New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees discusses CBA negotiations, Coach Sean Payton's move to Dallas
 

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees discussed his views on the NFL's labor negotiations and Coach Sean Payton's move to Dallas, among other topics, on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Radio channel Monday. Here are some excerpts from his conversation with hosts Bruce Murray and Bill Pidto.

Host/Bill Pidto: "There are reports that when you guys - yourself, Peyton Manning and some other players - met with Jerry Richardson, the owner of the Carolina Panthers, last Saturday that he was, let's say, less than respectful in that meeting. Anything to say about what's kind of gotten out since that meeting took place?"

Drew Brees: "Well, I mean, this is all I can say is, yeah, I was in that meeting and obviously anytime there's negotiations I think there's some back and forth to those. And I wouldn't say that things were disrespectful but what I would say is that there's are a lot of issues to get through and we're obviously not going to agree on everything and so it's a process and there are a lot of things to consider here. So hopefully we can continue to make progress here from now until that March 4th date. I think we're all hopeful that a deal will get done but if it doesn't then we will deal with that."

Host/Bruce Murray: "It's way down the road but do you get a sense that this union is prepared to miss football games if necessary?"

Drew Brees: "Well, we don't want to but we didn't start this fight. This fight was brought to us and I think if you really understand what we're being asked to do, I mean, let's just look at the NFL here over the last five years. Revenues have continued to go up and up. We play the most popular sport in this country. And our salaries are based on a percentage of the revenue so if revenues goes up, our salaries go up. If revenues go down, our salaries go down. Well, ownership in the NFL would argue that even though the revenue has gone up their costs have gone up. So naturally we would say, 'Ok, well show us those costs.' Because we have access to the revenue numbers but we don't have access to the cost numbers. Show us those costs and we're all reasonable and we'll come to the table and we'll talk. But they have yet in the last year and a half to show us any cost numbers so I don't know what to tell you because we're there, we're ready to talk, we're just not being given the information."

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On coach Sean Payton moving his family to Dallas:

Host/ Bruce Murray: "Do you care? Would that give you some doubt in your mind that he's committed to the city of New Orleans long term?"

Drew Brees: "Not at all, not at all. It's a non-issue. I think people just look to make a big deal out of nothing. When you look at players around this league, coaches, a lot of them have a home elsewhere whether that's a home base, where they're from or where they have strong connections. So that's not unusual at all and I know that people made a big deal out of that and wanted to jump to conclusions that were all untrue. But no, there's not a guy who's more committed to his team and to the city than Sean Payton. He's raised over one and half million dollars through his foundation over the past three years for the city. I don't even need to mention what he's done for the team over the last five years. That was a decision that he made with his family that was best for his family and that's going to be their home base in Dallas. But it takes nothing away from his commitment to New Orleans."