New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Redskins- Mercedes-Benz Superdome - Monday, Oct. 8 - Saints quarterback Drew Brees
On what is was like after breaking the passing yardage record:
"First of all, coming into the game and knowing that it is there and it is possible and just trying to stay very focused on the game and executing each play one at a time and knowing that your slowly creeping closer and closer. Just not knowing when or how it was going to happen and what is going to be transpiring in the game. Just the momentum and different things, so when we trot out there for the two-minute drive, I think we were within striking distance, we felt like if we threw a bunch of balls all the way down the field and all of those were passing yards then we would probably be close to the record. I didn't know it was going to happen on the first play to Tre'Quan (Smith). I don't think it could have happened in any better fashion than it did. To have been in that moment with my teammates on the field, the offensive line; It just played out better than I even could have imagined. I tried to rehearse the scenario in my mind this week, just so I could really focus on the game, but to have a moment with Sean (Payton) and Mr.Baker, from the (Pro Football) Hall of Fame, and then my boys and my wife Brittany, and daughter, that was just incredible."
On Tre'Quan Smith:
"In Ted Ginn Jr.'s absence, Tre'Quan stepped in and did a magnificent job. Obviously, he had two really big catches tonight for touchdowns. So, credit to him and the way he has come along here in his rookie season, really made a ton of progress and each and every week, especially in the last couple of weeks. This kid can really help, can be a big part of our offense, (he) just needs to continue to evolve. We also got some other pieces as well, we got Mark Ingram II back, Cameron Meredith is coming along, and so we feel like we have a lot of weapons and feel we have a lot of ways to spread the ball around and be really productive."
On Peyton Manning's message to him:
"In true Peyton fashion, he always is creative, I appreciate it. I spoke with (Brett) Favre two weeks ago after the completion record, after we did that in Atlanta. I had gotten a text from Peyton, Archie and Cooper, I spoke to Eli (Manning) last week and really got the best wishes from the whole family. So that was really classy.
On being around the head of the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
"It usually is good news, right. It is hard for me to reflect too much right now because my career is not done, there are still goals to be accomplished and there are still challenges to be met. So, I am still very focused on that and yet when something like this happens and there are so many people that are responsible for that, that can be a part of that, it makes me happy, it makes me proud and it makes me extremely grateful for the opportunity to play this game this long. I wound up here in New Orleans, you all know that story, so it has just been an unbelievable journey and I am just so grateful."
On rehearsing the scenario and the emotions involved:
"I have broken down and cried a bunch of times this week. Thinking about so many things, I feel like when you have kids too you get a little more emotional, just because I get emotional whenever I think about them. Being a father is obviously the greatest responsibility in the world. I want to be the best father I can be for them, I want to set the best example I can for them at all times. I think about all of the people that have influenced my life in such a powerful way, there were so many of those people that were here tonight that witnessed this, so many people that I spoke to this week that are a part of this and so many others still that I haven't had a chance to reach out to and that time will come. Two of the people that have had the biggest influence on my football career certainly and made me who I am growing up are my mom and my grandfather, they are in heaven, they are no longer here, but I know they would be proud and they are watching down on me, looking down on me and watching over me at all times and my kids as well. You start thinking about a lot of things."
On how long he still has left in his career:
"My kids are what make me be better because I throw the ball to my Callen on the couch, he always tells me I am not throwing it in the right place. He always goes 'Come on dad, not here, I want it here' he wants like the outstretch catch on the corner of the couch. They are my toughest critics, they keep me honest."
On what he thought when looking at the crowd:
"I mean, 13 years brings back a lot of memories and a rush of emotions. I love this city, I love this fan base, I love the (Mercedes-Benz) Superdome and the environment that our fans create on a weekly basis when we play here. There is really no fan base like it. Obviously, the bond that we share as a team with our fan base is unlike any other in all of professional sports. They are just so passionate and I wanted this as much for them as anybody."
On Tre'Quan Smith's catch to break the record:
"It was really a new play, a new thought, just this idea that you kind of flood the zone and maybe someone pops open and that is basically what happened on that play. There was a lot of guys out there, we threw Alvin (Kamara) out there, threw Mike (Thomas) out there, we were just running guys all over the place and I think it might have gotten them a little confused and Tre'Quan popped right open."
On what he has gotten for breaking the record that is to the side:
"That is a gift from the QB's, that is a bottle of tequila and we will enjoy that when the time comes. Last time I checked, it was 178 text messages, so that will probably take us a week to get through all of those."
