Drew Brees

On team chemistry

You can have all the talent in the world, a bunch of No. 1 picks, but if the chemistry isn't there, you won't succeed. Good chemistry is one reason I was successful with the Chargers the last two years despite the QB controversy [between Brees and Philip Rivers]. The guys on my team believed in me and my abilities, so we worked well together to make things happen--despite critics.

On injuring his throwing shoulder in the last game of last season

I knew it was serious the minute I got up [after Broncos DT Gerard Warren landed on him]. As much as I wanted to believe the Chargers would re-sign me, I had a bad feeling that that might have been my last snap in a Chargers uniform. It was.

On his recovery

I had surgery in January, and I spent the next four months [in Birmingham] rehabbing with a sports-therapy group. In the beginning it's tough--you can't do a whole lot. The playoffs are going on, and I'm sitting there in a sling just trying to get my arm to move again, watching other QBs make great plays. It was like somebody was stabbing me in the heart.

On his impression of New Orleans

There's a lot of devastation, and that was kind of overwhelming at first. But my wife [Brittany] and I felt the attitude of the people was great. For them to have gone through something like [Hurricane Katrina] and be so hopeful and so high-spirited was amazing. They knew things were going to be O.K. and that the city was going to come back. It's a great feeling to know we could help be a part of the rebuilding.

On his favorite things in the city

Going to the great restaurants. The cuisine here is amazing. My favorite dish has been charbroiled oysters from a place called Drago's. That is a dish I could eat all day. We also love walking around the French Quarter, talking to the people, listening to the music.