Brees hopes Brady breaks passing record on 1st play vs. Patriots
Drew Brees' time as the NFL's all-time passing leader will almost certainly come to a close Sunday night when Tom Brady returns to face the Patriots in New England.
The former New Orleans Saints quarterback sits just 67 yards ahead of Brady, and he's rooting for the record to fall as fast as possible.
"I'd be all for Brady just launching the first play of the game, just go ahead and get it out of the way," Brees said, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "You said he needs, what? Sixty-eight yards? Let's have New England kick it in the end zone, start at the 25 and have him launch one to Mike Evans and let's just be done with it.
"There's no doubt I think that's gonna get knocked down pretty quick. I can't think of a guy who has invested more into his career and his preparation and kind of what he's meant for the game. It's definitely a special record because it speaks to the longevity that he's been able to experience and the level that he's been able to play at."
Brees, who will be in Foxborough to cover the game as an analyst for NBC Sports, added he's "a firm believer that records are meant to be broken."
The retired signal-caller took the record from Peyton Manning - who ended his Hall of Fame career with 71,940 yards - during a 2018 home game. Brees extended the all-time mark to 80,358 yards over the next two-and-half campaigns before his retirement this past offseason.
Brady has already become the NFL's all-time leader in passing touchdowns with 591, surpassing Brees' 571 and Manning's 539. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star could also take Brees' record for career completions of 7,141 this season, as he sits at 6,875 heading into Week 4.
Brees doesn't expect the seven-time Super Bowl champion will get much of a chance to savor the moment of setting the record.
"You're so locked into the game. You really can't allow yourself to go there too much," Brees said. "It's really something that you try to get out of the way emotionally prior to the game."