I think you missed the point.
At one time Bledsoe was the face of the NEP, no way was in going else where.
At one time Montana was the face of the 49rs, no way was in going else where.
At one time Favre was the face of the Packers, no way was in going else where.
etc.
Brees means no more to NO, than Montana meant to the 49ers.
I got the point, it was a dumb point. It makes zero sense.
The 49ers had a legit back-up to Montana at the time. They could in the pre-salary cap era. Those days are over.
Get Bledsoe out of this debate. He never was in the same class as any of the other guys.
GB had drafted Favre's replacement and if Favre didn't go back and forth on retiring and un-retiring, he would have finished in GB probably. Unique situation to say the least! Favre screwed over the team, that's why he left. He couldn't give them a straight answer every offseason till they finally got fed up with him.