Saints head coach Sean Payton on @GetUpESPN Tuesday morning and providing tons of great intel!
In this clip SP talks about the role Taysom Hill will play in 2020.
Another thing that jumps out…
Payton referred to 2020 as Drew Brees’ “final season.” pic.twitter.com/L04A9CgAT6— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) March 31, 2020
Still at home during an extended period of self-isolation after his positive coronavirus diagnosis, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has begun making the media rounds to help pass the time. That included an interview with ESPN’s “Get Up!” morning show in which he discussed the vision for backup quarterback, touchdown-catcher, and punt blocker Taysom Hill.
However, Payton also touched on their future with Drew Brees — or a lack of one. Payton says the 2020 season will be the last hurrah for Brees in the NFL.
“The unique situation with our team and with our quarterback Drew Brees, he’s announced he’s coming back for his final season,” Payton said.
Now that’s kind of tricky. Brees signed a two-year contract extension earlier this month, but it’s structured so that he can retire after the 2020 season without leaving a too-huge lump of dead money in New Orleans’ bookkeeping. If this is his last year, the Saints would have just $22.65 million counting against the salary cap, compared to $36.15 million if he does return to play in 2021 (of course, the Saints could also kick that can down the road with another contract extension).
With the salary cap expected to increase dramatically after 2020 with new television broadcast contracts in place, that $22.65 million is a hit the Saints could absorb while building around their next quarterback — whether it’s Hill or someone else.
But back to the announcement Payton referenced. It’s possible he misspoke, because Brees has not said anything about this being his last run at a Super Bowl, only sharing on Instagram that he intended to return and play again prior to signing the new contract. It’s certainly been the implication that Brees would hang up his cleats after this season or the next, but the quarterback hasn’t vocalized that anywhere publicly. But it’s very possible Payton has heard differently from Brees behind closed doors (or on private FaceTime video calls).
Whatever the case, fans would be wise to approach the 2020 season as their last look at Brees under center inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The 41-year-old passer has said before that he’s taking things one year at a time, and made it clear that he seriously considered retirement after the 2019 campaign wrapped up. With offers to join a broadcast crew on the table, it makes sense that he’s nearing the next step in his career.
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