Drew Brees Contract: Latest News and Rumors on Negotiations with Saints

Mike ChiariSep 22, 2015

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been among the NFL's elite signal-callers for several years, but his future with the franchise that he led to its first-ever Super Bowl win is currently in flux.

Continue for updates.

Saints Reportedly Restructure Brees' Deal

Wednesday, Sept. 30

Field Yates of ESPN noted the Saints, "created $2.6M in cap space by turning $5.2M of Drew Brees' base salary into a signing bonus. His cap hit for 2016 is now $30M."

Cole: Saints Unlikely to Sign Brees to Long-Term Deal

Tuesday, Sept. 22

With Brees getting up there in age at 36 and now dealing with a shoulder injury suffered in the team's Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bleacher Report's Jason Cole does not believe the Saints will make a significant commitment to the nine-time Pro Bowler moving forward.

As seen in this video, Cole reported that sources have indicated New Orleans is unlikely to sign Brees to a long-term extension once his current deal expires following the 2016 campaign:

Examining Brees' Health, Legacy and Future in New Orleans

Tuesday, Sept. 22

According to ESPN.com's Mike Triplett on Sept. 21, Brees is dealing with a bruised rotator cuff that is not believed to be serious. At the same time, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport heard that the injury could force Brees to miss multiple games.

Saints head coach Sean Payton refuted Rapoport's report on WWL Radio with Bobby Hebert, per NewOrleansSaints.com:

"
I would say his report is inaccurate. Wednesday we will have a better idea. We will be smart. I thought coming off the game, it's a tough loss for everyone. You lose your home opener in a division game. Drew battled and hung in there. He took some hits. We will have a better feel on Wednesday with where he is at. (Bobby) knows as well as anyone, he's going to be a competitor and he's going to be smart about it. I think we will have a better idea come Wednesday. I would definitely say that. I read the report you are discussing and I would say that's inaccurate.
"

Brees went on to miss the team's Week 3 game, and his status is yet to be determined for Week 4.

Brees in the midst of his 14th season as a starting quarterback in the NFL, and the hits, bumps and bruises may be starting to pile up, especially behind a suspect offensive line.

There is no denying what Brees has accomplished. He is third all time in pass completions, fourth in passing yardage and fifth in passing touchdowns.

But unless he turns things around and approaches 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in each of the next two seasons, the Saints may be wise to either sign him to a short extension or simply move on in an effort to set the organization up for the future.

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