Brees wants to be back with Saints
Drew Brees dispensed with technicalities regarding his contract and spoke as if his return to New Orleans next season was virtually assured.
“It’s the same way I felt two days ago. It’s the same way I felt 12 years ago. I’ll be here as long as they’ll have me,” Brees said Tuesday in the locker room at Saints headquarters, where players were packing up for the offseason following their dramatic elimination from the playoffs in Minnesota last weekend.
Brees acknowledged he’d have leverage if he chose to listen to offers from other clubs, but asserted that he has no plans to do so for professional and personal reasons.
The Saints have pieces in place to be a contender in upcoming seasons, having nearly advanced to the NFC title game with a roster featuring numerous first- and second-year regulars.
“Do I feel like this team has what it takes? Yes, I do,” Brees said.
SEAHAWKS HIRE COORDINATORS >> The Seattle Seahawks have hired Brian Schottenheimer as their offensive coordinator and are bringing back Ken Norton Jr. to oversee the defense.
The Seahawks officially announced the anticipated hires after reports surfaced over the holiday weekend of agreements with the pair.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan released a statement Monday that Norton had been offered a coordinator position less than a week after Norton was hired by the 49ers. The Seahawks did not confirm Norton’s hiring until Tuesday.
STEELERS UNSURE IF HALEY COMES BACK >> Todd Haley’s contract as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers is up.
And coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t sound as if he’s in a rush to decide whether Haley will be back next season.
Tomlin sidestepped several attempts to endorse Haley’s return as the AFC North champions continued to dissect what went wrong in an upset home playoff loss to Jacksonville . Asked if he anticipated any changes to his staff, Tomlin demurred.
“I don’t know where these roads are going to lead,” Tomlin said. “Some contracts are up. Some aren’t. I’m not ready to discuss that.”
FOURNETTE IN CAR ACCIDENT >> Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette escaped injury after what authorities say was a minor, threecar crash. The team said its star running back’s car was rear-ended about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, and that he was not hurt. He was able to drive home after the crash. The Florida Highway Patrol says Fournette was not at fault in the crash. EARNHARDT JR. INTERESTED IN BEING PANTHERS MINORITY OWNER >> Retired NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he is interested in becoming a minority owner with the Carolina Panthers. Earnhardt told The Associated Press he was not asked by local businessmen Felix Sabates to join a potential ownership group, but said he did contact Marcus Smith, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports, to say he’d be interested.
TITANS’ WALKER TO PRO BOWL >> Tennessee tight end Delanie Walker has replaced Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce on the AFC roster for the Pro Bowl.