The New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees have agreed on a one-year contract extension. He’ll get $44.25 million in guaranteed money over the next two years.
#Saints and QB Drew Brees have agreed in principle to a 1-year extension, source said. He gets $44.25M fully guaranteed. over the next 2 yrs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 7, 2016
New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees Agree to Contract Extension
He will earn $19.75 million in 2016. This is the final season of a five-year, $100 million deal he signed after the 2011 season. He had a career season in 2011, throwing for 5,476 yards and 46 touchdowns.
Had Brees not earned the extension, he would have gone into the final year of his contract not willing to negotiate. This would have put New Orleans in a bad spot after the season.
Brees was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. He was picked up by the Saints in 2005. Nothing has been the same since.
The Saints have finished top ten in total offense each of the last 10 seasons. This is the third time a team has done this. The Dallas Cowboys did it from 1970-1983 and the San Francisco 49ers did it from 1982-1996. The Saints even finished tenth or better in offense every year since 2005 with the exception of 2010, when they finished sixth.
Not only did Brees carry the Saints out of misery that haunted the franchise for a majority of the franchise’s history, but he led them to greatness. In the 2009 season, the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts to win Super Bowl XLIV. Brees was named MVP.
Brees also holds the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, a record that was once owned by Johnny Unitas.
While the Saints have not made it to the playoffs since 2013, Brees has still played the quarterback position very well since then. He has thrown for nearly 5,000 yards each of the last two seasons. He threw for 4,952 yards in 2014 and 4,870 yards last season.
