Brees, Fitzgerald, Kuechly enter Pro Football Hall of Fame - ESPN

CANTON, Ohio — Drew Brees stood on stage next to his bronze bust, in front of Who Dat Nation, and took his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Getting benched three times in the NFL helped him get there.

«Marty Schottenheimer, one of the greatest coaches and motivators to ever coach this game and who belongs here in Canton,» Brees said Saturday. «Marty was my biggest fan. He would tell me all the time, even as he benched me three times and made me fight for my job every year with two greats, Doug Flutie and Philip Rivers.

»The first two times I got benched, I deserved it. The third time, I still don't think I deserved it, Coach. But nonetheless, it lit more than a fire. It forced me to access a place in my mind and heart that I had not yet been. The adversity was not expected, but very necessary. I would never have reached the heights I did without it. I knew I needed to play better, but more importantly, I knew he believed I would play better."

Brees eventually left the San Diego Chargers and joined the New Orleans Saints, where he won a Super Bowl playing for coach Sean Payton and became one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, to the delight of fans who filled the Superdome with chants of «Who dat?»

Payton took time off from coaching Denver to introduce Brees on stage.

Brees got emotional thanking Payton.

«You always had a plan and vision for every player you coached,» Brees said. «I'm not sure if this is how you envisioned my journey or how big a role you would play in it, but I love you for it.»

Brees has the second-most yards passing (80,358) and touchdown passes (571) in league history, behind only Tom Brady. He was a first-ballot selection and joined a class that includes Larry Fitzgerald, Luke