FLETCHER: GOOD EVENING.
I'M TRAVIS MACKEL.
TOPIC THAT RELATES TO SPORTS AND BUSINESS ON THIS SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, THE FUTURE O SAINTS' QUARTERBACK DREW BREES.
WE HAVE BRETT.
KATHARINE TERRELL.
AN FLETCHER MACKEL FROM WDSU.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WILL DREW BREES BE BACK WITH THE SAINTS?
>> I THINK SO.
THEY'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD ROSTER.
HE'S PLAYING AT HIGH LEVEL.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO WALK AWAY FROM.
I UNDERSTAND THERE WERS EARLIER THAT -- WER REPORTS THAT HE'S CONSIDERING RETIREMENT.
BUT I THINK HE'S COMING BACK.
IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?
>> IT SURPRISES ME TO HEAR IT AT OFF.
BACK IN OCTOBER WHEN HE WAS ON THE SIDELINE AND TEDDY BRIDGEWATER STARTING AND BREES LOOKS LIKE A MAN WHO IS DESPERATE TO GET BACK ON THE FIELD.
I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GO FROM THAT TO RETIRING IN SIX MONTHS.
I GET THAT IT HAPPENS.
BUT I WOULD BE PRETTY SURPRISED.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE INCLINATION FOR PEOPLE TO BELIEVE HE MAY BE READY TO RETIRE AT 41 AND WITH FOUR KIDS AND SO FORTH.
BUT HE'S COMING OFF ARGUABLY THE SECOND MOST EFFICIENT SEASON IN NFL HISTORY TO HIMSELF.
AND SO HE'S STILL ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT QUARTER BACKS IN THE NFL IF NOT THE MOST.
PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT ARM STRENGTH BUT IF YOU'RE MAKING THE PASSES AND WINNI THE OFFENSE THEN YOU'RE EFFECTIVE.
I GET THE IMPRESSION THAT MUCH LIKE THE MANNINGS, DREW'S FAMILY DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HIS CAREER.
THAT HE'S HE'S THE SAINT QUARTERBACK.
HE LIKES THE FACT THAT THEY'RE OLD ENOUGH THAT HE CAN SHARE THAT RELATIVELY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WITH THEM.
AND PEOPLE HAVE I THINK AN OV $200 MILLION PLAYING FOOTBALL NEVER MIND ENDORSEMENTS, A LOT OF PEOPLE AN OBLIGATION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VALUE THEY COMMAND IN THE
MARKETPLACE WHILE THEY CAN.
HE STILL COMMANDS A LOT O VALUE.
HIS ENDORSEMENTS ARE WORTH MORE THOSE ARE ALL REASONS WHY HE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY.
>> WE STARTED WITH FLETCHER AND ENDED WITH BRETT.
WE'LL COME BACK DOW THE LINE THIS WAY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FAMILY ISSUE HERE.
HE'S GOT FOUR KIDS.
I'M GOING BRING UP SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TRAGEDY THING THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.
THE KOBE BRYANT FACTOR.
EVERYBODY FEELS FOR KOBE, HIS FAMILY.
WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND YOU REALIZE HOW PRESSURE LIFE IS.
KOBE BRYANT IS RIGHT AROUND DREW BREES' AGE WHEN HE TRAGEDY DIED LAST WEEK.
DOES HE SAY, MORE TIME I VALUABLE?
WE NEVER KNOW WHEN LIFE IS GOING TO E HERE.
DOES LIFE WEIGH MORE AS A FACTOR?
DOES HE SAY I NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH CHILDREN AND MY WIFE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A REFLECTION FOR HIM AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
WHETHER THAT'S ENOUGH TO OUTWEIGH EVERYTHING ELSE IS UP TO HIM.
I THINK HE ACTUALLY BELIEVES THAT CONTINUING TO PLAY QUARTERBACK WHILE HE STILL CAN IS AN ASSET TO HIS FAMILY LIFE.
>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE -- OBVIOUSLY THE KOBE BRYANT SITUATION IS TRAGIC AND AS A FAMILY MAN, ZRUE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PROJECTING THEIR OWN THOUGHTS ON TO HIM A FEW YEARS AGO, I COVERED HIM AT THE PRO BOAT.
