Drew Brees' greatness, as seen through eyes of teammates, coaches - ESPN

NEW ORLEANS — Saints quarterback Tyler Shough got more than he bargained for when he called Drew Brees for advice on setting up an offseason workout in California this summer.

Shough expected Brees to make an appearance at the throwing sessions he helped set up. What he got was a workout in which he carried kettle bells next to the 47-year-old Brees and struggled not to get shown up by a man almost twice his age.

«I have to do a heavier weight than him,» the 26-year-old Shough jokingly recalled. «So I grab the heavier ones, and me and Drew are walking and he's just [stoic] and I'm trying not to die.»

Some of the younger players in attendance at those workouts were in awe of Brees. Running back Travis Etienne Jr., who grew up in Louisiana watching Brees play, had to get a picture of him to mark the moment.

«That's like our hero, fans growing up and watching him. And especially for Trav, it was really cool,» Shough said. «He's like, 'Man, that's Drew Brees over there.'»

Brees can no longer throw with his right arm 20 years after Dr. James Andrews put in more than 10 anchors to repair his shoulder. He suffered a 360-degree labrum tear and partial rotator cuff tear in his final appearance with the Chargers, the team that selected him with the 32nd pick of the 2001 NFL draft.

The shoulder injury closed the door on his Chargers career and led him to New Orleans, where he would spend 15 record-setting seasons, win Super Bowl XLIV and uplift a city recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

Brees will become the fifth primary Saints player to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday (Noon, ET). All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham, franchise receiving leader Marques Colston and franchise rushing leader Alvin Kamara are among