The NFL wasn't always a breeze for Drew Brees.

Long before the days of Twitter hyper-analyzing sports, sharing gifs and arguing about Taysom Hill, the Chargers spent time in San Diego, where they had Brees as quarterback.

While Brees showed plenty of talent and promise as a franchise pa ser with the Chargers, San Diego wasn't sold, eventually drafting Eli Manning with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. (See? Pablo Sandoval Jersey This is all very weird.)Manning would subsequently be traded to the Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers, loading up the quarterback room for the Chargers.

Playing under the franchise tag for the Chargers in 2005 showed the writing on the wall for Brees in a Chargers uniform. Here's why they let him walk:

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Why did the Chargers let Drew Brees leave in free agency?

A Purdue football product, the Chargers selected Brees with the first pickin the second round of the 2001NFL Draft, the second Sam Coonrod Jersey QB drafted (behind Michael Vick, who went No. 1 overall). While Brees wasn't of the typical height or build coming out of college, he garnered some first-round interest, but eventually fell to the second to the Chargers.

Brees' first five years in the NFL weren't anything Brees-like just yet: In 59 games, hethrew for 12,348 yards, 80 touchdowns to 53 interceptions and averaged just over 200 yards per game. Slightly different era, sure, but the talent was apparent. Still, the Chargers were seemingly ready to Jaylin Davis Jersey move on.

In the Chargers'last game of the 2005 season, Brees' futurewas irrevocably changed when the fifth-year QB was injured trying to recover a fumble. Broncos defensive lineman Gerard Warren landed on Brees, causing him to tear his labrum, which he needed surgery for the following offseason. In addition to the labrum tear, Brees had damage to his rotator cuff and dislocated his shoulder, as well. The recovery period had anticipated.

While the Chargers offered Brees a five-year deal to stay, the combination of having drafted Rivers the prior season, uncertainty about Brees' health and Brees' contract requests, both sides split following the 2005 season.

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Why didn't the Dolphins sign Drew Brees?

The Dolphins had two shots at Brees: in the 2001 NFL Draft, when he was on the board Tony Watson Jersey for the Dolphins No. 26 selection, and in free agency following Brees' decision to move on from the Chargers.

Draft mi ses are common, but this one hurts:

For months, the Miami Dolphins scouting department was suggesting the team select Drew Brees in the 2001 Draft. Then Dave Wannstedt was OK with pa sing on Brees seven picks before he was selected, because Josh Heupel was there later. Heupels career NFL pa sing yards? 0.

Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell)

The Dolphins had another opportunity following Brees' departure from the Chargers, but team doctors advised against signing Brees because of .The Dolphins would trade for Vikings starter Daunte Culpepper instead, leaving Brees with two options: re-sign with the Chargers or continue talking with the Saints.

How the Saints signed Drew Brees

While the Chargers offered Conner Menez Jersey an incentive-laden deal to keep Brees on the West Coast, the Boilermaker was Evan Longoria Jersey drawn to the Bayou witha little bit more money.

Brees, securing $10 million guaranteed his first season with a $12 million option for the second year, signed a six-year, $60 million deal, starting the Brees-Sean Payton duo in New Orleans, which would win the Super Bowl in 2010. The Chargers wouldn't come off or improve their incentive-based deal, effectivelytaking them out of the running for the quarterback. The team reportedly offered five years and $50 million, but with only a $2 million base salary.

The rest, as they say, is history.