Saints' Thomas pens emotional farewell letter to Brees: 'You are my hero'
To Michael Thomas, his quarterback Drew Brees was a hero.
The New Orleans Saints star wide receiver wrote a 900-word letter following the future Hall of Famer's retirement announcement Sunday, thanking Brees for the several moments they shared.
Thomas described Brees as his hero and apologized for not being able to give the signal-caller a second career Super Bowl title.
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"What an honor and privilege the last 5 years have been for me to be blessed with the opportunity to line up and play on the same team as you," Thomas wrote.
" ... From the day the Saints drafted me I knew my responsibility, and that was to maximize the window of opportunity and compete for championships. Although we came up short on the main goal multiple times, I feel like we left our mark a few places and created some amazing memories we will always remember as we were able to do some really special things together.
"Just to be able to come into the NFL and immediately begin to chase a very real common goal with you is something I will forever cherish. ... You were exactly who I needed coming in as a rookie with a chip on my shoulder. You immediately accepted me for the competitor I am, and I appreciate that. You allowed me to play on the edge for you. You kept me honest. You taught me about discipline without even using the word.
"I just hate that it had to come to an end, and I couldn't get you another ring. The mission is never easy and very seldom does it just go exactly your way, but I knew with 9 under center we always had a shot, and everyone else around did as well. You gave everyone hope. You are the true definition of a leader. You are my hero and many others."
Brees played 20 seasons in the NFL and spent 15 with the Saints.
Thomas, meanwhile, joined New Orleans as a second-round pick in 2016 and quickly became Brees' favorite target. The three-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in receptions twice, including a single-season record-breaking mark of 149 catches in 2019. Thomas' impressive accomplishments that year helped him become only the second wideout to ever earn the Offensive Player of the Year award.
"You were my match. We were the best QB/WR duo for multiple years, despite only having a relatively short period of time together," Thomas noted. "We both took pride in that and in everything we did with our preparation. We really held one another accountable and corrected our mistakes immediately. You brought my competitive excellence to a whole new level.
"I'm going to miss you. I'm going to miss us taking over drives to help lead the team to victory. It felt like it was all in slow motion when we were clicking. Man, I'm sad it has to come to an end. You are just so special to me. You allowed me to feel a part of something bigger than myself. We took each other to levels I believe only we could have taken each other to."
Other NFL stars also showed respect to Brees on social media Sunday.
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