NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees was still on the Superdome field nearly two hours after what was likely his last game in the historic New Orleans Saints building.
Brees, who is expected to retire after 20 seasons, did not officially announce his intentions after a disappointing 30-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs on Sunday. But he made sure to soak it all up.
Brees and his wife, Brittany, spent time playing with their four children: a little football and a little gymnastics. He was also chatting with his lifelong friend and rival Tom Brady. After the two great quarterbacks of all time shared a hug, Brady even threw a pass to one of Brees ’boys before moving on to the NFC championship game.
Brees, who turned 42 on Friday, was hoping to get his fourth NFC title and his second Super Bowl this year. Instead, he threw three interceptions in a playoff game for the first time in his career as Tampa Bay bounced back from a 20-13 deficit in the third quarter.
“I’m going to give myself a chance to think about the season, think about a lot of things, like I did last year, and make a decision,” Brees said when asked directly if he had just played his last game.
He said his performance on Sunday or the way the season ended would not influence his decision. But when asked what the decision would weigh, Brees said, “Now I’ll keep it to myself.”
However, Brees added that he did not regret returning this year after almost retiring after last season.
“I’ll never regret it. Never,” said Brees, who missed four games in November and December due to a punctured lung and 11 broken ribs, but helped the Saints win No. 2 in the standings. the NFC with a 12-4 record before its final disappointment.
“There are no complaints. I don’t regret it. Man, I’ve always tried to play this game with great respect and reverence for it. And I’m grateful for everything this game has given me,” said Brees, who directed the Saints to their only Super Bowl win in franchise history in 2009 and holds the NFL record in career steps. “Obviously, there are so many amazing memories, so many amazing relationships that have emerged as a result of playing this game. And, man, you find out about yourself and you have to fight so much when you play this game.
“And I would say that this season, I’ve probably had to fight harder than I’ve ever had in any other season of my career, from injuries all over COVID to crazy circumstances. And it was worth every moment of it. Absolutely. “.
Saints coach Sean Payton also said he couldn’t speak for Brees and that he still didn’t want to spend time reflecting on his future career at the Brees Hall of Fame.
“Oh listen, I think it’s probably going to be another press conference,” Payton said. “That would take up all my time in your question tonight. Viously, obviously, it’s been tremendous for this team, this city, I could go on and on. But let’s wait and respond at the right time.”
Other teammates, from veteran defender Demario Davis to young receiver Tre’Quan Smith, used the same word when asked what Brees has meant to them: “everything.”
If this was Brees ’last game, he didn’t get the kind of great teammates of all time like John Elway or Peyton Manning. In fact, it was exactly the opposite.
Brees completed 19 of 34 passes for just 134 yards with one touchdown in one night as he struggled to get the ball off the field even more than usual. The Saints ’biggest pass play came when backup Jameis Winston threw a 56-yard TD pass over a game of tricks the Saints stole from the Chicago Bears, who tried it against the Saints a week earlier. .
And Brees couldn’t connect once with top receiver Michael Thomas on four goals. Brees ’first interception in the second quarter came when the Saints led 6-3 and knocked down Thomas. Corner Sean Murphy-Bunting threw in front and almost returned it for a touchdown.
Then Brees threw another selection in the fourth quarter, when the Saints were behind 23-20 and defender Devin White brought down Alvin Kamara in midfield. The third interception came on a sloping pass when the Saints got behind 30-20 with less than five minutes left.
The tight end, Jared Cook, also lost a critical bewilderment in the third quarter, when the Saints led 20-13 and had just crossed midfield.
“I’d say it’s pretty uncharacteristic because we preach playing ‘win football.’ And he spins the ball four times, that’s not ‘winning football,’ especially in the playoffs, especially against a team like that,” said Brees, who blamed himself. of interceptions.
“Well, a couple of them probably shouldn’t have thrown them out and maybe forced them into it. And we were probably a little out of the overall run,” Brees said. “But after all, that’s what this game meant in those changes.”