Brees needs just 201 yards to pass Peyton Manning for the most all-time career passing yardsGETTY IMAGES
Saints QB Drew Brees tonight will likely break the record for NFL career passing yards, and while ESPN's Joe Tessitore said the "MNF" crew plans to honor the accomplishment that when it happens, the booth "doesn't want to say too much," according to Christopher Dabe of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Tessitore said that his plan is to "say hardly anything" if and when Brees sets the record against the Redskins. Dabe notes Tessitore's "ambition is to enhance the moment without overshadowing it." How the moment unfolds for both Brees and the "MNF" team "will depend on several factors, with the game situation being most significant." ESPN VP/Production and "MNF" producer Jay Rothman said that the plan currently is to "halt the game momentarily for Brees to celebrate the record" with coach Sean Payton and his teammates. ESPN will "stay in the moment with live video coverage through the entire celebration before the game resumes." At that moment, Rothman said that ESPN will "'unload the bucket,' which means to show all the various replays from the 30 cameras" at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, including cameras "focused only on Brees, Payton and others, possibly including the Brees family." Rothman said that the "only way there wouldn't be a stoppage" is if the Saints are in "hurry-up mode" (NOLA.com, 10/7).
