We're mere weeks away from the start of the New Orleans Saints' training camp, and Drew Brees remains in limbo.
Brees said Tuesday he's "confident" a long-term contract will be worked out with the team. We've heard this for months -- and so have the fans -- but Brees took things one step further in a subsequent conversation with ESPN.
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"I would never sit out a football season," Brees said on "Outside the Lines." "I love this game too much, I love my team too much, but obviously there's a lot that can happen between now and then, so let's just hope we can get a long-term deal done ... Over the last month, (talks have) picked up. There was a dry spell there for a bit."
Saints faithful are trapped in the middle of a mess. They've been yanked all over town this offseason.
If it weren't for the "bounty" drama, we'd have spent this offseason talking about the Saints streaming toward February with a chance to play in the Super Bowl in their home stadium. You don't hear that thrown around much these days, but we shouldn't forget how talented this team is; how close it came a season ago.
If the Saints are tainted, the play of Brees is not. Without him, this wayward ship will disappear into dark waters.