Well I haven't read any direct quote from Brees, himself, on the matter. Only people saying that Brees told Ed Werder that. But assuming Brees did say it, I'm not sure it's anything more than PR. I don't say that to demonize Drew. It's kind of a normal practice in negotiations. I'm not sure why Norman would be so much more important to Brees than any of the other previously available free agents. We have Keenan Lewis coming back from injury, and Delvin Breaux. What the secondary lacks is quality depth and the ability to stay healthy. The latter of which is unpredictable. There was not an immediate need for Norman.

But Norman listed the Saints in his final two. So that kind of makes it easier for Brees to come out after the fact and say that he was willing to do whatever.

Back to the meeting face to face thing, you have to be present to do a physical and SIGN a deal, but I don't know that having a verbal agreement takes all of that.