Question Can anyone guess ways to continue to be successful with Brees? (3 Viewers)

[HogsNSaints]

I guess what I'm also asking is had the negative plays by Cooks and the block in the back penalty not happened and the Saints went on to win the Superbowl would anyone want him back for an encore?

I think the dream scenario for 99.9% of us was Brees winning and riding off into the sunset. I don’t think there’s anyone on this board that envisioned Brees starting Week 1 of 2021 being ideal. I actually think had he won the Super Bowl there’d be less fan desire for him to come back, which is never good. Basically if someone didn’t want him back as a champion but do want him back after a disappointing performance, it likely means they are glory chasing and not making decisions based on performance.

 

[NOFALCONS10]

Do we win the Superbowl? If we did, the point is mute because he would retire. Getting there is too hard, as we know from the past FOUR years. The team and my city, with all due respect, are bigger than Drew. I'm really not trying to bash Drew or deny his franchise greatness but it's time man.

Would you want him back at $10 million as opposed to $30 million or is it strictly a talent issue for you instead of a monetary one?

 

[NOFALCONS10]

I think the dream scenario for 99.9% of us was Brees winning and riding off into the sunset. I don’t think there’s anyone on this board that envisioned Brees starting Week 1 of 2021 being ideal. I actually think had he won the Super Bowl there’d be less fan desire for him to come back, which is never good. Basically if someone didn’t want him back as a champion but do want him back after a disappointing performance, it likely means they are glory chasing and not making decisions based on performance.

I guess I'm trying to get in the head of Loomis and Payton on just why they haven't (ostensibly) closed that door for him yet.

It could well be as someone stated above that all parties involved indeed HAVE made the decision but don't want to play their hand before free agency, the draft, and June 1.

 

[Boiler Jim]

I would want him back. Very unlikely we do anywhere near as well as we have done the past four years with anyone else. Even more unlikely we will do as well next year in my judgment as Hill lacks the accuracy and field vision necessary to be a consistently successful QB and Jameis lacks the judgment and maturity necessary. So no one on the current team is likely to have us even in the playoffs next year except Drew. Any free agent QBs that might be top tier will cost more than Drew does and the success rate of can't miss college QBs that are drafted in the first round is maybe 20% last more than 4 years on anyone's roster.

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

I guess I'm trying to get in the head of Loomis and Payton on just why they haven't (ostensibly) closed that door for him yet.

It could well be as someone stated above that all parties involved indeed HAVE made the decision but don't want to play their hand before free agency, the draft, and June 1.

No need to imo. He’s informed them that he’s done. Just waiting on the post June 1 for money.

 

[NOFALCONS10]

No need to imo. He’s informed them that he’s done. Just waiting on the post June 1 for money.

Is there a source, do you have inside info, or is this just speculation?

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

Is there a source, do you have inside info, or is this just speculation?

I have no source. No inside info. Seemingly just common sense, to me.

 

[NOFALCONS10]

I would want him back. Very unlikely we do anywhere near as well as we have done the past four years with anyone else. Even more unlikely we will do as well next year in my judgment as Hill lacks the accuracy and field vision necessary to be a consistently successful QB and Jameis lacks the judgment and maturity necessary. So no one on the current team is likely to have us even in the playoffs next year except Drew. Any free agent QBs that might be top tier will cost more than Drew does and the success rate of can't miss college QBs that are drafted in the first round is maybe 20% last more than 4 years on anyone's roster.

In fairness to Jameis he had no running game for support since his rookie year and no real deep threat since DeSean Jackson left in 2017.

He also didn't have the #9 scoring defense at his back like Brady does either.

 

[No2DC]

Would you want him back at $10 million as opposed to $30 million or is it strictly a talent issue for you instead of a monetary one?

It's both because the way Loomis has structured these contracts is to sign him to another 2 year deal to spread the money out, and meanwhile we still don't have our long term QB solution. This is like a dysfunctional relationship at this point, you know things are broken but you stay because you're scared of being alone. No one wants to go back to pre-Drew, we don't want to have to try dating again.

 

[NOFALCONS10]

It's both because the way Loomis has structured these contracts is to sign him to another 2 year deal to spread the money out, and meanwhile we still don't have our long term QB solution. This is like a dysfunctional relationship at this point, you know things are broken but you stay because you're scared of being alone. No one wants to go back to pre-Drew, we don't want to have to try dating again.

Great analogy, btw. Lol.

 

[Mississippi Saints Fan]

I believe one more year of Drew Brees would be similar to Payton Manning's last year in Denver. Albeit, Drew would put up much better numbers than Payton did. A healthy Drew Brees can still get you 4,000 plus yards, 28 tds, and 6 picks. That would get us to the playoffs. I actually liked our gameplan against the Bucs. The turning point was the Cook fumble. Brees just can't win games by himself anymore. He needs a strong supporting cast. If our defense stays strong it's not out of the question that Brees could get us to another Superbowl. Heck, if it's all about arm strength, I've seen several qb's with cannons for arms screw up in the big game. Defense still wins superbowls.

Strangely, Denver did win the SB that year. That proves that it should theoretically be possible to win a SB with a 42 year old Brees in a limited offense, but as we've seen repeatedly, it's getting harder and harder. You need a heck of a supporting cast, as you say, and an absolutely dominate defense and run game. If our cap situation wasn't so terrible and we could keep stacking the defense, I'd say what the heck. It might also be different if we haven't gotten so close so many times, only to fall short partly due to our limited offense. Seems the majority of fans are ready to move on, and I think Brees and staff are probably there, too. But, if he does decide to shock the world and give it one more go, I would be cool with it.

 

[BBarnes]

I would want him back. Very unlikely we do anywhere near as well as we have done the past four years with anyone else. Even more unlikely we will do as well next year in my judgment as Hill lacks the accuracy and field vision necessary to be a consistently successful QB and Jameis lacks the judgment and maturity necessary. So no one on the current team is likely to have us even in the playoffs next year except Drew. Any free agent QBs that might be top tier will cost more than Drew does and the success rate of can't miss college QBs that are drafted in the first round is maybe 20% last more than 4 years on anyone's roster.

That’s a stretch. If this team had the same exact players next year we definitely make the playoffs with Winston even though I’m not a huge Winston fan yet.

Of course I assume you are banking on us losing some key players

 

[black_floyd]

Mount an arm cannon on him like Mega Man.

 

[crawfish2010]

You can't call out Jared Cook without calling out your man GOAT Brees. Those first two interceptions by GOAT Brees were terrible and led directly to 14 pts.

 

[Icon]

I'm on the "draft a quarterback in the first round and have Drew play one more year" bus.

But it needs to be done with a heavy emphasis on the run game, ala 2017. And of course the defense needs to show up big again.

There may very well be games where Brees has to sling it 35 to 40 times, but those games should be the exception rather than the rule.

Whether right or wrong.... in my opinion, 2021 Brees gives the better chance to win a Super Bowl than 2021 Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston, and/or whichever rookie quarterback.