Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints have been an ideal match since the quarterback's arrival in 2006, and the franchise is committed to keeping him in the fold with a new contract.
It's uncertain when that will happen, but Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and Brees' agent, Tom Condon, met Tuesday to close the gap in negotiations.
"We spent a good deal of time together and had a substantial talk," Condon told The Times-Picayune on Tuesday.
Brees is in the final year of his contract, but the Saints don't find themselves backed against a wall.
If talks drag, the team can place the franchise tag on the 32-year-old passer after the season wraps.