It’s been seven years since the Dolphins infamously passed up on quarterback Drew Brees to sign Daunte Culpepper.
Brees finally set the record straight on Thursday .
Brees, speaking with Dolphins reporters in advance of Monday’s game against the Saints, said that Dolphins trainers told then-Coach Nick Saban that they thought it was unlikely he could resume his career after injuring his shoulder in the final game of the 2005 season when he was with San Diego.
“I do remember him saying their doctors felt I had a 25 percent chance of coming back and playing,” Brees said.
Brees said “I do believe I was (Miami’s) first choice” but that there “are no hard feelings.”
Brees’ comments came less than a year after Saban, now the head coach at Alabama, told Dan Le Batard of 790 The Ticket that he had first made an offer to Brees but that Brees failed a physical with Miami.
Culpepper had damaged three knee ligaments the year before the Dolphins signed him. He suffered through one injury plagued season in Miami and only played in four games.
Brees went on to play in six Pro Bowls with New Orleans and led the Saints to the Super Bowl XLIV championship.
Only now does it appear that the Dolphins have found a franchise quarterback in Ryan Tannehill.
“Everything happened the way it was supposed to,” Brees said. “I don’t think about it for a second, I really don’t. Obviously Coach Saban has gone on and probably would not trade his career path for anything either.”
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