VIDEO: Drew Brees Crashes First-Round Pick Cesar Ruiz's Interview to Welcome Him to Saints
By Adam Weinrib
Drew Brees is one of the NFL's stalwart leaders -- naturally, he didn't even let 24 hours go by following the Saints' selection of some protection before welcoming that key piece to New Orleans. While Jane Slater was interviewing Michigan center Cesar Ruiz, the Saints' pick at No. 24, Brees sent her a video to welcome the kid to the Big Easy.
How cool is this!!! Right as I’m interviewing new Saints OL Cesar Ruiz a goat crashes our interview. Hi @drewbrees Ruiz watched this twice ?I expect there will be several more times! pic.twitter.com/75zEs3ll0O
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) April 24, 2020
Yeah, Ruiz already has this one on repeat. What a "Welcome to the NFL" moment.
"I love your journey. I love your work ethic. I love smart, gritty, tough guys, man," Brees said straight to camera, speaking right to the engine of Ruiz's football life.
A beastly interior lineman and underrated option, Ruiz's life story is colored with tragedy -- he lost his father in a tragic roadside accident when he was just eight years old, and was overcome with emotion at his selection on Thursday night.
This is what it's all about.@UMichFootball C Cesar Ruiz was overcome with emotion after being drafted in the 1st Round by the @Saints!
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 24, 2020
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/sKf7d1WUAy
How he got here was impressive enough. Now, as Brees knows, it's time to take the next step -- it's up to Ruiz to solidify the end of a legend's career so he can ride another Lombardi wave to Canton.