Metairie, La. -
It almost feels like a lifetime ago when the Saints 2011 season came to a devastating end in San Francisco.
Since that time, the Black & Gold have been swimming in controversy, but at last the offseason is over and a new season is upon us.
And it helps to go into battle with their $100 million man, Drew Brees.
Brees spoke with the media Tuesday, for the first time since signing that contract, and he shared what he did once he found out he was going to be the highest paid player in NFL history.
"The minute I got off the phone, I changed Bowen's poopy diaper, I went downstairs and did a load of whites in the washer, then I went upstairs and put Baylen's lunch away in the refrigerator," Brees said to an eruption of laughter in the Saints media room.
All humor aside, Brees' point was clear -- the contract didn't change and won't change what he's always done and it doesn't put any unnecessary pressure on himself to perform. "I just need to be," he said.
Brees has been gone all offseason, so he's just now starting to feel the impact of suspended head coach Sean Payton not being around. He didn't shy away from the idea that not having him will be a challenge. He added that this training camp will play a big role in the team's success or failure this season.
"Do I have all the answers right now? No, I don't, because this is unchartered territory for all of us. At the end of camp I'll have a better answer for you. At this point you are re-establishing your identity and we are going to see how it flows. Are we going to learn a lot about ourselves over the next three-five weeks? Yes, absolutely," Brees said.
As for this year's unprecedented adversity, Brees responded with a message: "I'm all about doing things that have never been done before."
© Brees 'excited about unknown' of 2012
