But Brees said at a news conference Wednesday that the length of the extension does not mean he’s close to hanging up his cleats.
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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.
ESPN reports the New Orleans Saints and Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans have reached a one-year deal, and to make room, the Saints are releasing second-year quarterback Garrett Grayson.
What’s most important for the Bucs is that Brees will be in New Orleans in 2018, too, guaranteeing that they’ll have to find a way to stop him.
He adds: “Brees now counts $30 million against the Saints’ salary cap – almost 20 percent of their available funds”. The extension likely gives the Saints an extra year to obtain a quarterback (or quarterbacks) who might be able to keep them in the hunt after the Brees era has concluded.
“Both sides are very happy”. “I’ll be here for as long as they want me”.
The deal will be announced as a five-year extension, but reportedly contains an automatic void to two years, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder.
Brees’s contract with the Saints will be done after the season and despite being 37, teams like the Dallas Cowboys or Denver Broncos can steal him from the Saints.
Brees, who said he wouldn’t negotiate once the season started, was entering the final year of a five-year, $100 million deal with a 2016 cap hit of $30 million. “But this is what was in the best interest of the team”. The extension takes Brees through the end of the 2018 season.
Having led the Saints to their lone Super Bowl in the 2009 season, Brees stands as the most decorated player in franchise history. I very much respect Mickey and our management, and (Saints owner) Mr. (Tom) Benson and (wife) Gayle, and Coach Payton. New Orleans won’t be allowed to trade Brees or place a franchise tag on him under the life of the contract.
Brees and the team have worked out a five-year package that includes three voidable years.
“The thing we’re all aligned on is what puts this team in the best position to win and the best position to win a championship”, Brees said.
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New Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in many ways has the easiest job in the National Football League as it will be hard for him to do worse than his TWO predecessors.
