“I’m humbled and honored, and have been from the day that I first stepped foot in here as a New Orleans Saint”, Brees said.
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And though the deal is only guaranteed for two years, Brees said he plans to play longer and acknowledged that he wanted a contract reflecting that but added this deal “was in the best interest of the team”. The contract will be structured so that the salary cap hit spreads over all five years.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Unabashed optimist that he is, Drew Brees might be the last person to downgrade expectations for a New Orleans Saints squad coming off a winless preseason.
Drew Brees’ contract situation with the New Orleans Saints has come up in recent days.
“Both sides are very happy and certainly I’m very happy”, said Brees.
“I think that’s part of the training that we do together, is making sure that I can sustain at the level that I want to be at, playing at a high level for really as long as I want to do it”, Brees said in June.
Per ESPN’s Ed Werder, the deal will pay Brees .25 million over the next two years, which essentially means he’ll make $24.25 million in 2017 in addition to the $20 million he was already slated to make in 2016.
For years, teams have awarded long-tenured head coaches one-year extensions to avoid the risks associated with lame-duck seasons.
The Saints should have more flexibility to make moves with Brees’ extension.
So the Saints met with him, and are considering bringing him back.
In addition to his statistical feats, Brees has earned a 6-4 record in his five playoff appearances with New Orleans, including a Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts at the conclusion of the 2009 season. It’s unclear if he will resume that role immediately, or if the Saints will stick with projected starters Tim Lelito at right guard and Andrus Peat at left guard.
“Like I always said, these contract situations are just part of the process”, said Brees, who mentioned he plans to play more than two more National Football League seasons. 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.
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Brees’ belief in his ability to stay competitive as he plays into his late 30’s has remained steadfast.
