NFL Rumors: Drew Brees wanted to take pay cut for Josh Norman

Drew Brees was reportedly willing to take restructure his contract with the New Orleans Saints in an effort to help his club sign free agent Josh Norman.

According to ESPN’s Ed Werder, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees “wanted [Josh Norman] on the team and was willing to modify contract to make it happen.” Norman ended up signing with the NFC East’s Washington Redskins instead of staying in the NFC South with the Saints.

New Orleans was the other team besides Washington that emerged as the finalists to land Norman in his brief stint as an NFL free agent. Norman had his 2016 franchise tag rescinded by Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman, who grew increasingly uncomfortable with paying the 29-year-old cornerback close to $14 million this season.

Since the Saints only had $2 million of available cap space in 2016, the smallest amount in the league, if Norman was going to sign with New Orleans, the Saints front office would either have to cut another player or have someone like Brees step up and take a considerable pay cut.

While Brees plays on the opposite side of the ball of Norman, he has first-hand experience in knowing the type of shutdown corner Norman is from their days playing in the NFC South. Carolina and New Orleans would meet twice a year as biannual division rivals.

Though Brees could conceivably play quarterback into his late 30s and early 40s if he wanted to, perhaps he realizes that for New Orleans to win their second Lombardi Trophy with him at quarterback, the Saints will need to upgrade their defensive backfield exponentially. As of 2015, Brees would need to best his opponent in an aerial shootout to win games on fall Sundays in the NFL.

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