Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

There will come a day when Drew Brees is no longer the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints.

With the 2014 season mercifully over after the Saints edged the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20, at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, it means there's one less season for Brees to guide the Saints to a second Super Bowl trophy.

The Saints unabashedly proclaim themselves as contenders with Brees at the helm. His ability and record-breaking statistics support the notion. And when Brees ends his time with the Saints, there will certainly be a letdown, as not every team can replace a Peyton Manning with an Andrew Luck.

Finishing a season 7-9 with a less established, less respected, less talented quarterback doesn't sting nearly as much as finishing 7-9 with one of the all-time greats still seemingly playing at a Pro Bowl level.

A 7-9 season with someone such as the Bears' Jay Cutler under center isn't unexpected. A 7-9 season with Brees and Sean Payton together hasn't happened since 2007.

A season with Brees at quarterback can't be squandered. But Brees and the Saints did so in 2014.

"That's a wasted opportunity for sure," said tackle Zach Strief, who, like Brees, came to New Orleans in 2006. "He was not always given everything around him to be successful. He takes a lot of that criticism. And when everyone around him is playing well, he gets the credit and deserves that credit.

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Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

Who do we need to put as his back up? Does Griffin step up and lead the team, or do the saints explore free agency? Colt McCoy, Jake locker, Matt Flynn? Flynn would be a good choice, but comes with a 1 million plus cap hit for 2014. In curious to see what happens. We definitely need to start considering a new quarterback. Hopefully brees can finish out his contract with a couple more championships before he retires but honestly with the way he's been playing be seems like he's reaching his end.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

I am not sure Drew is a top 5 QB anymore. Heck I am not even sure he is the top NFCS QB at this point. The INT's just burned me out this year. Heck the Buc's were throwing the game and Drew almost single handedly screwed that up with his interceptions.

We are stuck with him so hopefully he bounces back next year.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

2014 - lots of hype, little desire

I do not want to see that again

the window is closing rapidly

2011 was the season, so close

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

He does tend to make very idiotic decisions sometimes

The 3rd pick he had absolutely no pressure on him, he threw straight into triple coverage

Teams like the lions and ravens capitalised on his stupid decisions.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

Our best two receiving options are in the top 15 in drops. No QB can fix that issue.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

Brees did tie for third with number of INTs thrown this year. Several were bad throws, no doubt, the majority were under pressure and trying to make something happen though.
On the plus side Brees ranked 6th on the list for overall QB rating, he is still on his game.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

I am going to try and respond to this drivel!

By any comparison Brees is a Top 5 QB and he is light years better than any other QB that has EVER played in the NFC South.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

We have to treat this year just like 2007. A major disappointment and a stepping stop to elevate our game. Everyone needs a gut check this offseason and return with a vengeance.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

Drew's average int's since joining the Saints is 15.7. This year he threw 17.
That's not much of an increase considering the pressure he's been under.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

There will come a day when Drew Brees is no longer the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. ( Thats not true. I don't want to here talk like that anymore.)

John Elway, did it Drew can do it.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

His days ARE numbered. I'm confident he's got 2 more years at his lofty current-ness. He might play 2 or 3 more beyond that at a more than acceptable level, but his shortcomings will be clear.

We don't need to draft anybody to replace him. Toon takes over for Colston, lets add some Linebacking, but priority #1, in my humble opinion, considering what I believe to be true about Drew, must be to fix the oline interior, which is doable right now.

Regardless of what we do or do not do on defense, if we fix the oline we are once again a dangerous team - we must break the bank to do it if that's what it takes.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

Two of the losses, he threw 3 in each and we won those games. Poor OL, drops, inexperienced receivers...he had a good season considering the situation. Funny thing, he threw some great deep passes when his arm strength was in question early on. I would even say if the int's are cut in half we still miss the playoffs.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

The chance is already gone. To many holes to fill on this team. Overpaid players, not enough good coaches. We all can see this, draft picks not playing up to the hype, or what we hoped they could contribute. I just can't see us fixing this any time soon.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

We'll be back on top next year!

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

Agree! The sky is NOT falling and things are rarely as bad as they seem.
Fix the OL and I believe those close losses we suffered this season turn into W's. Also, if we can get some pressure up front then our backfield should be better as well. WHO DAT!!!

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

Nah! We've got a few good years left in Drew. Just fix the O-line and we're good to go.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

the saints have steadily given up more sacks each and ever year.
that always means more hits and so called hurries

since 2008 13

20, 25, 24, 26, 37, 29

he has been getting hammered.

hearing foot steps?
pressing things?

easy to say yes to both

why is it the highest cap figure on the team does not get what he needs to get the job done. the saints keep trying to pull wabbits out the hat each and ever year for the OL. all we are getting is skunks.

get serious and give Drew a chance.

as Drew goes so do the saints

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

I wonder who some of these posters are in here. Oh what was that about having no pressure with his third pic. Not all interceptions are a QBs fault. Every QB throws interceptions at some point that was the fault of the receiver or the defense. And he likely HAD NO ONE OPEN. If you have no none to throw to, its hard to make a play.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

Tom Brady can play until he's in his 40s.

Re: Drew Brees, Saints running out of chances for championship glory
 

Do you have any idea how many teams would kill to have a QB like Drew? He will retire a saint.
Having said that, we do need to think about the future at that position. Would Sean want a QB like Drew or would he go for someone different like a Russell Wilson, who doesn't break records but finds ways to win. I'm partial to a big bodied QB like Luck. Imagine what a QB like that could do in Payton's offense.
Just say'n.