In mid-March 2006, the Miami Dolphins were trying to decide between trading for quarterback Daunte Culpepper with Minnesota or signing free agent quarterback Drew Brees of the Chargers. One problem: Brees was in the early stages of rehabbing after major shoulder surgery, an operation that left in doubt whether he’d be near 100 percent for the start of the 2006 season.
Brees had a generous (all things considered) offer from New Orleans of six years and $60 million which seemed a little risky considering the surgery.On the night Miami had to decide which way to go, owner Wayne Huizenga was out to dinner with a friend in Palm City, Fla., not far from his personal golf club, The Floridian. “I want them to sign Brees,” Huizenga said at one point. “They want Culpepper.” He said coach Nick Saban and the Dolphins’ football people were worried about Brees’ shoulder. Huizenga got a call on his cell phone and walked outside.
When he came back inside the restaurant, Huizenga said his football people were insistent that Culpepper, for reasons monetary and football and health, was a better choice than Brees. “I told them, they’re the football guys, not me,” said Huizenga. But the owner repeated that if it were up to him, he’d have signed Brees.
Miami is 38-58 since, with zero playoff wins; the Dolphins will have their fifth head coach since that night (including interim boss Todd Bowles) sometime in the next month. New Orleans is 62-34, with a Super Bowl win, with one coach
