Ellington

• Sign in to favorite this
• Discuss Comment, Blog about
• Share this Email, Facebook, Twitter

Finally!

The http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17486329/drew-brees-new-orleans-saints-agree-contract-extension">New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees have reached a new deal that will keep him with the club for the next two years. The contract is for five years but has an automatic void at two years.

Both sides reached the new deal before Brees’ self-imposed week-one deadline. The Saints start the season on Sunday, meaning the two sides came to an agreement with just four days before the start of the 2016 season.

This deal also includes a no-trade clause and forbids the Saints from using the franchise tag on the player. While the deal is on paper for five years, it helps the team reduce Brees’ $30-million cap hit this season.

In reality, Brees gets $20 million this year and $24.25 million for next season, with the total of $44.25 million fully guaranteed. Before the deal, Brees’ $30-million cap hit was the largest in NFL history.

Since joining the Saints in 2006 as a free agent from the San Diego Chargers, the quarterback has produced the most prolific 10-year runs in NFL history. He has amassed 48,555 yards and 348 touchdowns during his time in New Orleans.

Both are the most for a quarterback in his 10-year stint with the Saints, the Elias Sports Bureau says. Brees was entering his final year of his contract in the 2016 season.

He became the NFL’s highest paid player when he signed his $100 million, five-year contract in 2012. Other players have since passed that contract.

While with the Saints, Brees has won 100 games with the team and led the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance and win. The quarterback was the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV in a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

At age 37, Brees will need to play for a few more years if he is going to catch former Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning’s passing records. Manning has the most passing yards in NFL history, with 71,940 yards, and touchdowns, with 539.

Brees is currently fourth in all-time passing yards with 60,903 yards and third in passing touchdowns with 428. He is tied with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for third in passing touchdowns.

To catch Manning, Brees will possibly need three to four more seasons. He will get at least the next two in New Orleans.

Brees is still playing at a high level, with 4,870 passing yards in just 15 games last season. He has led the NFL in passing yards in four of the last five seasons.