Courtesy of NFL.com

Here is the transcript from the Drew Brees Chat:

04:00 PM - 05:00 PM ETDrew Brees 22 comments
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, national spokesman for NFL Play 60 and the Take a Player to School program presented by JCPenney Afterschool Fund, joined NFL fans for a live chat on Tuesday, July 21. Brees discussed the NFL passing record, his WRs, and why Sean Payton should be considered an elite coach.

• NFL.com

  Drew, you’re here today on the behalf of the Take a Player to School Program, which is presented by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. Before we get started with our fan questions, what made you want to get involved in this program?
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  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I think it's an extremely important program, when you talk about getting kids outside for exercise and to be with their friends. I think it's good for a number of reasons. Childhood obesity is very high right now. Then there's also diet and eating well, and not always going for fast food and candy. Just being conscience of what you're eating and put in your body. The earlier you gain that knowledge, the better you'll do down the road. That, and also it's a great way to develop social skills ... kids having to do different things together. There's also the aspect of spending time with your family, too. It's a great program for a lot of reasons.

• NFL.com

  How long have you been a part of this, and what other NFL players are involved?
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  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  This is my third year being involved. I know there are quite a few other players involved, you see the commercials ... Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Bob Sanders, Santana Moss ... quite a few guys around the league. I think at least one guy in each NFL city. It's a great opportunity for the kids. I had a chance to go to an elementary school this year in Louisiana, a very small school, and it was a great experience. I got to show them a lot of things we do on the football field and I really got a kick out of that.

• David Sailman, Philadelphia

  04:08 PM ET

  What major influences did you have growing up? Highschool coach, Gym Teacher, Dad?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  There's been a lot of those peolple. I've had a lot of mentors. But mostly it was my grandfather, my dad and my brother ... we spent a lot of time in the yard or wherever playing sports. All those things involved competition. My grandfather was a high school football coach for 38 years, and I remember watching two-a-days in Texas way back then and being the water boy and that kind of stuff. I was always around it.
  
  I've had so many great coaches along the way, helping develop me and teach me life lessons along the way.

• Ben, Bowling Green, OH

  04:10 PM ET

  Drew, thanks for the amazing 2008 season--so fun to watch! What are you working on now to improve your game in 09?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I always evaluate the season before and the areas I want to get better at. There's certain fundamental things that you always have to stay on top of -- like throwing mechanics, footwork -- just staying on top of them and being aware. You don't want those things to lapse. You kind of just make it part of your routine. So I always try to involve working on those along wtih my workouts and film study, as I'm constantly trying to find an edge somewhere.

• Tyler, Florida

  04:12 PM ET

  Hey Drew, How did you feel when first found out you did not break the record by 16 yards?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I was disappointed. Just because I know how important that record was to our team and our fans. That's all anyone talked about all week long. Winning is obviously the most important, but people wanted it. It would have been important to our team to get that big of a record. It would have linked us together forever and it would have been something we would have always been a part of.

• Charles, Middleburg, FL

  04:14 PM ET

  Congratulations on your 5,069 passing yards last season. Do you believe you have an oppurtunity to surpass that mark and break Dan Marino's single season passing record?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I'm not even thinking about it, Charles. That's a lot of yards. I never enter a season thinking about something like that. Anything I can do to help us win a championship. If the record is part of that, great. If we win without it, that's great too. Either way, I'd rather have the ring.

• Matt, Jersey

  04:15 PM ET

  What quarterback do/did you try to model your play after?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I had some favorites growing up, like Montana and Aikman. Growing up in Texas was during the Cowboys heyday. There were always on TV. I try to watch a lot of QBs and take bits and pieces and work that into my own game and what I do, working them into my attributes and my abilities. I try to find things they all do well. Things from different guys.

• MAX, TENNESSEE

  04:17 PM ET

  What are your impressions of Robert Meachem, and do see him having a bigger role this year???  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I do see his role increasing. He continues to get better every day. Every snap he gets, he kicks it up a notch. He works hard, and he's very self-motivated. I look forward to the opportunities he'll get this year.

