All losses sting, but Saints quarterback Drew Brees has a tangible reminder from his last one.
Brees said he needed stitches after taking a shot to the head last week against the Titans, in a game they’d lose in overtime.
The hit came with 12:22 left in the fourth quarter, when Titans linebacker David Bass nailed him. Bass was flagged for roughing the passer on the play.
“It was the one where they got the flag, it was down in the red zone, guy kind of got a clean shot on me, hit me right in the jaw,” Brees said, via Katherine Terrell of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “So I ended up getting stitches and kind of had a lemon-sized swelled up there for a little bit. But I’m fine, obviously we ended up getting a little bit closer to the end zone because of that, ended up getting a touchdown and taking an 8-point lead. So listen, that’s a part of the game sometimes.
“At that point I don’t know what it looks like, I’m just focused on playing the game.”
While it might leave a scar on Brees, it will probably also leave a dent in Bass’s wallet, when fines come out later this week.