NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees says he's been offered a number of book contracts but turned them all down, until this year.
"I had always thought that if I did write a book, it would be when I was done playing or 20 years from now. So much of the story is still yet to be written," he said Thursday.
Calling from vacation in Hawaii, he said he changed his mind and accepted an offer from Tyndale House Publishers because he feels he now has a message that matters. Tyndale announced Wednesday that "Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity" will be released July 6 with a national book tour by Brees.
"Most of the books I was approached with in the past were pretty much sports related and didn't tell the story this one is going to tell," Brees said. "It's about ... finding the positive in every negative, being able to look at adversity as a way to strengthen yourself."
The book, written with Chris Fabry, will tell three intertwined stories: Brees' comeback from a severe shoulder injury; the New Orleans Saints' march to their first Super Bowl game in 43 years and their NFL championship over Indianapolis; and New Orleans' comeback from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"New Orleans gave so many of us a second chance -- myself and other players who really didn't have much of a chance in 2006," said Brees, who joined the team that year.
He said "a pretty good percentage" of his royalties will go to his Brees Dream Foundation, which raises money to fight cancer and give care, education and opportunities to children in need. The amount hasn't been decided, he said.
It's important that Tyndale is a Christian publishing house and shares his values, Brees said. "I'd be working with great people who want to deliver the same message that I do."
Not to mention that their inspirational and motivational sports books have included best-sellers such as former Indianpolis Colts coach Tony Dungy's memoir "Quiet Strength" in 2007 and his second book, "Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance," published a month after his retirement in 2009, and Ohio State coach Jim
Tresssel's book "The Winner's Manual" in 2008.
"I talked to Tony; I talked to Jim Tressel; I talked to a whole bunch of people who've worked with Tyndale," Brees said.
But he said the most important factor was the message -- one that is particularly relevant these days. "Especially in these tough economic times, I want this book to be able to give people hope, give them strength, give them the belief they can overcome anything."
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