I THINK IT WA 2014 OR 2015.
AND I ASKED SOMETHING IF IT MEANT SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR HIS KIDS TO WATCH HIM PLAY?
HE KEPT PLAYING SO THEY WOULD BE OLD ENOUGH TO SEE WHAT IT MEANT FOR THEM TO SEE HIM.
I THINK THAT AS BRETT SAID, HAVING THE FAMILY TOGETHER WATCHING HIM PLAY FOOTBALL IS KIND OF AN ASSET TO THEM NOT SOMETHING BAD.
>> IF I COULD PIVOT OFF A MOMENT
LEVITY.
I ALWAYS LIKE MOVIE QUOTES.
THERE'S A LINE IN "THE DARK KNIGHT RISES." AND THE CHARACTER LOOKS AT HIM WHY DID YOU GIVE EVERYTHING TO THEM.
I HAVEN'T GIVEN EVERYTHING TO THEM YET.
NOT YET.
I STILL THINK IT MEANS SO MUCH FO DREW BREES WHO IS SO WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC POS KATRINA TO GET THE SAINTS BACK TO THE SUPER BOWL.
WIN OR LOSE.
I REALLY THINK THAT TRULY MEANS SOMETHING TO HIM.
CALL ME CRAZY.
I THINK THAT IS THE ONE LAST ACHIEVEMENT THAT HE WANTS AS AN NFL PLAYER AND FOR THE CITY.
WHEN WE'RE TALK ABOUT REASONS ABOUT RETIREMENT, WHEN IT GOES SOUTH FOR ATHLETES POST 40, IT HAS GONL PRETTY SOUTH.
PEYTON MANNING WAS KNOCKING AT 40.
BRETT FAVRE.
DO YOU GO OUT ON TOP OF YOUR GAME?
OR DO YOU GO OUT WHEN YOUR SKILLS HAVE OBVIOUSLY DIMINISHED TO THE POINT OF BEING AS NOT EFFECTIVE AS YOU ARE.
I DO THINK THAT'S SOMETHING FOR HIM TO CONSIDER.
I THINK THAT EVERYTHING HE HAS NONET THIS ORGANIZATION AND THIS CITY HE WANTS TO BE THAT BIG GAME FOR ALL OF THESE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY AND HIMSELF AND THIS FRANCHISE JUST ONE MORE TIME.
>> YOU CAN LOOK AT ELI MANNING.
HE HAS RETIRED BEING BENCHED HIS LAST YEAR IN PRO FOOTBALL FOUR YEARS AGO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHINKABLE.
AND NOW HE'S RETIRING AFTER BEING BENCHED IN HIS FINAL SEASON.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH DREW BREES.
IF HE COMES BACK WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR SAINTS' ROSTER?
HE'S GOING TO COMMAND $30 MILLION PROBABLY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A ONE-YEAR DEAL OR TWO-YEAR DEAL.
I NOW MICKE LOOMIS IS GREAT FOR THE NUMBERS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE SAINTS AND THE SAL RAY CAP AND FOR TEDDY BRIDGEWATER AND TAS HILL?
>> I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK HE'S GOING TO COMMAND $30 MILLION.
WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT HE AND MICKEY ARE GOING TAKELESS MON WE WILL SIGN MORE FREE AGENTS.
>> HAS HE TCHAUN BEFORE?
HE'S TAKEN WHAT THE MARKET HAS GIVEN HIM.
>> I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO SET PRECEDENT.
BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TAKE $10 MILLION LESS THAN MARKET VALUE.
>> HE WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN MARKET VALUE, I THINK.
THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HIM, NFL P.A. AND AGENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO NOT TAKE TOO LOAF A DEAL.
TOM BRADY HAS DONE IT FOR YEARS.
IF BREES COMES BACK, THEN THAT MEANS TEDDY BRIDGEWATER GOES ELSEWHERE.
I DON'T SEE HIM STAYING HERE AS A BACKUP.
HE HAS TO LEAVE WHILE -- I GUES STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT.
HILL WILL BE BACK.
IT DEPENDS ON BREES.
>> HE SAID HE SHOULD HAVE ONE BY MID TO LATE FEBRUARY.
