New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees
2019 Minicamp Presented By Verizon
Post-Practice Media Availability
Thursday, June 13, 2019

You had a lot of backup quarterbacks today with Alvin Kamara wearing a red jersey and helping out. Today, you had one that was a little bit off. (Laughter)
"Alvin? (Laughter) The old jersey swap kind of threw us off early on. He's definitely a guy that could probably get out there and do it. That's the scary thing. He's such a phenomenal athlete and he always talks about wanting to throw the ball. So I don't know, we might go back to those days with LaDainian Tomlinson where he was throwing three and four touchdown passes a year. Not such a bad thing."

Are you ready to catch one?
Absolutely. Just call my number. (Laughter) I was ready the whole year. Most of the time they just had me stand out there and look handsome. (I) Told them I'm ready. I am ready to catch one."

Did you ever have one (touchdown) in San Diego?
"Yeah, I had one. I caught a touchdown from LT (LaDainian Tomlinson). 2003 in Oakland on the dirt, it was early in the year, on the baseball dirt. So it was basically left front pylon, like sliding into home. Got the touchdown."

How about your actual backup (Teddy Bridgewater), has he really made an impression on you in the last six months, especially with this playbook for the first time in a full offseason?
"Yeah, so obviously we know how that all transpired last year. He came in right before the season. So a big learning curve, you're jumping right into a regular season with the new offense and a lot of new things. I think our coaches, him, they have all looked forward to this offseason where he could get a lot of reps and a lot of time under his belt and there is no doubt he's an extremely talented guy. But he works at it. I think this offense suits him very well, a lot of things that we do and a lot of the capabilities that we have and obviously with the creativity that we're able to incorporate to everything we do. I think guys have a comfort level with him. I think he's got a great comfort level with the offense and he's shown that throughout camp"

What has the adjustment been like with Erik McCoy at center?
"Just like any new center and just the pace at which we operate (is tough). Each week we started adding stuff and I think in the beginning you try to just be very basic and very elementary and then as soon as you get going you try to make it a bit more complicated just to (challenge him) and we threw him in the fire. So I think that's the only way you really get better and you've got to stretch yourself a little bit and put yourself in those uncomfortable situations. I think all that's going to do is serve you well down the road as we continue to get more reps together. And then as an offense we kind of put in the whole playbook. But, there's just so much communication that happens between quarterback and center. And so, add up the reps that we've had during OTA's and Minicamp, it's really not that many compared to a guy like Max Unger or a guy like Jonathan Goodwin or other centers that we've had here. Training camp we're going to get 50 times as many reps as we got here in the last couple of days. So,that'll be really good for both of us."

How would you compare (Mark) Ingram and (Latavius) Murray and you watch film and your expectations, obviously with Murray going forward?
"Yeah, obviously I was very familiar with Mark, we played together for eight years. Latavius has impressed me in a lot of ways. He's such a big physical guy. Obviously we are not in pads out here, you know, so you can't comment on a ton of just the pure running style or physicality or anything yet. Certainly from watching on film, from Oakland to Minnesota, he definitely plays with that edge. I think he's picked up the offense well thus far. And it's nice when you can have two backs, obviously for the last two years with Mark and Alvin (Kamara), it gives you a lot of flexibility and it gives you a lot of creativity. So hopefully that'll be the same with him.

Going back to Alvin (Kamara), is there a moment where you realized he's going to be special?
"Yeah, obviously we had signed Adrian. So we had Adrian (Peterson) and Mark and then you bring in Alvin and it was just one of those where (things where) he just needed repetition. Right. And so early on, a lot of those reps were going to Mark, they were going to Adrian Peterson. And so it was not until during training camp, you would see flashes. But I don't think it was until maybe that Miami game in London where all of a sudden Alvin goes off and you realize, man, this could be a feature guy, not just a third down scatback. Get him out of the backfield, get him in space. I mean, he can do everything. And I think hence was the decision then to trade Adrian and then Alvin became a staple."

How would you describe his (Alvin Kamara's) mental approach to the game or his curiosity about what you know and things like that?
"You talking about the way that he comes to me for that information? Is that what you're asking?"

Well, we were under the impression that he somehow wants to emulate you in terms of understanding how to read defenses and what is the scheme of the play you are running.
"That's why he put the Red Jersey on today. (Laughter) Just thought it was like some of the Superman Cape, you know. It's just like magically it would happen. (Laughter) He's a highly intelligent guy. He's pretty inquisitive. You know what, I think, he's such a fun loving guy too, you know? I mean, when he's out here it's that great mix of, he knows when to work, but he's going to have fun doing it. He does have a thirst for knowledge. Whenever there is something that comes up and I grab him and we start talking about something, it's one of like, okay, I hear it and I'm absorbing it. I am visualizing it and then I can go out and execute it. There's just a level of awareness with him that I think that's unique. He picks up on things very quickly. I think that's unique. So then combine that with exceptional athletic skills and you get the player that he is."

How difficult is the current situation for you? Can you say anything about how this has been taxing for you?
"Yeah, it's been very stressful and it's ongoing, but we'll get through it."

But to not be here, you know, and be away?
"Yeah, very tough, very tough. Obviously I'm quarterback of his football team and I want to be with the team, but unfortunately there were things that were a bit out of our control that we had to take care of. So take care of that and take life as it comes."

Were you with the team last week when they went to the museum (National World War II Museum)?
"No."

At what point did you allow yourself to move past the way last season ended and move forward into the 2019 season?
"Yes, it took a while. But, once I get into my training, March, April and then obviously May, I become very focused on the things I need to work on to get better and circle up with all my mentors, the guys that have meant so much to me over the course of my career and tell me how it is. We come up with a plan and a process for how I'm going to get better and approach the offseason. So I did that this offseason, just like I always do. We had some new wrinkles to work on, which was good and feel really good about where that's brought me this far."

In your experience with a player like Marshon (Lattimore), who had had a lot of success in his first two years in the NFL, how does somebody take that and build on it. Kind of continue to grow?
"He's another guy who, kind of interesting. Maybe like Alvin in some ways, where, there is this obviously athletic ability, this skillset that fits very well with being a great player. But, there's some smarts, there's some intellect. There's some awareness that exists that is a bit unusual for such a young player. And so wherever that comes from, however that was developed, it's obviously a great trait and something that has allowed him over the last two years to just continue to get better. And I think that is what I appreciate, is I think it is very easy for a guy who experiences early success to feel like it is just natural and it is just going to happen. Man, that is not the way it works in this league and you've got to work at it each and every year. And it's almost like the better you become, the more they're gunning for you, right. And so, I think Marshon realizes that and (there is) no better opportunity than everyday in practice for him and Mike Thomas to go at it. You talk about two of the best in the game. So I think, it's that adage, iron sharp sharpens iron. Those guys make each other better and in turn make the team better."