Saints veteran says he will take time to think and make a decision about his future
NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees he was still on the Superdome about two hours after what was probably his last game at the historic Los Angeles home. New Orleans Saints.
Drew Brees, which is expected to retire after 20 seasons, has not officially announced its intentions following a disappointing 30-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round of the playoffs on Sunday. However, he took care to take everything.
Drew Brees and his wife, Brittany, spent their time playing with their four children, some football, and some gymnastics. He also talked to his old friend and rival Tom Brady. After the two great defenders hugged, Brady even threw a pass to one of his sons Drew Brees, before going out to the National Championship.
0:26
The veterans on the field gave each other an affectionate hug after the divisional match.
Drew Brees, who turned 42 on Friday, was expected to reach his fourth NFC title game and second Super Bowl this year. Instead, he threw three interceptions in a playoff game for the first time in his career, Brady and Tampa Bay rose from a 20-13 deficit in the third quarter.
“I will give myself the opportunity to think about the season, to think about many things, as I did last year, and to make a decision,” he said. Drew Brees when asked directly if he had just played his last game.
He said that his performance on Sunday or the way the season ended will not influence his decision. However, when asked what would influence the decision, Drew Brees He replied, “I will keep it for myself right now.”
However, Drew Brees He added that he does not regret returning this season after retiring almost after the 2019 campaign.
“I would never regret it. Never,” he condemned Drew Brees, who missed four games in November and December with a perforated lung and 11 broken ribs, but managed to help saints to finish as No. 2 in the NFC with a 12-4 record before its disappointing end.
“I have no complaints. I do not regret it. I have always tried to play this sport with great respect and respect for him. And I appreciate everything this game has given me,” he said. Drew Brees, who led saints to the only Super Bowl win in franchise history in 2009 and holds the NFL record for passing yards. “Obviously, there are a lot of great memories, a lot of incredible relationships that came as a result of practicing this sport. And, boy, you discover so much about yourself and you have to fight a lot when you play this sport.
“And I would say this season, I probably had to fight harder than any other season in my career, from injury, from the whole COVID situation and strange circumstances. And it was worth every moment, no doubt.”
The head coach of saints, Sean Payton, indicated he can’t speak for Drew Brees and didn’t want to take the time to reflect on Hall of Fame’s career Drew Brees yet.
“Listen, I think probably for another press conference,” Payton said. “That would take me all the time for your question tonight. Obviously, it was fantastic for this team, the city, I could go on. But we’ll wait and answer at the right time.”
Other teammates, from veteran defender Demario Davis to young senior receiver Tre’Quan Smith, used the same word when asked what Drew Brees it meant to them, “Everything.”
If this was the last game of Drew BreesHe didn’t have the same goodbye to his career as other greats in history like John Elway or Peyton Manning. It was just the opposite.
Drew Brees completed 19 of 34 passes for just 134 yards with a touchdown in one night when he struggled to get the ball down even more than usual. The biggest aerial game of saints It came when backup defender Jameis Winston threw a 56-yard touchdown pass on a flicker that New Orleans stole from the Chicago Bears, who tried it against saints A week before.
AND Drew Brees He could not connect once with all-star receiver Michael Thomas in four passes. First interception of Drew Brees, in the second quarter, came when saints they led 6-3 and came close to sending Thomas. Sean Murphy-Bunting took the corner.
Drew Brees then threw another interception in the fourth quarter when saints They were 23-20 behind, and defender Devin White passed in front of Alvin Kamara through the middle of the field. The third interception came with a deflected pass when saints they followed 30-20 with less than five minutes of play.
Jared Cook also lost a crucial beating in the third quarter when saints they were leading 20-13 and had just passed the middle of the field.
“I would say it’s quite unusual because we preach to play ‘winning football.’ And when you hit the ball four times, it’s not ‘winning football,’ especially in the playoffs, especially against such a team,” he said. he. Drew Brees, who was charged with interception.
“Well, I probably shouldn’t have thrown a couple of them and maybe we forced them there. And we probably stopped a bit in the general race. But at the end of the day, that got to this game at those turnover. “