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New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton turned the NFL world on its ear this week during an appearance on ESPN, suggesting that the 2020 season would be the final year Drew Brees would play under center before riding off into the sunset. While Brees had not made the sort of public announcement Payton claimed, it sort of made sense given the quarterback’s contract structure (his 2021 base salary is not guaranteed, meaning it’s basically his choice whether to return after the 2020 season).
On Wednesday, Payton spoke with local new Orleans media during a teleconference call, and explained that his previous comments were a mistake on his part.
“I’m a big dummy, and the way I worded it was ‘coming back for his final season,'” Payton said, “I honestly don’t know if it’s his last year. That thing blew up on me. Obviously that was my fault, it’s not a big secret I let out of the bag. I think his plan is to take it year by year.”
So, that can be nixed, at least officially. The Saints would probably have to extend Brees again in 2021 to fit his contract under next year’s salary cap (it’s currently set to count for more than $36 million), while the figure is much more manageable if he retires instead (just over $22 million). Brees has said before that he’s been approaching each year as if it might be his last, and that shouldn’t change after the 2020 season.
But as Payton said himself in this conference call, the delay in Brees’ decision to return this offseason stands apart from each year prior to it. With opportunities to work away from the football field — whether in the broadcast booth or on a pre-game panel in a studio — it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Brees is lining things up for a smooth transition into his post-playing career.
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