NFL's 20 richest players of all-time

NFL’s 20 richest players of all-time

Oct 7, 2012; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) shakes hands with Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) following the game at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Broncos 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 7, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) attempts a pass in their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 37-34 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Drew Brees – $131,455,000

Remember when the Chargers let Brees, 35, walk in free agency because of the presence of Rivers? You can’t blame the Chargers too much considering Brees just had his right shoulder shredded by a hit from John Lynch, but you think they’d like to have that one back knowing hindsight is 20/20.

Brees has since won a Super Bowl, two AP offensive player of the year awards, led the NFL in yards and touchdowns on four occasions and four seasons with at least 5,000 yards passing. No other quarterback has more than one season with that many yards.

Just think the Miami Dolphins decided to sign Daunte Culpepper instead of Brees in 2006 when they thought his surgically repaired knee would be a better gamble than the shoulder of Brees.

The Dolphins are still reeling from that decision and the Saints have fielded one of the best offenses for the past eight seasons with the former second round pick out of Purdue behind center.

Next: Julius Peppers

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