I don't know what to say when someone gives an opinion, so I'll let that rest with him.

"Decisions are made constantly in the general manager's office. I just let that all go. I wish him the best in New Orleans."

Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson originally struggled with the decision. He and Brees had entered the NFL together and were close friends.

"You're always disappointed to see a friend go," Tomlinson said, "but I understand the business and you quickly get over the disappointment in knowing that you've got to move forward."

Flourishing in New Orleans

Brees never could have imagined the renaissance he'd enjoy in New Orleans. He joined the franchise after a 3-13 season and roughly six months after the city was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

His on-field play in 2006 was stellar as he guided the Saints to the NFC Championship Game, but his performance as a goodwill ambassador might have been even more impressive. In a city where upheaval and destruction reigned, Brees and wife Brittany became heavily involved in the rebuilding process, repeatedly giving their time to aid people struggling to cope with the devastation. For his efforts, Brees was named the co-winner of the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, sharing it with Tomlinson.

"There are still areas that look like a bomb went off yesterday," Brees said. "When 90 percent of a city of almost half a million people goes underwater, that's displacing a lot of people and that's causing a lot of damage."

Brees bought a home in the center of town with $52,000 worth of roof damage. He has spent the last two years renovating the house.

"We wanted to be right in the thick of it, where everybody was going through the rebuilding process," Brees said.

The rebuilding of his career evolved much more quickly. Brees set franchise records for passing yardage (an NFL-leading 4,418) and completion percentage (64.3) in his first season with the Saints, then increased both team marks (4,423 yards and 67.5 percent) in his second. He passed for 54 touchdowns in those two seasons, setting a franchise record of 28 last season.

The unquestioned leader of the Saints, he smiles often when discussing how the move to New Orleans turned out better than he ever could have anticipated -- both on and off the field.

"We feel like it's part of our calling to help rebuild the community as well as help that franchise win a championship," Brees said.

Tomlinson agrees that perhaps Brees was destined to be in New Orleans and the shoulder injury was a blessing in disguise.

"Sometimes you're put in a situation that's best for you," Tomlinson said. "Obviously, Drew going to New Orleans is what needed to happen at that time, especially for that city and what they needed. And Drew is the right person to lead that ballclub …

"He accepted the challenge. That's what leaders do. He accepted the challenge, and things have worked out for both teams."

Rolling with Rivers

With Brees off to New Orleans, Rivers finally got the opportunity he was craving when the 2006 season began. And he didn't disappoint, leading the Chargers to an NFL-best 14-2 record.

It was a season that proved Rivers was doing the right things all along while backing up Brees -- keeping his focus on getting better and learning the offense and doing everything he could to support Brees, all while itching to play.

"I felt like I was at the stage where I needed to play" Rivers said. "I had progressed and learned about as much as I could from watching. It was time to go out there on the field.

"I'm glad it did work out the way it did."

What helped with the waiting process was that Rivers got along well with Brees. It wasn't always easy for Rivers to watch Brees serving in the role that he coveted, but the relationship wasn't adversarial.

"We pulled for one another," Rivers said. "It was a healthy competition that you really need to push everybody. He knew I was trying to take his spot. And I knew he was saying, 'There ain't no way you're getting it.'

"But at the same time, we were able to encourage and pull for one another and compete and I know it made me better. I would like to hope it made him better as well."

Rivers went through a rough, turnover-prone stretch early last season, his second as a starter, but he played well in the latter stages. He was especially sharp in the postseason, and his stock rose to new heights when he played in the AFC Championship Game loss to New England despite a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

And, yes, you can count Brees among those who are impressed by how Rivers has fared since replacing him.

"I think he's done a great job," Brees said. "You look at the results of the team. Certainly, everybody is playing very, very well around him --â€" offense and defense --â€" but the quarterback is a big part of the success of the team. I don't care what team you play for. I'm happy for him."

Chargers coach Norv Turner believes Rivers will continue to improve because of his work habits. And Smith is much more talkative when the subject is Rivers, not Brees.

"We think he's a heck of a quarterback," Smith said. "He's our guy, and hopefully things will work out for him and he'll have a bright future and wonderful things will happen for him. We think he's great. We think he's terrific."

So with the Chargers thinking Rivers is terrific and the Saints thinking Brees is wonderful, it will make for an interesting week in London during late October, when the Chargers and New Orleans are in the same area all week, preparing to play in the historic overseas game.

"Obviously, we have a lot of games to worry about before that one," Brees said, his eyes lighting up. "But certainly, that being my former team, there will be a little extra motivation."

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