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METAIRIE, La. -- Despite not knowing what's going to happen, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees made it clear Sunday and again Monday that he wants to finish his career in New Orleans. Brees, who turns 37 in January, has an uncertain future because of a $30 million salary-cap figure he carries for the 2016 season -- the final year on the five-year, $100 million contract he received in 2012.
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"Absolutely," Brees said when asked if he would be willing to extend the contract to remain with the team.
The NFL Network reported last week that Brees, who has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons with the Saints, would have to take a hometown discount in order to return.
Brees' contract will be guaranteed if he's on the roster on Feb. 10, which means the Saints have about five weeks to try to get his cap hit to a more manageable figure.
Brees had another big season with the Saints, throwing for a league-best 4,870 yards with 32 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. He completed 68.3 percent of his passes and had a passer rating of 101.0.
"I want to be here," Brees said after Sunday's season-ending 20-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. "I want to play for the Saints. ... I don't want to play for anybody else."
--Even though he missed one game because of injury for the first time since joining the Saints in 2006, Brees won the NFL passing title for a league-record sixth time in his 15-year career.
Brees, who missed a Week 3 game with the Carolina Panthers because of a bruised rotator cuff, finished the season with 4,870 yards. That put him ahead of Philip Rivers (4,819), Tom Brady (4,770), Carson Palmer (4,671) and Matt Ryan (4,591).
Brees had four 300-yard passing games in a row to end the season, doing that despite suffering a torn plantar fascia in his right foot against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 21. In the final four games, Brees had 1,388 passing yards with nine touchdowns and no interceptions while leading the Saints to three wins.
Brees also won the passing title in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2014 -- tying Ben Roethlisberger for the league lead. Brees had been tied with Sonny Jurgensen and Dan Marino, who led the league in passing five times.
--Saints quarterbacks coach Mike Neu may be on the move even if head coach Sean Payton returns to the team.
According to a report by Football Scoop, Neu could be in line to become the head coach at his alma mater -- Ball State.
Neu played quarterback for Ball State and began his coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 1994. He coached in the Arena Football League for several years and joined the Saints as a scout in 2008, then became the quarterbacks coach in 2014 after serving as an assistant at Tulane.
--The Saints on Monday got a head start on putting together their off-season roster with the signing of five players.
The team signed cornerback cornerback Brandon Dixon, safety Alden Darby, guard Cyril Lemon, tackle Bryan Witzmann and wide receiver Reggie Bell to reserve/future contracts.
--Middle linebacker Stephone Anthony (heel) was hurt in the first half of Sunday's game with the Atlanta Falcons and did not return.
--Left cornerback Delvin Breaux (ankle) left in the second quarter of Sunday's game and didn't return, but the injury is not believed to be serious.
--Left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) participated in pregame warm-ups and tried to play against the Falcons, but was unable to go and was inactive.
--Wide receiver Marques Colston (chest) was inactive for a second consecutive game Sunday against the Falcons.
--Weakside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hip) missed his second game in a row on Sunday against the Falcons.
--Guard/Tackle Andrus Peat (concussion) did not pass the concussion protocol and was held out of Sunday's game with the Falcons.
--Guard/Center Senio Kelemete, who is a backup at both guard spots and center, started in place of Terron Armstead in Sunday's game with the Falcons.
--Running back Kendell Hunter (unspecified) was put on injured reserve Friday after being injured in Thursday's practice.
