Per ESPN:
Drew Brees doesn’t seem overly concerned about his looming deadline to land a long-term contract with the New Orleans Saints this offseason.
During an interview Tuesday on ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning,” Brees said he is “very confident” that he will reach an agreement with the Saints prior to July 16.
“I’ve always said, you would think this process should be a lot simpler than it is,” Brees said. “It just always seems to be complicated. But I’m still very confident that we’ll get a long-term deal done, and hopefully that will happen sooner than later.”
The Saints placed their exclusive-rights franchise tag on Brees earlier this offseason, and the two sides have until July 16 to hammer out a long-term extension. If no agreement is reached by that date, Brees would play this upcoming season under terms of the tag, which currently is worth $16.371 million.
Agent Tom Condon, who represents Brees, and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis have been seeking to resolve a salary difference of approximately $2 million per year.
“I’m very aware of where the Saints are at and certainly where I’m at,” Brees said. “All the discussions that take place are between my agent, Tom Condon, and Mickey Loomis.”
Loomis submitted a revised proposal to Brees’ representatives earlier this month, but the renewed talks did not create a significant breakthrough in the deadlock, sources told ESPN’s Ed Werder and Chris Mortensen.
Brees, coming off a season in which he passed for a record-setting 5,476 yards and led the Saints to the NFC South title, thinks that the negotiations have some minor obstacles to overcome.
“When it comes down to certain provisions of the contract, there are little things here and there that take time to resolve,” Brees said. “But in the end, the organization typically starts off at one place, the player starts off at another and you find a way to a compromise and meet in the middle and do what’s fair and just.”
