Brees’ deal appears created to give the Saints the financial flexibility to bring him more help in the coming seasons as he and coach Sean Payton, who earlier this year also agreed to an extension in New Orleans through 2020, try to make another run at a Super Bowl. His $20 million per year salary has since been surpassed by other players including Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens and Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts.
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In retrospect, if Brees knew he would settle for a one-year extension that also included a great deal of salary-cap savings for the Saints in the short term, he probably should have just done this back in March.
Brees previously said he would not negotiate his contract during the season, which meant a deal had to get done soon with the Saints’ opener approaching.
So clearly he’s been absurdly good for the Saints and they needed to keep him around as long as possible.
“Both sides are very happy, certainly I am very happy”, Brees said. I want to play my entire career here and I’m just taking it one step at a time, one year at a time, one opportunity at a time. The deal includes $44.25 million in guaranteed money. The 15 year pro has said that he would not negotiate any contract extensions with the Saints beyond the start of the regular season.
“But this was what was in the best interest of the team, and so, that’s why it was a two-year deal”, he said.
The Saints are coming off two straight 7-9 campaigns – their first consecutive losing seasons since Sean Payton became coach in 2006. The band is getting back together again, as guard Jahri Evans was also re-signed.
During his 10-year stint in New Orleans, he’s averaged more than 4,800 yards and 35 touchdowns a season. That deadline was Sunday’s season opening game against the Raiders.
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This summer, Brees stated that he believes he can play at an elite level at least another five years. The Saints have a dismal team, but one thing that’s gone consistently right for the franchise is the performance of Brees over the past ten seasons. His passing yard total (48,555) is the most by any quarterback in a 10-year span in National Football League history. That’s a substantial cap savings for New Orleans. Even last season dealing with a knee injury that made him miss five games (missed only two previously during his career), he was in the top third of players in his position around the NFL.
