The GOAT

It happened.  I managed to talk our young IT guru into watching a football game. And what a game to be his first.

If there was any doubt on WHO the GOAT is, Drew Brees ended that argument last night.  He leads the NFL in practically every record a QB can have (he WILL retire having the most touchdown passes in NFL history).

Brees flies under the radar in QB circles. Most fans see him as a good QB because he isn't flashy.

I may not personally know Drew Brees, but he never struck me as the kind who WANTED the spotlight. He was happy doing what he loved.

If you ever hear him speak, he says "Us", "We", "Our". Never "Me", "Mine", "I".  He is as humble as they come.

Even in watching him break the record, his first act was to hug his lineman and to celebrate with his team. The GOAT then celebrated the fans. He never put the spotlight on himself.

Now, let's put this in perspective.

Farve, the third leading passer in the NFL, played for 20 years and threw for 71,838 yards. An amazing feat for sure. The Gunslinger lead the Packers to a Super Bowl victory or two.  He is still revered, rightfully so, as one of the most dominant QBs to play the game, though we did tire of his constant retiring.

Peytin Manning, who is not only Brees' friend, but, until last night, was the league leader in passing yards, played 17 years and threw for 71,940 yards. Again, a Hall of Fame feat. The Sheriff was the epitome of the calmness a QB should have when pressured and was quite possibly the best at reading defenses. Manning could throw defenses off with his cadences of TACO TACO CORNED BEEF.

Now, to the GOAT. As of last night, Brees, who is in his 18th year under center and will only add to his passing yards, has 72,103 yards. He isn't retired, so that number will grow.

Now, consider Tom Brady, the man everyone thinks is the GOAT.  He has been in the league as long as Brees and, while he will add to it since he isn't retired either, only has 67,418 yards. He may have the most Super Bowl rings, but so what? Super Bowl rings are simply a part of the definition of greatness, not the entire definition of greatness .

And, Brees got the record in spite of the fact that, in 2006, he had a shoulder injury and was told he would never be the same if he played again. He didn't always have a strong, protective O-line or receivers.

To do what he did last night was, in short, the final end to the argument of WHO the GOAT is .

Ladies and Gentlemen, HERE is the GOAT :