Mickey Loomis remains optimistic Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints will get a deal done that will keep the quarterback in town for the rest of his career.
"No one understands the value that Drew has brought to Saints better than I," Loomis told Mike Florio Thursday on PFTLive. "I know how valuable he is. I've been working hard on that. We've had some other issues and distraction that have interfered with our negotiations."
"That's the No. 1 thing on my plate to handle. It will get handled. I'm confident that it will get resolved."
Saints fans have expressed frustration with the club's inability to lock down Brees, but Loomis' point about distractions is a fair one -- the Loomis-based wiretapping investigation being a notable example.
"I think very clearly, since the beginning of these negotiations, which began a year ago, (getting a deal done has) been on the forefront of our minds," Loomis said. "Drew wants a contract that keeps him in New Orleans for the rest of his career.
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"It's the most important contract we have to do."
In a weird way, molasses-like movement of negotiations could work out in the Saints' favor. We all know a deal will get done, and when it does, the team can hold a big happy press conference and speak about a future in which there is nothing but blue skies and smooth sailing ahead.
It will be a story with a happy ending. It's been awhile since the Saints had one of those.
