Last Updated: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:59
Drew Brees claims the bond formed in the New Orleans Saints' side after Hurricane Katrina will boost their Super Bowl bid on Sunday.
Brees, who joined the Saints as a free agent in the close season after Katrina left the city devastated in September 2005, has helped to restore New Orleans to its former self through their charitable foundations. And he insists that no current player was left unaffected by the chaos, destruction and loss of life caused almost four-and-a-half years ago.
Therefore as the Saints will contest their first Super Bowl in the 42-year history of the franchise against the Indianapolis Colts in Miami, Brees claims the players will be carrying the hopes of the city into the game.
"You have to understand how much it means to that community and what they've been through," Brees said. "Our success as a team over the last four years, but especially this year, has been tremendous just in regards of giving so many of the members of that community hope and lifting their spirits.
"There is still a lot of work to be done there in regards to the rebuilding and the recovery post-Katrina. There are still a lot of people in some pretty dire straits.
"For us to be able to have the success we're having, it just does so much for that community as far as bringing everyone together.
"There's a bond that we have with our fans, between our organisation and our fans, that's truly special.
"This has been, obviously, a storybook season for all of us; a 13-0 start, a lot of firsts, our first time to host an NFC Championship game and the first Super Bowl appearance in the 42-year history of the organisation, so we have a lot to play for.
"We don't look at it as extra pressure. We look at it as a sense of responsibility, and we really gain strength from our fans, from the people of New Orleans, just knowing that their spirit is with us."