Even though the Saints are in the hunt for the NFC South title and a home playoff game this year, things feel dark for New Orleans. Such is life at 4-7.
This means you're gonna hear talk about Drew Brees' future and we got some of that Sunday. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported before Week 13 the Saints are "preparing for life after Brees" and plan to draft a quarterback "high this draft."
Rapoport says the Saints have "seen [Brees'] arm strength wane" and because "he's not big like" Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, there are concerns about the way Brees, 35, will age.
Was this was a concern when Brees was 33 and signed a five-year, $100 million contract? Because it probably was. Not the arm strength part, but, you know, the natural process of aging.
The Saints have been fortunate. Since signing Brees as a free agent he's never missed a game and he's never had a season less than 4,300 passing yards. He's not playing his best football this season, but he's completing 70 percent of his passes and averaging 7.6 yards per attempt.
New Orleans' offense is in kind of a funk. But all of this will seem ridiculous if (when?) they win the NFC South and make a playoff run.
Plus: no one beats Father Time. Of course the Saints have to prepare for life after Brees.