• Andrew W., KC, KS

  04:18 PM ET

  Devery Henderson and Lance Moore both had good seasons last year. Who is likely to start opposite Marques Colston this year?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  Lance is our No. 2 guy, and I think Devery plays a huge role in our offense, as does Meachem. Offensively, we move those guys around so much and put them all over the field. If you ask the receivers, as a group, who rates where, they kind of see themselves all as No. 1s. They'll all get opportunities. At the same time, they also all need to create for each other. We have a great group of wideouts.

• darrion gray, arlington tx

  04:21 PM ET

  Do you think greg williams is the missing part of the defense  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I woldn't say that, really, but it's really that he's a great coach, and he commands a lot of respect around the league. He's really created an attitude on defense. Any time you change coaches at any position, they have their own system and scheme that will take time to learn, but they bring a different mentality. They're only going to help us get better, and we'll help them too. He's a great coach and will do a great job.

• Bob, Frisco, TX

  04:22 PM ET

  Drew, After your career with the Saints is done (hopefully that will be a long time from now), do you expect to continue to call New Orleans home?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  My wife and I love New Orleans. It's a special place. We hope to be there a very long time.

• Brent , Nashville, TN

  04:23 PM ET

  I love how you and others in the NFL work to improve health in our youth. The work you do shows that no matter who we are and what we have we can all lend a helping hand. I just want to tell you I appreciate everything you do to better the community.  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  Thank you much, Brent. There are a lot of guys in the NFL doing great things with their foundations and in their communities. I don't think people realize all the good things going on. Instead there's a lot of focus on the bad decisions that are made by a small few. It's good to know it's being seen and appreciated. We're just doing our part.

• Jeff, New Orleans

  04:24 PM ET

  Are we loud enough in the dome on Sundays?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  Jeff, you're very loud. But I think there's always room to kick it up a few decibles!

• Clarence Ashe, Hamden, CT

  04:25 PM ET

  Been a Saints fan for over 20 yrs and I think I speak for most Saints fans when I say you're the best QB the team has had. Not many people talk about Sean Payton as an elite coach. What can you say about him and his play calling?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I think he's def an elite coach, for many reasons. Not only is he an exceptional play-caller and a real coach in terms of scheme and technique, but I think he's a great motivator and a great communicator. I think he does a good job of putting everyone in a position to succeed in realtion to what our strengths are.

• RET, New Orleans, LA

  04:27 PM ET

  How do you think a healthy Shockey can improve our O?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I think Shockey adds another element. With our WRs, they're usually the ones who are draw coverages. When you have a guy inside like Shockey or even Reggie working the inside, that really works to our advantage.

• conner entriken, orlando, florida

  04:28 PM ET

  What are your thoughts on the defense for this season?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  I've been very impressed. They're playing with a lot of attitude. Granted, they're still learning the defense. But they're flying around, playing fast, and they have a swagger about them.

• Scott Terrio , Weisbaden, Germany (US Army)

  04:29 PM ET

  Drew, I have to admit. More than any other season in the past, I am most excited about our chances this season. We're healthy and we've revamped our defense. I know your a competitor, but does this season feel like any others before it or is there something special there that your truly excited about?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  Each season, you tell yourself that you never know when it could be your year. That's why you work as hard as you can to put yourself in the best position to win. I do feel like our opportunity is now. The team we put together, we're not getting any younger. So this is the time.

• Dave Pellegrino, Philadelphia, Pa

  04:31 PM ET

  Hey Drew, what role do you feel Pierre Thomas will play in your offense coming off 6-7 strong games in 2008? Do you think he will help take the pressure off of you in the passing game?  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  Yes, all of the above. I think he'll have a breakout type year. I don't want to put too much pressure on him, but I think he's really talented, and if he stays healthy, he can be a really good player and a big part of our offense. The stronger your running game is, the more opportunities you have in the passing game.

• josh, nashville

  04:33 PM ET

  drew, i was wondering who do you think will be your toughest opponent in the upcoming season  

  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  Well, they're all tough! I'm not saying that just to dodge the question. Looking at our schedule, where we play our own division twice, but we play the NFC East and the AFC East. You're talking about the Pats, Jets, Dolphins, Philly, Washington, Dallas ... a lot of very good teams. An extremely difficult schedule for us. But you have to find way.
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  Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

  Who Dat Saints fans! I'm out of time, so time for me to get going. Also want to shout out to all the troops overseas. You guys all get home safe. I'm looking forward to this season, hope you all are too.
  
  Drew.