Saints quarterback Drew Brees says he’s keeping long-term career goals to himself after signing a new two-year contract extension.
”Just take it one year at a time
Cody Parkey Jersey , but I do have a goal, I do have a vision,” Brees said on a conference call a day after agreeing to his new contract. ”I’m not
going to share it with you guys, sorry.
”I do have a goal and a vision for where my career’s going to go and how long it’s going to last, but I’m very, very focused on each year, one at a time.”
Brees turned 39 last Jan. 15 and is entering his 18th NFL season – one that holds promise for a rejuvenated franchise that returned to the playoffs from the
first time in four seasons in 2017.
From the moment last season ended, Brees openly stated that he didn’t want to play anywhere other than New Orleans, but said his latest contract negotiation
wasn’t entirely devoid of stress as negotiations lingered until the day before
he was due to become a free agent.
”Maybe just a little bit from the standpoint that you’re trying to do something that’s very fair for both sides
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take a logical and reasonable approach to every contract, but I think especially
now, you want to be able to look at the big picture and see how it affects the
rest of the team and how you continue to build the team so that you can make a
run at the ultimate goal.”
Brees said other NFL teams did reach out to him during a very brief period when teams were permitted to begin contacting players with expiring contracts
before free agency officially began on Wednesday afternoon.
It was the first time he and his agent, Tom Condon, have been in position to field offers from other teams since Brees signed his first contract with the
Saints – a six-year, $60 million deal in 2006.
”It felt a little weird and again my mindset has always been that I will be playing for the Saints and I’m going to retire a Saint,” Brees said. ”It’s not
like I was really taking any of them seriously
Rashaan Gaulden Jersey , but just to hear the offers (from other teams) and feel the attention that was interesting.”
The Saints narrowly missed advancing to the NFC title game this past season when they fell at Minnesota on a 61-yard Vikings touchdown as time expired.
After three consecutive 7-9 seasons from 204-2016, the Saints’ returned to contention in large part because of considerable contributions from first- and
second-year players such as cornerback Marshon Lattimore, The Associated Press
defensive rookie of the year, and Alvin Kamara, the offensive rookie of the
year.
”Certainly, you look at the potential that we have in our young players and you should feel excited if they continue to progress,” Brees said.
His contract done, Brees can now go back to his typical offseason family life in southern California, where he keeps an offseason home
Mike Ditka Jersey , and his offseason training routine until the resumption of voluntary offseason workouts in New Orleans this spring.
The same day Brees agreed to his new contract, the father of four was overseeing a practice as coach of a first-grade flag football team.
”Put in a little bit of no-huddle, a little bit of hurry-up offense,” Brees said. ”We have a package called Wildcat and a package called Volunteer and then
a package called Quad. I’m feeling pretty good about those no-huddle packages. …
That was kind of the highlight of my day yesterday – after signing the
contract.”
Notes: Brees commented on the potential he sees in reserve quarterback Taysom Hill, currently the only other quarterback on the roster. ”If you take his
measurables and his intangibles, I think he does have everything it takes to be
a great player,” Brees said of Hill, who is entering his second NFL season out
of BYU. ”This offseason he’ll get a chance to really dive into our system.”
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ATLANTA FALCONS (11-7)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DE Adrian Clayborn; FB Derrick Coleman; WRs Taylor Gabriel, Andre Roberts and Nick Williams; LBs Jordan Tripp Tyler Kroft Jersey , Sean Weatherspoon and Kemal Ishmael; DTs Dontari Poe, Courtney Upshaw and Ahtyba Rubin; CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: FS Ricardo Allen; RBs Terron Ward and Terrence Magee; G Ben Garland.
NEEDS: Tight end is priority following release of Levine Toilolo. Veteran could be signed to challenge Austin Hooper. Team cut Derrick Shelby and could
lose Clayborn, so more pass rush help at defensive end may be needed. If team
loses Poe and Upshaw in free agency, another veteran defensive tackle may be
signed. Guard is another priority that may be addressed high in draft or in free
agency. General manager Thomas Dimitroff said at NFL scouting combine that
Gabriel would not be re-signed. Kicker Matt Bryant avoided free agency by
agreeing to three-year deal.
AVAILABLE SALARY CAP SPACE (approximately): $9 million
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