As training camp nears, Tyler Shough is getting more than just offseason reps with the New Orleans Saints - he’s earning a strong stamp of approval from one of Drew Brees’ most trusted voices.
Todd Durkin, Brees’ longtime trainer, said on WWL Radio that the work Shough has put in alongside the Saints’ offensive players has stood out to him, especially with Brees involved in the sessions.
"To see Tyler out there leading the guys, it was really an awesome thing, to not only meet all the new guys, but to see the veterans come back and work and then Drew feeding into Tyler, it was … a great experience," Durkin said. "The guys loved it, they got better and they’re getting excited for the season."
Durkin also pointed to Shough’s approach in the weight room and his willingness to learn from Brees.
"He worked his tail off in the weight room, he was asking a lot of questions about 'how do I get better in the core,' and ... he was really hungry to learn," Durkin continued, "and even with Drew out on the field, like, he was sharing some wisdom and it’s great to see a veteran helping out a younger guy and to have a younger guy who was open to receiving. Listen, he’s the real deal."
That work ethic, Durkin said, fits the kind of environment Brees was describing when he talked about how championships are built.
"Drew said it, this is where championships are made, in times that you don’t have to be here and you’re grinding," Durkin said, "and to see Tyler, how they responded to him … it’s really cool to see."
The Saints have reason to feel good about where things stand. Shough has the trust of the organization and the locker room, and the offseason work with Brees and the team’s weapons has only added to that. With training camp around the corner, New Orleans is heading in with the kind of chemistry and momentum it wants to carry forward.
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