The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Wednesday because details of the extension had not been announced. These little nagging injuries start to pop more and more as players inch closer to 40.
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Multiple media reports Wednesday afternoon are indicating that the Saints have signed All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees to a contract extension. “We want to be able to compete and we want to have pride in this team and you’re only gonna do that with a good quarterback, so yeah you have to sign him”.
“One of the things I love about this organization is, this organization has not spared any expense to try to do everything possible to put us in the best position to win”, he said. It would cost the Saints almost $43 million to use the franchise tag on Brees for the third time in his career (a 44 percent raise over his current salary-cap cost of $30 million).
With word the Saints are re-opening contract talks with Drew Brees, New Orleans could be headed down that same path. “I’ll be here for as long as they want me”. “My mindset is always everything happens for a reason and everything will happen the way it’s supposed to”.
Now, Who Dat Nation can breathe a sigh of relief while Brees can focus totally on the task ahead, beginning with Sunday’s season opener at high noon against the Oakland Raiders at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Evans first visited the team on Tuesday. (And who knows, maybe he will be ready to bail out then if the Saints don’t get things turned around).
On Tuesday, the Saints cut kicker Kai Forbath and brought in rookie Wil Lutz. Now he’s back, cheaper than ever, which makes him desirable to the Saints again, although another team could swoop in with a slightly better offer, considering the Saints are just under the salary cap.
While with the Saints, Brees has won 100 games with the team and led the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance and win. That’s more yards by any quarterback has in any 10-year span in the history of the National Football League, according to Elias Sports.
For the Saints though, this was a deal they had to get done.
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Brees’ touchdown numbers also fall in line with his career norm while his 11 interceptions tied the mark for lowest he’s had in a Saints uniform, albeit in one less game. He holds career records for completions (688), attempts (1,085) and touchdown passes (64), as well as single-season records for passing yards (4,006 in 2014), completions (297 in 2013), attempts (479 in 2013) and touchdown passes (32 in 2014). In June, for example, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck agreed to an extension worth up to $140 million for the next six seasons, which averages out to about $23.3 million per year. All of that money is guaranteed, but he’ll be off of the books in New Orleans beyond next season. The Carolina Panthers, the division’s victor, finished 15-1 and made it to Super Bowl 50. The Saints have added a wedge to the sill while also giving themselves more time to find Brees’ successor.
