JACKSONVILLE, Fla.. -- The crutches made each step difficult. Regardless, Jeff Blake, his foot surgically repaired just three days before, had to be on the airport tarmac to greet his replacement, Aaron Brooks.

	Brooks

	Blake

Brooks orchestrated a 31-24 upset of the Rams last Nov. 26 to propel the Saints into a first-place tie with the Rams in the NFC West. It was Brooks who had the game-winning, 1-yard run. No matter how much pain Blake endured, he had a mission.

"I gave him a big hug and told him that I was proud of him," Blake said.

The scene was genuine and epitomizes the most unusual quarterback battle in a while. Brooks and Blake are competing for the starting job and they get along. Blake even asked coach Jim Haslett to be with Brooks during their first training camp meeting with the press.

"I felt like everybody was trying to paint the picture where we were going to be at each other's throats," Blake said. "I'm not that way. Aaron's not that way. Our job is to win football games as a unit, and we know we can get that done. We won't allow anyone to come between us. He has my back. I have his back. We are like brothers."

Said Brooks of their relationship: "It's not normal. We're probably changing the faces of upcoming quarterback battles to look at and start to learn."

But that's the amazing thing about the Saints. Haslett took over a depleted Saints franchise. Mike Ditka left the talent pool so shallow that Haslett and general manager Randy Mueller started last seasons with 30 new players on their 53-man roster. Not only do the Saints have depth this summer, but they have competition at more positions than quarterback

They drafted Deuce McAllister even though Ricky Williams is the franchise back. Outside linebacker Keith Mitchell went to the Pro Bowl, but when the Saints had a chance to add former Packers outside linebacker Brian Williams for $70,000 over the league-minimum salary, they jumped at the chance.

	“	I've been around for a while, and I've never seen a guy as young as he is being able to read defenses as well or pick up defenses as well. ”
		— Jeff Blake on Aaron Brooks

"We have more depth at linebacker, at defensive line, at running back and at wide receiver," Haslett said. "We've got four to six corners who can play at any time."

Two things make this all work in New Orleans. First, Haslett, a former star linebacker for the Bills, talks to his players and keeps them clear where everyone stands. Second, some of the older players -- Blake, Willie Roaf, Joe Johnson and others -- have been around losing Saints teams so long that they realize that suppressing egos might get them into the Super Bowl.

No player has made a better metamorphosis than Blake. In Cincinnati, he was possessive and combative about his playing status. In retrospect, undrafted players such as Blake always have to look over their shoulders because some general manager is always looking for more talent.

"In Cincinnati, I felt threatened regardless who it was whether it was Jay Fiedler or Boomer Esiason or Neil O'Donnell," Blake said. "Every year it was something. I never really felt comfortable in my whole career. When Aaron came in, I didn't feel threatened by him, but I kept my guard up."

Brooks came to the Saints a year ago in a lowly publicized trade from Green Bay. The Saints were in Jacksonville as they were this year doing a one-day scrimmage against Jaguars. He arrived in the middle of the night, took a physical and got to bed by 4 a.m. His wakeup call was at 5 a.m.

The Saints got off to a 7-4 start with Blake, so the thought of a quarterback controversy wasn't real. Quietly, though, management marveled at Brooks' skills. He was tall at 6-foot-4. He was mobile. His arm was strong. To some, Brooks reminded observers of Donovan McNabb. To Saints management, it thought he could be better.

"I've been around for a while, and I've never seen a guy as young as he is being able to read defenses as well or pick up defenses as well," Blake said.

It's the star potential that will probably lead to Brooks beating out Blake for the starting job. Haslett tells them the competition is even and a decision will be made after the Aug. 18 exhibition game against Dallas. Brooks is the first to go with the first unit. Blake gets equal snaps with the starters.

"We go out and battle in the group we are in," Blake said. "We are making it very hard for the coaches to decide who is going to be the starter."

Blake showed further faith in the situation by restructuring his contract to give the team salary cap relief. That move pretty much prevents Blake from being traded the next two seasons because of the salary cap implications. Win or lose, Blake will be together with Brooks for the next couple of years.

"This business is very, very, very political," Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Horn said. "I talk to Aaron a lot. He's going to work his butt off on and off the field. But any of the b.s. that goes with quarterback controversies, you won't get any of that here. Let the coaches make the decision who starts. In the locker room, there are genuine friendships. We laugh. We joke around. We hang out."

Everyone's happy including Williams. Ditka gave away parts of two drafts to acquire Williams, but the pressure of being Ricky Williams developed symptoms of depression for the running back. To clear his head, he moved to Mission Beach in San Diego during the offseason.

"I had to get my mind right," Williams said. "Everyone thought I was out there because of my contract, but after the season I was thinking about everything I ever did. I realized I had a great job. I needed time to think and concentrate on that. I wasn't happy during the season."

Williams rushed for 1,000 yards in 10 games until a turf toe injury ended his season. Being idle wore on him. He was trapped.

"It's hard for me to be a regular person in New Orleans," Williams said. "I can't do anything. Every once in a while I can get into the French Quarter. But I couldn't walk my dog. I couldn't ride my bike. I couldn't run. I couldn't go to the grocery store."

His time away made Williams more comfortable. He relaxed. Since the team's May mini-camp, Williams has participated in every team workout and looks great in practices. His body fat is down to six percent.

The Super Bowl takes place in New Orleans this season. Feeling better about his life, Williams wouldn't mind sticking around town that week. The Saints are one of the NFC's elite teams, and they all like each other.

"We take all the negatives and turn them into positives," Horn said.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.