>> RIGHT.
HIS CONTRACT CONSIDERATION FOR THE SAINTS A WELL.
I ALSO BELIEVE HE WILL TAKE -- HE'LL TRY TO -- HE'LL TRY TO COME UP WITH A CONTRACT THAT HE THINKS IS FAIR.
I ALWAYS SAY IN A SALARY CAP LEAGUE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CRITICAL MASS OF PLAYERS IF YOU WILL THAT CAN KIND OF OUTPLAY THE VALUE OF THEIR CONTRACT IN ORDER TO COMPETE FOR THEIR
CHAMPIONSHIPS WHICH IS WHAT THE PATRIOTS ARE REALLY GOOD AT F YEARS.
I WOULD EXPECT HIM TO KIND OF DO THAT.
I THINK THE REASON THAT HE'S GIVING THE MONTH TIME LINE REALLY IS BECAUSE HE JUST -- H WANTS PEOPLE TO STOP ASKING THE QUESTION SO HE COULD ENJOY SUPER BOWL WEEK AND CHILL OUT FOR A
WHILE BEFORE HE HAS TO -- BEFORE FREE AGENCY MAKE THE DECISION.
>> MICKEY LOOMIS, I KNOW WE'VE COVERED THE TEAM FOR A LONG TIME HERE.
REALLY T SALARY CAP HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY FOUND A WAY.
I KNOW THE TERM "KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD" OR HOWEVER THEY STRUCTURE THINGS.
IT SEEMS THAT THE NATIONAL MED TALK ABOUT THEY'RE HANDCUFFED.
BUT THEY ALWAYS SEEMINGLY FIGURE I REMEMBER IN 2012, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BREES GETTING THE HIGHEST DEAL IN NFL HISTORIER $20 MILLION SURPASSING PEYTON MANNING.
AND THEY CUT A DWREEL THEIR ROSTER REMAINED IN TACT FOR THAT STRUCK CHURED IT.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT HIS SALARY STRUCTURE OR HOW IT LOOKS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.
THERE'S ALWAYS COMMINGS AND GOINGS, BUT THEY FIND A WAY TO NAVIGATE IT.
>> IT'S NOTABLE THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THEY SIGN THESE BIG NAME BIG AGENTS THE FIRST YEAR SALARY CAP SPIT VERY SMALL IF THEY'RE THINKING WE HAVE ONE MORE YEAR WIT BREES, THEY COULD
THEORETICALLY SIGN A MAJOR FREE AGENT AND HAVE A SMALL SALARY CAP HIT AND THEN FIGURE IT OUT NEXT YEAR.
YOU USE BURRIS AS AN EXAMPLE.
EMP SAID THEY WER IN SALARY CAP JAIL THAT YEAR AND THEY SAY IT EVERY YEAR AND THEY SIGNE JARIS BIRD FOR $54 MILLION.
>> THE BIGGEST DEAL FOR A SAFETY IN NFL HISTORY.
>> BUT HIS FIRST YEAR WAS LOW.
IT'S THE SAME THING WITH MICHAEL THOMAS THIS YEAR.
HIS SALARY CAP JUMPS UP A TON NEXT YEAR.
I THINK IT'S JUST THE WAY THEY DO IT WITH THE BONUSES.
ARE JUST -- >> JUST TO JUMP IN THERE, BIRD WAS A DISASTER FOR THEM.
NOT THE BEST SIGNING.
BRETT, YOU CAT AND YOU FLETCHER.
I THINK DREW BREES IS COMING BACK.
I THINK HE'S GOT SO MUCH MORE TO GIVE.
I REALLY GLEE IT'S A MONEY THING.
IT'S A FAMILY THING.
LET'S PUSH THIS ASIDE.
WHAT IF HE MAKES A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT AND SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S IT.
I'M NOT PLAYING FOOTBALL ANYMORE.
WHAT DO THE SAINT DOSS THEN?
IS IT TEDDY BRIDGEWATER O TASOM?
HOW DO THEY MOVE ON?
I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT BUT A POST DREW BREES ERA?
>> MY OPINION, I'M UNDER THE BELIEVE THAT IT'S HILL AND THERE'S NO DOUB ABOUT IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOING TO BE A GOOD NFL QUARTERBACK.
