METAIRIE, La. -- Drew Brees mentioned in passing Wednesday that he didn’t feel like he deserved to go to his ninth Pro Bowl last season. Although Brees tied for the NFL lead with 4,952 passing yards, he also had 20 turnovers, and the New Orleans Saints finished 7-9.
But Brees, who went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate, said he was grateful for the opportunity because he got to spend time with guys like Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, whom he had never really spent time with before.
This week the two star quarterbacks will face off for the first time in a regular-season game on Sunday at Indianapolis.
"I think he’s a stud," Brees said of the fourth-year pro, who was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick one year after the Colts hit rock-bottom in a 2011 season that included a 62-7 loss at New Orleans.
The Colts have gone to the playoffs every year since Luck arrived.
"He’s got obviously all of the physical tools and mental tools, intangibles that you need to play this position and play at a high level and play for a long time," Brees continued. "He can make every throw. He’s a great athlete for his size and strength. He’s very poised no matter what the situation. And he’s won a lot of big games in the last few years. He’s got a really bright future ahead of him."
Luck got off to a rough start this season. He threw seven interceptions in the Colts’ first three games, losing two of them. Then he missed two games with a shoulder injury -- something else Brees can relate to after he missed one game with his own shoulder injury last month.
Luck came back strong, however, in a 34-27 loss to the New England Patriots last week. ESPN Colts reporter Mike Wells wrote that it was the best Luck has looked all season as he completed 30-of-50 passes for 312 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Luck will provide a tremendous challenge for a Saints defense that is also coming off its best performance to date in last week’s 31-21 victory against the Atlanta Falcons -- but still ranks 32nd in the NFL in yards allowed.
The Saints have been susceptible to big plays this season, and that’s an area where the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Luck thrives with his big arm, some dynamic weapons at receiver and an ability to move outside the pocket. Luck has run for more than 1,000 yards with 12 career rushing touchdowns.
When asked if Luck has deceptive speed, Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro cracked, "Not deceptive. Just because he’s white doesn’t mean he’s deceptive. He’s actually a great athlete.
"He has all the tools that you ask for as a quarterback," Vaccaro said. "Smart, big arm talent, can go through all his reads and he can run. So not deceptive, he’s actually athletic."