(01-19-2021, 10:07 PM)jason Wrote: There's actually a video on YouTube about this... The subsequent moves we would've made, and all that. Oh... And we won a Super Bowl or became a dynasty with him... I don't remember because I'm not buying it.

Drew Brees never becomes the Drew Brees we know today if he were drafted by Cincinnati... Especially THAT Cincinnati.

(01-19-2021, 09:42 PM)jfkbengals Wrote: For those who don't know, Paul Alexander has a weekly call in spot with Moving the Chains on SiriusXM NFL Radio.  I caught his segment today, and told a story about Brees.

So in the preliminary meeting for 2001 draft evaluation, Mike Brown walked in and stated that he wanted the Drew Brees as our pick at the top of the first round.  Paul said we were picking 3, but it was actually 4 overall.  Apparently all of the coaches who had input on QB evaluation started trying to talk him out of it, pointing out arm strength and other perceived weaknesses, while pointing out that we already had Akili Smith on the roster.  It seems that they continually had to fight to change his mind throughout the entire draft process.  Ultimately the coaches won out and we took Justin Smith instead.  Paul then mentioned that he ended up at the Perdue Pro-Day evaluating someone, and that Drew through some balls that day.  Paul stated he watched him throw some and told other staff members, "His arm is stronger than Akili's arm is".

I wonder what could've been had Mikey not given in...

(01-19-2021, 10:07 PM)jason Wrote: There's actually a video on YouTube about this... The subsequent moves we would've made, and all that. Oh... And we won a Super Bowl or became a dynasty with him... I don't remember because I'm not buying it.

Drew Brees never becomes the Drew Brees we know today if he were drafted by Cincinnati... Especially THAT Cincinnati.

(01-19-2021, 11:28 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Agree

I remember like 3 years ago one of the big AD debates. Somebody brought up Brady. I don't believe for a second Tom Brady would be the GOAT we know today had he been drafted by the Bengals. Would he still have been good/great ? Sure, to some degree anyways. But 100 playoff wins or whatever lol ? 6 Super Bowl wins ? nope.

Same with Brees

(01-19-2021, 10:07 PM)jason Wrote: Drew Brees never becomes the Drew Brees we know today if he were drafted by Cincinnati... Especially THAT Cincinnati.

(01-20-2021, 11:30 AM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: What's truly amazing about this (if it is indeed true) is that even though Mike valued him so much that he never traded up to get him when he continued to slide down the first round.

You would think if you had a guy marked as being potentially worthy of being taken 4th overall that you'd move up and go get him late in the round.

But nah, let's just play it safe and hope somehow he falls all the way to us at #36.  We can't be bothered with making a trade to grab a guy we had top 5 on our board.

(01-20-2021, 12:03 PM)shanebo Wrote: I've never heard that story before.  Really interesting.  A couple of tangential observations:

- That 2001 draft was LOADED!  We got four pro bowlers in Smith, Chad, Rudi, and TJ.  But others had even better drafts.  Chargers got LDT and Brees.  Falcons got Vick and Crumpler.  Pats got Seymour and Light.  Cards got Leonard Davis and Kyle Vanden Bosch.  Panthers got Dan Morgan, Kris Jenkins, and Steve Smith.  Colts and Ravens got Reggie Wayne and Todd Heap with the last two picks of the first round.  And even some of the teams that drafted total busts ended up with a good player -- Seahawks totally struck out with Koren Robinson, but drafted HOFer Steve Hutchinson 8 picks later.  We can only hope this years' draft has as much talent (and that we get some of it ...)

- IIRC, Brees was considered a fringe first-rounder in 2001.  Vick was the consensus 1OA, and Brees was solidly in that second tier along with busts like Chris Wienke, Quincy Carter, and Marques Tuiasosopo.  He was not in Kiper's top-25, which is the only archived pre-draft rankings I can find.  So it's certainly believable that Mike Brown wanted to draft him at 4OA, lol.  BUT, if you really think the guy is worthy of 4OA, WHY THE HELL DON'T YOU GIVE UP A 5TH (Vic Leyva), 6TH (Riall Johnson), OR EVEN A 3RD (Smokin' Sean Brewer) TO MOVE UP FOUR LOUSY SPOTS TO DRAFT HIM AT THE TOP OF THE SECOND?????  This defies reason and makes me not want to believe the story, until I realize, oh yeah, it's Mike Brown!  Of course, if we had traded up and taken Brees, we would have missed out on Chad, my favorite Bengal from the 2000s ...

- I think Brees was significantly motivated when the chargers drafted Rivers in 2004.  He made his first Pro Bowl that year.  Then he flat out developed the FU mentality when they selected Rivers over him.  First year in NOLA - All Pro + Pro Bowl starter + MVP runner up.  Who knows how he woulda done in Cincy ... interestingly, he's the only 2001 draftee still in the league.

(01-19-2021, 10:07 PM)jason Wrote: There's actually a video on YouTube about this... The subsequent moves we would've made, and all that. Oh... And we won a Super Bowl or became a dynasty with him... I don't remember because I'm not buying it.

Drew Brees never becomes the Drew Brees we know today if he were drafted by Cincinnati... Especially THAT Cincinnati.

(01-20-2021, 11:30 AM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: What's truly amazing about this (if it is indeed true) is that even though Mike valued him so much that he never traded up to get him when he continued to slide down the first round.

You would think if you had a guy marked as being potentially worthy of being taken 4th overall that you'd move up and go get him late in the round.

But nah, let's just play it safe and hope somehow he falls all the way to us at #36.  We can't be bothered with making a trade to grab a guy we had top 5 on our board.