Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints agreed to a five-year, $100 million contract on Friday, per ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
Brees becomes the NFL’s highest-paid player, surpassing Peyton Manning in Denver and Calvin Johnson in Detroit.
The 6-0, 209-pound star signal-caller will receive $40 million in the 2012 season and $60 million in guaranteed money over the first three years. His deal averages out to $20 million per season and includes a $37 million signing bonus.
With his bonuses counting against the cap on a pro-rated basis over the life of the contract ($7.4 million per year in Brees’ case), he will count $10.4 million against the cap in 2012.
Is he worth the money? Brees has brought the city of New Orleans back and beyond this city back when no one else could. He also surpassed Dan Mario’s unbreakable passing yardage record in 2011, and reset his own league record for single-season completion rate.
By throwing for over 5,476 yards and 46 touchdown passes last season.
The only hang up here is the contract averts a potential disaster for the Saints that might have resulted from a training camp holdout. Brees is now under the team’s control till he is 36.
However, theSaints brought back happiness to the city and a leader to the field. Imagine a team with a suspended head coach, missing defensive players, and a starting quarterback holding out. There’s no way this city would’ve survived.
In New Orleans its not just about football, but the loyalty the Saints have shown to city and the contributions their quarterback Brees has placed onto the faces of the fans of “Who Dat Nation”.
The Saints faithful can breathe a bit easier knowing their team leader is back in Big Easy for the next five years.
Follow @NYsportschris and @GridironGrit on Twitter! Also provide your feedback below!
