Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

Malcolm Jenkins has a lot of very valuable insight.

“What I have seen and I can understand, is that Drew’s body is getting tougher and tougher for him to finish these seasons,” Jenkins said carefully. “When you get older as a player in this league, you really just are here for Sundays. It’s not the offseason, it’s not the training, it’s not the practice, you are here to compete on Sundays because that’s what we love to do as players.”

“And when you get hurt and you’re in the training room as much as he’s been,” Jenkins continued, “that’s not why we’re here. To rehab and go through all those things, where you’re not playing. And he’s missed significant time these last two years,” he finished.

Read the rest.
https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2021...-brees-retire/

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

I had/have the feeling that the players just don’t want to play with Drew anymore.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

It's a tough decision either way. I remember when Peyton Manning had the option to continue playing with the chance he could be permanently crippled.
It's just not worth it to potentially spend the rest of your life needing ambulatory assistance.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

Brees is far from ambulatory. I'd venture to say that he's in far better health than any of us.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

I've kind of had that feeling as well.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

At the moment Drew is the best option. Taysom is limited as a passer and Winston is limited as a thinker. That leaves Drew. I realize that Drew is older and every game is harder for him to make plays but he's still our best option. Personally, I'm not sure he's the best man for the job anymore but he's the best we've got.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

Yet virtually every free agent that has come to the Saints says that being able to play with Brees was a major factor. Offensive and defensive players, alike.

:confused:

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

I'd rather take a flier on getting a younger QB who can stretch the field. It may not be pretty to begin with but I think it's time Brees retired.

With Drew we are great in the regular season and suck on Offense in the playoffs, when we play teams that actually know how to defend 10-15 yard plays.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

After Brees it could very well take many, many years to even return to the playoffs. Payton's time as head coach will soon be over. The availability of quality free agents that have been so ready to join the Saints for the opportunity to play with Brees will dry up just as quickly. The wait for another great QB can be just as long as that between Archie and Drew.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

Absolutely agree, but the NFL is a risky sport. You could be terrible, you could get the next Patrick Mahomes.

I love what Brees has done for this team and will forever be thankful for how exciting he made this team to watch, but I strongly believe its just delaying the inevitable at this point.

I can forget about how badly he and the team played vs Bucs quite easily, but if he pulls a Brett Favre and just never knows when to call it quits, he'll only end up damaging his legacy in my opinion.

I'd rather he leave whilst he's still beloved by fans, than outstay his welcome. The 10-15 yard offense is holding us back in the playoffs, has been since 2018.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

At least we made it to the playoffs. Without him we're at home watching.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

The Saints went 8-1 without Drew Brees as the starter. It’s a very good team, even without him.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

In my opinion he has already damaged his legacy. Pundits and others I’ll randomly talk football with come to the same conclusion most of the time... that he can’t throw the ball more than 10yds. Obviously, you all know I agree and usually talk about how he should have retired years ago.... but I digress.

I truly hope he retires. This team is great because of Payton, as long as he is around we’ll always have a shot.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

If rumors are true. Saints had Tom Brady on deck. So it could also be that this team is just as likely to make a move at QB that puts them right back into the playoffs.

With Brees here, we'll have to wait to find out. And the question over the last three years isn't whether Brees can get us there, it's can he get us over the top.

Vikings 2017, Rams 2018 - I'd say yes. Vikings 2020, Bucs 2021 - I'd say no way, not anymore.

Re: Malcolm Jenkins’s perspective on NFL retirement. (It’s about Drew)
 

Besides the lists and rankings made by talking heads when they have nothing of value to share do NFL players really have legacies anymore outside of a Canton shrine, and how accurate are they?

Honestly if players could destroy their legacies at the end of their careers Favre would have been a prime example. Does anyone remember his season with the Jets? Would we remember his two seasons with the Vikings if we hadn't broken him in the NFCCG? The guy texted pictures of his junk to a cheerleader and that didn't damage anything.

The end of Manning's career looks similar to Drew's. I agree he needs to retire since he cant get through a whole season but I am not convinced his legacy, if he has one outside of Saints fans, will be damaged?