Drew Brees
FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2021, file photo, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) throws a pass in the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Alabama in Arlington, Texas. Perhaps the best-known collegian selected in the fourth round Saturday was Book. And Book went somewhere with a QB opening: New Orleans, which saw career passing leader Drew Brees retire. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)
Lower-round QBs face long odds to make it in NFL

By Josh Dubow May. 03, 2021 04:46 PM EDT

FILE - New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks to the members of the media in Charlotte, N.C., in this Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, file photo. The NFL will consult an advisory committee made up of former coaches, general managers and players on such issues as postponing, moving or even canceling games this season due to the coronavirus pandemic. The first New Orleans Saints draft since the retirement of all-time leading NFL passer Drew Brees might not include a quarterback. But a cornerback could be in the cards. Saints coach Sean Payton says the two Saints QBs under contract could very well be part of the club’s long-term future. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco, File)
Circumstances led Saints to draft for value more than need

By Brett Martel May. 01, 2021 09:17 PM EDT

Seattle Seahawks fan Wallace Watts watches the fourth round of the NFL football draft, Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
SEC dominates NFL draft the way it manhandles college teams

By Barry Wilner May. 01, 2021 02:11 PM EDT

FILE - Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater participates in the school's Pro Day football workout for NFL scouts in Evanston, Ill., in this Tuesday, March 9, 2021, file photo. Slater is as possible first round pick in the NFL Draft, April 29-May 1, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Mock Draft: As usual, it's all about the quarterbacks

By Barry Wilner Apr. 26, 2021 12:28 PM EDT

FILE - New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks to the members of the media in Charlotte, N.C., in this Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, file photo. The NFL will consult an advisory committee made up of former coaches, general managers and players on such issues as postponing, moving or even canceling games this season due to the coronavirus pandemic. The first New Orleans Saints draft since the retirement of all-time leading NFL passer Drew Brees might not include a quarterback. But a cornerback could be in the cards. Saints coach Sean Payton says the two Saints QBs under contract could very well be part of the club’s long-term future. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco, File)
Saints mindful of holes beyond QB in first post-Brees draft

By Brett Martel Apr. 23, 2021 03:58 PM EDT

Saints enter draft with holes at all levels of defense

By The Associated Press Apr. 22, 2021 01:10 PM EDT
28. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-5) LAST SEASON: The Saints won the NFC South for a fourth consecutive season, and made the playoffs for the...

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) shakes hands with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) after an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Winston eager for chance to succeed Brees with Saints

By Brett Martel Mar. 23, 2021 09:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Dec. 25, 2020 file photo, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (17) carries on a reception against Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Eric Wilson (50) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans. The New Orleans Saints have informed receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker Kwon Alexander they'll be released in moves that will save the club nearly $20 million against the NFL's salary cap, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 because the transactions were not yet official. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Buzz over Bills' offense lured Sanders to sign with Buffalo

By John Wawrow Mar. 19, 2021 07:37 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) shakes hands with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) after an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Brees: Saints will have a "good quarterback competition"

Mar. 17, 2021 08:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) shakes hands with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) after an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Winston re-joins Saints for 2021 after Brees retirement

By Brett Martel Mar. 16, 2021 06:15 AM EDT

File-This Feb. 7, 2010, file photo shows New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrating with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Saints' 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
Next play: Brees joins NBC Sports after retiring from NFL

Mar. 15, 2021 11:11 AM EDT

File-This Feb. 7, 2010, file photo shows New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrating with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Saints' 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
Record-setting Saints QB Brees announces retirement at 42

By Brett Martel Mar. 14, 2021 05:37 PM EDT

Record-setting Saints quarterback Drew Brees has announced his retirement after 20 NFL seasons

Mar. 14, 2021 05:23 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Record-setting Saints quarterback Drew Brees has announced his retirement after 20 NFL seasons. ...

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leaves the field an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, in this Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, file photo. om Brady has agreed to a contract extension with the Buccaneers that provides the Super Bowl champions with much-needed salary cap relief and will help the seven-time NFL champion reach a goal of playing until he’s at least 45. Brady posted a picture of himself on Twitter, signing the extension Friday, March 12, 2021, with the message: “In pursuit of 8 ... LFG@ Buccaneers we’re keeping the band together.” (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)
Nobody comes for free in NFL free agency that begins Monday

By Barry Wilner Mar. 13, 2021 01:20 PM EST

Cap constraints could limit Saints in free agency

By The Associated Press Mar. 12, 2021 05:32 PM EST
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-5) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QB Jameis Winston, DE Trey Hendrickson, DT Sheldon Rankins, LB Craig Robertson, DB PJ...

FILE - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) scrambles out of the pocket before throwing a pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Arlington, Texas, in this Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, file photo. It's too early to know where the NFL salary cap will end up in the range of $180 million to $198 million coming off a pandemic-dominated season that was completed on time but still cost the league billions of dollars in revenue. It's a potential problem for the Cowboys if they can't get a long-term deal with quarterback Dak Prescott, which would cause his cap charge to hit $37 million with another franchise tag after being around $31 million last year. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File)
NFL teams brace for tight budgets with likely salary cap cut

By Schuyler Dixon Feb. 19, 2021 03:28 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with head coach Bruce Arians following the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 31-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
A look back at the Bucs' impressive run to Super Bowl title

By Josh Dubow Feb. 10, 2021 02:33 AM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 1996, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer yells instructions to his team as they play against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. Marty Schottenheimer, who won 200 regular-season games with four NFL teams thanks to his “Martyball” brand of smash-mouth football but regularly fell short in the playoffs, has died. He was 77. Schottenheimer died Monday night, Feb. 8, 2021, at a hospice in Charlotte, North Carolina, his family said through Bob Moore, former Kansas City Chiefs publicist. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet, File)
Marty Schottenheimer, NFL coach with 200 wins, dies at 77

By Bernie Wilson Feb. 09, 2021 09:37 AM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety Antoine Winfield Jr. taunts Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill after a play during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Analysis: Bucs laugh off fouls as Chiefs see red over yellow

By Arnie Stapleton Feb. 09, 2021 02:29 AM EST

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) sits on the field after an incomplete pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) looks on in the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Buccaneers defense rises to occasion again in Super Bowl win

By Fred Goodall Feb. 08, 2021 12:13 AM EST