WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Mickey Loomis expressed a little disappointment but zero panic over the fact that the New Orleans Saints haven't been able to work out a long-term contract extension with quarterback Drew Brees this offseason.
The Saints' general manager confirmed what Brees told ESPN over the weekend -- that "we haven't made any progress," Loomis said Wednesday. But, he added, "I don't see it being a distraction."
"Look, lots of players play into the last year of their contract. It happened last time with us [before Brees was franchised in 2012]," Loomis said. "It's not our preference, but look, it happens. Nothing unusual here."
Brees said the two sides haven't even talked for the past three months. When Loomis was asked if he expects negotiations to resume or get shelved until after the season, he said, "I don't know."
"I guess I would always hope that we would have a deal done, but we don't. And look, I'm available. My phone is on the hook and ready to be rung," said Loomis, who was then asked if he would like to have a deal done by the start of the regular season.
"Well, I think Drew has said that's his deadline. So that's fine," Loomis said, referring to Brees' insistence that he won't negotiate anymore once the regular season begins.
Loomis acknowledged that Brees is "one of the top quarterbacks in the league and is paid as such -- and we expect to do that." But it's the finer points that get tricky.
Guaranteed money could be the biggest issue. If Brees signs a deal that matches the going rate for elite quarterbacks, those guarantees could lock him up until he is 39 or 40 years old.
But when pressed on that issue, Loomis declined to get into specifics.
"You know, I don't want to get into any of the details of that; that's not my style," Loomis said. "So I think I've said enough, really."