The San Diego Chargers Strike It Rich in 2001 with Tomlinson and Brees

Maybe it was owner Alex Spanos, general manager John Butler, director of player personnel Buddy Nix, director of college scouting Jimmy Raye or head coach Mike Riley. Who among these leaders of the San Diego Chargers was most responsible for taking TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft and Purdue quarterback Drew Brees in the second? Scouting and drafting of players is far more precise and comprehensive now than in the old days when guys’ press clippings carried a lot of weight, but it’s still chancy. Can’t-miss prospects turn into busts (or at least have ho-hum careers) all the time. Tomlinson and Brees, quite obviously, were and are not like that. They developed their potential to the utmost. I confess to liking them since both come from the Lone Star State; one is an African-Texan and the other is a European-Texan.

LT

Since Tomlinson was picked first and is now retired, I will start with him. Despite a very impressive high school career in Waco, he was not highly recruited. I can only guess it was because of his height (just 5′ 10″), but he had sprinter’s speed and could really ball. Tomlinson chose Texas Christian. When the Southwest Conference dissolved and merged with the Big 8, the Frogs—along with SMU, Rice and Houston—were left out. They became part of the Western Athletic Conference, a long way from the big time but not sub-par football by any means. Tomlinson was a part-time starter his first two years and then exploded onto the national scene as a junior in 1999 by gaining 1,974 yards (with an NCAA-record 406 in one game). As a senior, he was even better—2,158 yards. Both seasons, he led the nation in rushing. Two-time WAC player of the year, Tomlinson was also a consensus all-American, came in fourth in Heisman Trophy voting and won the Doak Walker Award. TCU finished 10-2, ranked No. 21. That was the school’s best showing since 1959.

By any measure, Tomlinson had a spectacular college career. But as indicated above, there was no guarantee he would make it at the next level. He most surely did, earning a starting spot in camp as a rookie and going from there. Tomlinson played 11 seasons (nine with the Chargers and two with the New York Jets), gaining 13,684 yards and scoring 145 touchdowns. Underutilized as a receiver in college, that changed in the pros as he caught 624 passes for 4,772 yards and another 17 TDs. After a big win over the Oakland Raiders in 2005, his quarterback, Brees, slapped him on the shoulder pads and said, “Superman, you can do it all.” Tomlinson never won a championship, coming closest in 2010 when the Jets reached the AFC title game. The Chargers—who have since moved to Los Angeles—retired his number, and he is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Nice and Brees-y

Like Tomlinson, Brees was not considered a blue-chip prospect coming out of Westlake High School in Austin despite going 28-0-1 in two years as a starter. Again like Tomlinson, he was a bit undersized at 6′ 0″. Too short to make it as a college quarterback, apparently. How wrong they were, as he seized that position at Purdue in his sophomore year. Every Sunday during the 1998, 1999 and 2000 seasons, I would open up the Austin American-Statesman sports page and read about how Drew Brees was forging a name for himself in Big 10 country. He threw for 90 touchdowns and had nearly 12,000 passing yards, leading Purdue to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1967. Brees came in third in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior.

He had not grown an inch since high school, but his showing with the Boilermakers had proven that he could play. Brees was the 32nd man chosen in the 2001 draft, and I dare say none of those who went before—Tomlinson included—turned out better. What did he have to offer? He was smart, hypercompetitive, had excellent footwork and balance, huge hands, love for the sport and a knack for coming through in key games. He could move around in the pocket and throw on the run. By his second year in San Diego, he was the starting QB. Nevertheless, Marty Schottenheimer (who had replaced Riley) seemed unconvinced. In 2004, the Chargers drafted 6′ 5″ quarterback Philip Rivers out of North Carolina State to either motivate or replace Brees. (Rivers has now been with the Chargers for 14 seasons and has had quite a fine career of his own.) In the final game of the 2005 season, Brees suffered a serious injury to his shoulder when trying to recover a fumble; many quarterbacks regard that move as too risky. San Diego low-balled him in contract negotiations, so he looked elsewhere. The Miami Dolphins could have had him but were concerned about his shoulder and declined to make an offer. That left just the New Orleans Saints.

Not only did he take an active part in New Orleans’ recovery from Hurricane Katrina, he quickly became the team’s undisputed leader. They won Super Bowl 44, a 31-17 defeat of the Indianapolis Colts, and Brees was named MVP. He has passed for 5,000 yards five times—something no other quarterback has done more than once. He has climbed the all-time passing yardage chart, topping greats like Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Fran Tarkenton, John Elway, Dan Marino and Brett Favre. He is now on the verge of putting Peyton Manning in his rear-view mirror as well. Tom Brady (one year older and 3,500 yards behind) is unlikely to catch Brees; both have talked about playing several more seasons.

Just as the Chicago Bears’ George Halas showed he still knew something about football when he chose Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus in 1965, the Chargers brain trust went two-for-two in 2001 with Tomlinson and Brees. Apart from their gridiron skills, I admire them for having been “character” guys—solid teammates who also do not have a lengthy police record.