Brees has eye on going all out to finish season

Published 9:53 am Thursday, December 31, 2015

To most the game is meaningless, just not to Drew Brees.

The Saints quarterback will take his injured football back onto the field Sunday in the season finale in Atlanta.

Like last weekend against Jacksonville, there is little if anything for Brees and the 6-9 Saints to play for.

Yet Brees has worked hard once again to be ready to play, just like last Sunday. He never considered sitting this last one out.

“Well, that is our job. It is what we do,” Brees said Wednesday during his last meeting with the media of the season.

“We take pride in our jobs. There are guys we don’t want to let down.”

Brees didn’t let anybody down last week, as he played despite missing a week of practice with the injured foot that had him limping noticeably in the win over Jacksonville.

He didn’t miss a beat, throwing for 412 yards and three touchdowns.

While some questioned why he was playing, Brees never even considered not playing.

“People might say we have nothing to play for as far as playoffs and such, but we have a lot to play for,” he said. “We’re continuing to build what is going to be a great team for years to come.”

At 36 and with a Super Bowl championship on his resume, Brees has earned the right to miss a game or two. But, that isn’t about to happen.

There have even been reports that last week was his last home game in New Orleans. He doesn’t think that way.

Brees maintains he will stick around for another championship run.

When asked if he was willing to sit down and redo his contract to give the Saints more salary cap room, he said, “That is the last thing on my mind right now.”

What he is worried about is beating Atlanta.

“It (the injured foot) feels better this week than it did last,” Brees said. “What it really needs is rest.”

He and his foot will get plenty of that starting Monday, but he believes he can still get the job done again this week.

“It is really a mobility issue,” Brees said. “Can’t do something too crazy. I have been able to do what I have needed to do so far.”

As for playing what some have reported could be his final game, or the final game he has with head coach Sean Payton, Brees said that doesn’t even enter his mind.

“I don’t see it as (any) uncertainty,” he said. “Call me naive or just call me somebody who a feel for what we are doing here.”

Despite missing from the playoffs for the second straight season, Brees sees a bright future.

“I think we will have success in the future a few of us have had since we have been here,” he said.