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What if Drew Brees had never left the Chargers for the Saints?
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Miami Dolphins. Miami was Brees’ top choice in free agency, but Saban and the medical staff didn’t have enough confidence to sign him – so they chose Daunte Culpepper instead.
That still would have happened if Brees never left San Diego. But perhaps if Saban had no regrets or hadn't been second-guessed for passing on Brees, he wouldn’t have been so eager to bolt for Alabama in 2007. Maybe he would have even wound up trading for Rivers and thriving in the NFL.
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Bush and Rivers wind up elsewhere. With the Saints drafting Leinart, Bush would have slipped even further in the 2006 draft – maybe to the
New York Jets with the fourth pick? Can you imagine the combination of Bush’s superstar aura and the New York spotlight? Remember, Bush had more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage as a rookie, including the playoffs, and scored 11 touchdowns. He might be hosting his own national morning talk show by now.
As for Rivers, the Chargers would have had to trade him in 2007 after Brees led them to the Super Bowl. Maybe he would have gone to Miami, or to the Raiders (who drafted JaMarcus Russell with the first pick that year).
Or maybe Rivers would have gone to the
Cleveland Browns, who drafted Brady Quinn at No. 22 that year. And maybe Cleveland would have had the same starting QB for every game over the past 10 years – instead of 18.
