NFL Rumors: Drew Brees Will Only Return With Saints, Retirement Unlikely

At 41 years of age, there is no question that Drew Brees can easily call it an NFL career. He is a one-time Super Bowl champion and a one-time Super Bowl MVP. He has also had 13 Pro Bowl appearances. Looking at his pro football resume, the 32nd pick of the 2001 NFL Draft seems to have done it all.

However, it seems Brees still has a chip on his shoulder. After losing to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wildcard game, 26-20, the future Hall of Famer sounded like it was not the end of the road in a report by NFL.com.

"We learn something every time around. We're not going to be discouraged. We're not going to take the results of the last three playoffs -- with some crazy things happening, obviously, kind of unprecedented things happening -- and deter us from still striving to accomplish the ultimate goal. I feel like we have all the pieces in place. We have a great foundation. Great culture. We have all the makings of a championship team," Brees said.

From that alone, it appears that Brees wants one more run. Despite diminished arm strength, it looks like he wants another crack with the Saints. Incidentally, he also mentioned that if he does return, he intends to play only for New Orleans.

"At this stage of my career, it’s not a given if I come back every year but when that time comes, I’ll always be a Saint,” he said in a report from Pro Football Talk.

For now, it looks like Brees prefers to recompose himself and decide on his next move. So far, only Eli Manning has decided, opting to retire with the New York Giants seemingly have no plans for him. The case of Brees is entirely different.

The Saints reportedly want the 2004 NFL Comeback Player of the Year back. General manager Mickey Loomis reiterated that they want the veteran quarterback despite his age, ESPN reported.

Brees showed last NFL season that he could still keep up with other younger players. After missing five games due to a thumb injury, he returned and completed 74.3-percent of his passes for 2,979 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 games.

With Brees set to become a free agent, it won't be surprising if he agrees to play at least one more year. The Saints do not have a quarterback in contract for 2020. Tayson Hill and Teddy Bridgewater are also set to become free agents, NBC Sports reported.