NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees was still on the Superdome field almost two hours after it was probably his last game in the historic New Orleans Saints building.
Brees, who is expected to retire after 20 seasons, did not officially announce his intentions after a disappointing 30-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Sunday’s playoff divisional round. But he made sure to soften everything.
Brees and his wife, Brittany, spent their time playing with their four children – some football and some gymnastics. He also spent time talking to his longtime friend and rival, Tom Brady. After everyone’s two great defenders hugged, Brady even threw a pass to one of Brees’ children before moving on to the NFC Championship Game.
Brees, who turned 42 on Friday, hopes to reach his fourth NFC game and second Super Bowl this year. Instead, he threw three interceptions in a playoff game for the first time in his career, while Tampa Bay bounced back from a 20-13 deficit in the third quarter.
“I’m going to have a chance to think about the season, think about a lot of things, like I did last year, and make a decision,” Brees said when asked directly if he had just played his last. game.
He said his performance on Sunday or the way the season ended would have no bearing on his decision. But when asked what the weight of the decision would be, Brees said, “I’ll keep this to myself right now.”
However, Brees added that he did not regret returning this year after retiring almost after last season.
“I would never regret it. Never,” said Brees, who missed four games in November and December due to a perforated lung and 11 broken ribs, but still helped the Saints win No. 2 in the NFC with a record of 12. -4 before their disappointing end.
“No complaints. No regrets. Man, I’ve always tried to play this game with great respect and respect for it. And I appreciate everything this game has given me,” said Brees, who led the Saints to their own. Super Bowl victory in franchise history in 2009 and holds the NFL record for career passing courts. “There are obviously so many incredible memories, so many incredible relationships that came as a result of playing this game. And, man, you learn so much about yourself and you have to fight so hard when you play this game.
“And I would say this season, I probably had to fight harder than I ever had in any other season of my career – from injury to all things COVID to crazy circumstances. And it was worth every moment of it. Absolute. “
Sean Payton, the Saints coach, also said that he cannot speak for Brees and that he does not want to spend his time reflecting on the future career of Brees’ Hall of Fame.
“Oh, listen, I think probably for another press conference,” Payton said. “That would keep me busy all the time for your question tonight. Obviously, he was great for this team, this city, I could go on. But let’s wait and answer at the right time.”
Other teammates, from veteran quarterback Demario Davis to young receiver Tre’Quan Smith, both used the same word when asked what Brees meant to them – “everything.”
If this was Brees’ last game, he didn’t get the kind of career expedition his classmates of all time, like John Elway or Peyton Manning, had. In fact, it was just the opposite.
Brees completed 19 of 34 passes for just 134 yards with a single touchdown in one night as he struggled to get the ball down even more than usual. The Saints’ biggest play came when Jameis Winston threw a 56-yard TD pass on a flicker of games the Saints stole from the Chicago Bears, which he tried against the Saints a week ago. before.
And Brees failed to connect even once with top receiver Michael Thomas on four targets. Brees’ first interception in the second quarter came when the Saints led 6-3 and threw Thomas. Corner Sean Murphy-Bunting rushed in front of him and almost returned it for a touchdown.
Brees then threw another pick in the fourth quarter, when the Saints went 23-20, and defender Devin White eliminated Alvin Kamara in midfield. The third interception came with a double pass, when the Saints were 30-20 behind, with less than five minutes.
Jared Cook also lost a critical strike in the third quarter, when the Saints led 20-13 and had just passed midfield.
I would say it is quite unusual because we preach to play “winning football”. And you turn the ball over four times, that’s not “winning football” – especially in the playoffs, especially against a team like that, “said Brees, who blamed himself for interceptions.
“Well, some of them probably shouldn’t have been thrown away and maybe forced there. And I was probably just a little out of the overall execution,” Brees said. “But at the end of the day, that turnover came to that game.”