The Facts: Brees said Monday that he plans to play out the final year of his contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2017. "Listen, so I signed a one-year extension, so that was this year and then next year," Brees said.
Diehards Line:
The 37-year-old quarterback said he'll then consider his future one year at a time in order to put forth his "absolute best effort" toward winning the NFC South and a second Super Bowl title with New Orleans. Brees had another sensational season. He finished the year fifth in the NFL in passer rating (101.7), third in passing touchdowns (37) and second in completion percentage (70 percent). He also passed for a league-high 5,208 yards, marking the fifth time he's surpassed 5,000 yards in a season -- only four players have accomplished that feat and each did it once. So 16 years into his career, Brees is still playing like one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. He'll be 38 next season, and at some point, he knows he'll have to consider how long he can play and play effectively. But he’s not there yet.