Drew Brees explains why he rejected Nick Saban, a yacht and the Miami Dolphins for a destroyed New Orleans franchise: “On paper, it was Miami all the way. Miami had Nick Saban. They had just come off a 9–7 season. Defense was lights out. They were running the same offense we were running.” “I’m sitting there eating dinner on Wayne Huizenga’s yacht. He’s talking about playing golf in Scotland every summer. No state income tax. I’m like, ‘Dude, this is wallpaper. Miami, here I come.’” “New Orelans was six months post-Katrina. They just hired some unknown head coach named Sean Payton. Who is this guy?” “I’m in Miami in an MRI tube for two hours just aching. They stick these big needles in my shoulder to test the nerve endings. I got this feeling of doubt. They don't really think I will be able to play. Their doctors said I had a 25% chance of coming back and playing again.” “I go to New Orleans and it was like, ‘You are our guy.’ Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis said, ‘We’re building this offense around you.’” “They did everything they could to roll out the red carpet despite all the circumstances. New Orleans was still destroyed.” “Houses were off their foundations. There was a Chevy truck upside down in a living room. The car stops, and there’s a tugboat in the middle of the road.” “I’m looking at my wife like, ‘Are you seeing what I’m seeing?’” “It was one of those moments where it's like this is so much bigger than just football. We get to be part of the resurrection of one of America’s greatest cities.” “This is God’s calling in our life. And that was the determining factor.”