With Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian on the COVID-19 list, the Saints asked Drew Brees if he’d be interested in returning to the field (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football). The legendary quarterback, who seems quite happy in retirement, replied with a picture of himself golfing.
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Brees’ response was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, Underhill hears (Twitter link), a polite “no thanks” to his employer of 15 years. For what it’s worth, Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune hears that Brees gave it some serious thought. But, even after talking things over with head coach Sean Payton, Brees declined.
There was similar chatter earlier this year, after Jameis Winston suffered a season-ending knee injury. Brees, live on NBC with broadcast partner Mike Tirico, said he’d stick to his new day job.
“Let me check [my phone],” Brees said jokingly when asked about his availability to play later that week. “I’ll be there Saturday to call the Notre Dame-Navy game, and I’ll be [in the broadcast booth on] Sunday.”
Brees, 43 in January, will be somewhere else when the Saints host the Dolphins on Monday night. Unless Hill or Siemian are cleared, the Saints will start fourth-round rookie Ian Book with newcomer Blake Bortles as the QB2.
The Saints are done this year. Brees couldn’t save the season. Besides, Payton firmly believes in T Hill for some reason.
How do you go from a, statistically top 10 QB ever, to a guy who looks to run?
They didn’t. They went from a once great quarterback with a dying arm to a decent replacement in Jameis. The latter just happened to get injured
Payton resigned Hill twice. Don’t excuse that.
Saints have a great roster, a top defense, top OLine, and great coaching staff. Good spot for a young qb to be drafted.
Hill can keep them competitive and if he works on his accuracy and improves his decision making in offseason, may even be able to be starter for a while.
Ok. Your comment suggested Payton went straight from Brees to Hill. That’s just false
There was competition between Winston & Hill. Hill lost, then they resigned him. What am I missing?
I’m saying that your comment is a gross misrepresentation of what really happened. Payton gave Hill a chance to win the competition, but he failed because Winston is clearly better. The plan was not to go to Hill unless he showed he could do something other than run, which did not occur. If you have an alternative suggestion as to what the Saints should have done this offseason, I would love to hear it
I’m not arguing at all. Hill lost the competition, Winston won it. Everyone said so. Winston actually looked good.
Then the Saints re-signed Hill to a 4 year deal in November, why? That’s my question. Why would you resign a #2 to a 4 year deal worth around $10m a season. For a running QB?
The contract structure depends on what position he plays. It doesn’t guarantee he serves as their future QB. I agree the contract was an overpay, but it doesn’t mean he’s Brees’ replacement like you suggested
What is your point? Hill was on the roster for 2-3 years while Brees stilled played. He did gadget plays only. They pickup Winston cheap, did not resign him, but re-signed Hill?
Clearly Payton wanted Hill to win the competition which he didn’t. Then they re-upped him for, at least $10m a season. Terrible signing.
Because the Saints use Hill as more than a quarterback. That’s why he was re-signed. It’s obvious arty, and you know that. And his contract depends heavily on what position he plays, so don’t bring up the money.
We all know that Hill is not the quarterback of the future, including the Saints. Don’t insinuate otherwise. As wagner said, Payton wanted Winston to start, and then Siemian was next, so it’s obvious that Hill was not the starting option.
If you think signing a 3rd string QB to $10m a year is good business so be it, I don’t. From what you say it was #1 Winston, then #2 Siemian and finally #3 Hill?
This from a team that’s always against the cap. It was a horrible signing. Simple as that. The Saints would have been much better to not signing Hill, and see how the QB landscape plays out this offseason. It was a lost season after Winston went down. So lose, get higher picks, and look at Russ, AR, or Watson right? Much more sensible approach than signing a 3rd stringer.
Have you watched any saints games over the past five years dude? They use Taysom Hill all over and he’s their back up quarterback. You act like there’s no other overpaid backup QBs in the league. Tune in to a game sometime.
They re-signed him because he’s a role player who impacts the game in multiple ways, not because he’s a QB1, a QB2, or even a QB3. He’s a QB/RB/TE and that’s what he gets paid for. Payton doesn’t need to be “excused” or not excused for that signing.
Quick look on Pro Football Reference offer these stats for 2021
64% completion rate with 2 TD’s to 5 picks & 1,799 yards.
He has a massive 311 yards rushing AND additional 52 yards receiving this year. That’s worth $10m+? I’d cut him for that ‘production’.
For arguments sake Cordarrelle Patterson has 565 rushing yards & 5 TD’s. And 520 yards receiving yards and another 5 TD’s for $3m. Who got the better deal?
I dunno. Those last two NFC spots are a bloodbath.
After this week Theyre playing 2 teams already focused on next year, they have good numbers against the pack and BUCS, Dallas never shows up in the playoffs so they’re in good position to eat some W’s
Drews arm is toast. Pretty much a pure act of desperation.
Yeah I think if Hill can go he is better option than Brees at this point.
At this point in his retirement all you could reasonably expect Brees to do would be to hand the ball off to Kamara – which is something even a practice squad QB could handle.
While they’re at it, call up Joe Namath or Boomer or Romo and watch the fun of seeing what they still have in the tank.