The Purdue Exponent


Wednesday 2/28/2001	5 day quick link 3/27 \| 3/26 \| 3/23 \| 3/22 \| 3/21

Teams check out Brees before April NFL draft

By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

Drew Brees has a final four of sorts.

He thinks either Kansas City, Atlanta, Jacksonville or San Diego will select him in the NFL Draft, which is April 21 to 22 in New York.

"I can't really say I've got a preference; I'd be happy if any of them took me," Brees said. "All of them seem like great organizations with good coaches and good locations."

Brees met representatives from every NFL team during his offseason endeavors, which included a trip to the NFL scouting combine Feb. 23 to 25 in Indianapolis.

The industrial management major has been working toward graduating in May while training at least four days a week in Purdue's Mollenkopf Athletic Center. He held a private workout for representatives from several NFL teams last Wednesday.

Representatives from Kansas City, Cincinnati, Carolina, San Diego Seattle, Dallas, Buffalo and Atlanta were there.

Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil, two assistants and team president/general manager Carl Peterson were also there. Brees said this was a sign that the Chiefs are serious about drafting him.

Kansas City has the 12th pick in the draft and needs a starting quarterback now that Elvis Grbac has signed a free-agent deal with Super Bowl champion Baltimore.

Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin has made several trips to West Lafayette to see Brees in the past few weeks. The Jaguars, who have the 13th pick in the draft, are looking for a backup for Mark Brunell.

San Diego has the No. 1 overall pick but may trade it for more picks. Brees will work out for Chargers representatives in the Mollenkopf Athletic Center Thursday.

Brees will travel to Atlanta for a private workout with the Falcons soon. Atlanta has the fifth pick in the draft and does not have a marquee quarterback on its roster.

Seattle, which has the No. 7 and No. 17 picks, was also considering Brees. However, Brees said he hasn't talked to anyone from the Seahawks since the team signed former Green Bay backup Matt Hasselbeck, a third-year quarterback from Boston College.

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