SAN DIEGO -- A defining moment of Drew Brees' career occurred 12 years ago this week -- on the same field where Brees will lead the New Orleans Saints against his former team, the San Diego Chargers, on Sunday.
It was Week 4, Brees and the Chargers were struggling at 1-2 and tied 7-7 against the Tennessee Titans, and Brees had just suffered a Grade 2 AC separation in his non-throwing shoulder while being sacked. At that moment, San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer warned Brees that he had one more series to get going or he’d be replaced by rookie first-round draft pick Philip Rivers.