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ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this photo provided by the New Orleans Saints, quarterback Drew Brees poses as he signs his new contract with the football team, Sunday, July 15, 2012, in Metairie, La. The new agreement is a historic $100 million, five-year deal that gives him the highest average annual pay in NFL history. (AP Photo/New Orleans Saints, Alex Restrepo)
METAIRIE, La. >> Drew Brees took some time out of his Sunday to sign autographs on items ranging from a black jersey handed to him by a fan to a $100 million contract handed to him by the New Orleans Saints.
The star quarterback, who had agreed verbally to his historic deal Friday, visited team headquarters to take a physical and put pen to paper on the five-year contract that gives him the highest average annual pay ($20 million) in NFL history.
Brees then grabbed a sandwich to go at a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop he owns, where he posed for photos, shook hands and signed autographs for star-struck fans before hopping in a white sport utility vehicle and heading for the airport.
Looking satisfied and relaxed in a black T-shirt with #NOLALOVE printed across the front, the clean-cut Brees said he was eager to rejoin his teammates after a protracted contract holdout that ran parallel to a bounty scandal that has swirled around the Saints since March.
“It’s been a little surreal just because of the process throughout the offseason, and just how challenging an offseason it’s been for everyone, obviously everyone within the Saints organization, this city,” Brees said. “It’s just been a crazy offseason and I think we’re all just ready to get back to work and excited that it’s all starting here in a week. It’s hard to believe.”
Brees, his currently pregnant wife, Brittany, and their two young boys spend parts of offseasons in southern California. Brees will be back in New Orleans again soon, though, as the Saints report for training camp July 24.
