Drew Brees Opening To Restructuring Deal To Help Saints

Drew Brees is set to count against the Saints’ salary cap to the tune of $18.4 million in 2014, $26.4 million in 2015 and $27.4 million in 2016, Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

The Saints enter the offseason at least $12 million over the projected salary cap of about $126 million next season.

Brees said the Saints haven’t approached him about restructuring his contract to relieve the team’s cap troubles. Brees is well aware the Saints have several decisions coming with potential unrestricted free agents such as tight end Jimmy Graham, offensive tackle Zach Strief, safety Malcolm Jenkins and center Brian de la Puente to name a few.

When asked if he would be open to restructuring his contract if the Saints asked, Brees said, “Whatever I can do to help this team, if they want to come to me and extend me even further, that’d be great.

“Listen, there are so many possibilities as to what can happen here. Let’s just let this offseason start. It’s what, today’s the second day of it unfortunately. We all wish it wasn’t, but whatever helps this team win and puts the best team on the field.”

Brees said he feels every team is under constraints and there’s plenty of time for the Saints to sort out their salary cap issues before the start of free agency March 11.

“As far as our team, I know that our team is going to spend whatever they … I don’t think ours has, ever since I’ve been here been, in a situation where they’re not going to do what they feel like they need in order to field the next team,” Brees said. “So within cap constraints with whatever they feel like they need to do, for me, I signed a six-year ($60 million) deal when I first got here. I’m two years into a five-year deal ($100 million) and hopefully I can play that out and sign another deal and continue to play this game even longer.

“Listen, I get compensated very well. I don’t take that for granted for one second. But I play this game because I love this game, I love this locker room and I love the opportunity to win a championship.”