Pelica Debrief
Fansided

Matching New Orleans Pelicans players with their Saints parallels

By Willie Lutz

METAIRIE, LA - JULY 29: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans passes the football with quarterback Drew Brees #9 during the New Orleans Saints Quarterback Competition at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
METAIRIE, LA - JULY 29: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans passes the football with quarterback Drew Brees #9 during the New Orleans Saints Quarterback Competition at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Jrue Holiday as Drew Brees

The first pairing is between two long-tenured members of New Orleans sports squads, quarterback Drew Brees and Jrue Holiday. No, it’s not just their first names that are similar, they’ve got a few things in common, including their route to the Big Easy.

Neither player was originally drafted to play sports in New Orleans. Holiday was traded to the Pelicans after his All-Star season with the Philadelphia 76ers, who originally drafted him 17th-overall in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Brees wasn’t a top selection either, his spot as 32nd pick of the second round would be two picks after the NBA Draft ends but is still a relatively high pick in the NFL. Brees came to New Orleans after a devastating shoulder injury maligned his time with the San Diego Chargers, despite Brees making the Pro Bowl with the team in 2004.

While Holiday hasn’t had the same level of success as Brees, who won the Super Bowl with the Saints in 2010, they’re both in similar roles on each of their teams.

Both the unquestioned veteran leaders of their clubs, even though the Saints have had a lot more time with Brees at the helm. Brees and Holiday both take the role of lead ballhandler for their squads, handling the distribution to the talented scorers surrounding them on the floor/field.

The notable difference is that every time Brees drops back to pass, there are 300 LBS players running full speed to try and tackle him to the ground, usually between three and six of them at a time. Conversely, when Holiday sets up to distribute, he’s probably got a single, similarly-sized player trying to stop him in the process. If anyone tackles him to the ground, they’ll probably be thrown out of the game and suspended.

Home/Pelicans News