New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Article New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees keeping one eye on contract negotiations for Peyton Manning and Tom Brady

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady are entering the last year of their contracts and negotiations for both remain ongoing.

Colts owner Jim Irsay has acknowledged what is hardly surprising, namely that Manning will be one of, if not the, highest paid player in the NFL.

In Brady's case, the still unsettled deal is a growing cause of concern for the Patriots faithful. Brady himself has spoke little on the matter and insisted to Boston media that has a solid relationship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Still, Brady - a two-time Super Bowl MVP - makes considerably less than Manning already and it seems likely he is seeking a big raise.

All of this is of more than peripheal interest to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Brees in regarded as the only QB in the NFL the equal of Manning and Brady and he has two years left on his contract. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis had sidestepped the topic when asked once or twice about it over the summer, and Brees, while acknowledging Tuesday he is following the contract situation with Manning and Brady said now is not the time to fret about his own deal.

"Sure. Any guy who plays your position and is in a position where they're negotiating a new contract, that affects you," Brees said after a joint practice Tuesday morning between the Saints and the Pats. "In a way, I'm paying attention and in a way, I'm not because it's all about playing football right now. It's not the offseason anymore. I know there was talks of that but for now it's just about winning football games and that stuff will take care of itself."