BUT I THINK THEY LOOK AT THE INGREDIENTS ARE THERE AND WE'VE HAD HIM FOR THREE YEARS AND WE BELIEVE ENOUGH HIM IN WHAT TODAY'S NFL IS WITH ALAN AND JACKSON AND THE WAY QUARTERBACKS
MOVE NOW.
AND I THINK THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.
I THINK THEY WOULD SIGN A VETERAN BACKUP.
BUT I THINK THEY WOULD HAND THE KEYS TO THE CARD TO TAYSOM HILL AND NOT BLINK DOING IT.
>> SEE, I DISAGREE.
I THINK THEY WOULD GO TO TEDDY.
MAYBE IT WOULDN'T BE A HUGE DEAL AND HE WOULD RETAIN TAYSOM HILL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT HILL HAS PROVEN THAT HE'S READY TO BACK STARTING QUARTERBACK.
HE DOES A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS AND HE LOOKED LIKE THE BEST PLAYER ON THE FIELD IN THE WILD CARD GAME.
HOW DO WE KNOW IF HE'S STARTING EVERY WEEK THAT HE'S GOING TO BE THE GUY?
YOU CAN'T AFFORD ALL THREE OF THEM THEORETICALLY.
>> SAME QUESTION, IF BREES SAYS I'M DONE PLAYING FOOTBALL.
>> BRETT'S THE TIE.
OR GIVE US SOMETHING WHACKY.
>> NOT WHACKY.
THE SAFEST BEST IS TEDDY BRIDGEWATER BECAUSE HE WENT 5-0 AND THAT WOULD GIVE THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO USE THEYSON HILL AS UTILITY PLAYER.
SO YOU KNOW, WITH A SWIM ARMY KNIFE WHEN HE'S HERE A WDSU OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT HERE -- [LAUGHTER] TRANSITION I THINK SINCE THEY'VE DEMONSTRATED THE COULD WIN LIKE
THAT LAST YEAR.
>> IF THEY SAY WE'RE GOING TO OVERPAY TEDDY -- IT SEEMS LIKE HE WANTS TO STAY IF ALL THINGS ARE EQUAL -- I'M MAKING THIS UP IF IT'S TELL PA OR THE REDSKINS LOOKING IF TEDDY, I THINK HE
STAYED WITH THE SAINTS.
>> HE FELT LIKE HE HAD A GOOD SITUATION HIP THETICALLY IF DREW BREES MOVES ON, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS -- IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SUCH A CRAZY NOURM LURE HIM AWAY.
THE SAINTS WOULD PAY HIM LIKE A STARTING QUARTERBACK.
>> H SAYS I'M NOT THINKING EMOTIONALLY.
I'M THINKING LIKE A BUSINESSMAN.
>> I DO THINK HE LOVES IT IN NEW ORLEANS.
BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO TAKE FIVE MILLION LESS.
HIS VALUE WHICH IS WHY HE'S NOT GOING TO STAY TO BE A BACKUP THIS YEAR.
SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING.
>> CAN I JUMP IN REAL QUICK -- REAL QUICK?
>> DO I THINK T SAINTS ARE BLUFFING BECAUSE IF THEY PUT A FIRST ROUND TENDER ON HIM THEY'LL GET A FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK -- >> I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S A
BLUFF.
I THINK THEY LIKE TAYSOM HILL.
BHAW DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THAT?
BUT WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> I THINK, THEY'LL SAY IF YOU WANT THEY BAD, COME GET HIM THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE HIM.
BUT IT GOES THAT WAY.
>> IT'S A TRICKY QUESTION, BECAUSE NOT EVER COACHEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THEIR SOMETIME AND EVERY ROSTER IS NOT EQUIPED TO U TAYSOM HILL AS NEW ORLEANS HAS.
NOT EVERY OFFENSE IS THE SAME.
IT'S THE SAME THING WITH TEDDY BRIDGEWATER.
THEY HAVE A DEMONSTRATED ABLE.
IT'S A BUSINESS DECISION FOR THEM TO WANT TO WIN AND STAY PUT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
FLETCHER MACKEL, KATHARI TARA AND BRETT MOR -- MAR F