NFL News and Notes: Brees Back For Another Season

While the offseason is just starting to heat up, with combines, the draft and free agency quickly approaching, there is still plenty of news circulating the NFL these days. Whether it be teams making roster decisions or coaching decisions, NFL teams are actively analyzing what they have and how to make their teams better for the 2020 season.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the news from around the league this last week.
Brees Returns To Saints
This year’s free-agent market has a plethora of interesting names on it at the quarterback position. The list includes legends like Tom Brady, potential break-out candidates like Teddy Bridgewater, and those possibly in need of a new setting like Jameis Winston.
With all of the names being bandied about, it appears one of them is decided on where he will play next season. Amongst the list of free agents has been a couple of future Hall-of-Famers.
The previously mentioned Brady is one, and the other one is Drew Brees, who announced on social media this week that not only does he intend to play for another year, but that he intends to play for the Saints again.
Last season, despite playing at age 40, Brees was remarkable. On the season, he went 8-3 in 11 games, completing 74.3% of his passes for 2,979 yards, 27 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
As good as those numbers already are, it is even more impressive when you keep in mind he missed several weeks due to surgery on his throwing hand.
When it is all said and done, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that if Brees was going to play another season that it would be for the Saints. Still, this solidifies the position for New Orleans as they look to rebound from a disappointing postseason this year and aim to once again play in the Super Bowl next season.
For Brees, it will likely be his swansong, as he will more than likely hang it up after the upcoming season. For one more year, though, he will be happy to work with Sean Payton in leading the New Orleans Saints.
Seahawks Add Olsen
It appears that tight end Greg Olsen will be playing at least one more year after all. After being cut from the Carolina Panthers, there was speculation that he might hang up the pads to pursue a broadcasting career.
However, those plans appear to be put on hold as he has agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
For Olsen, this was his first official visit to free agency, and the chance to play for a contender and alongside Russell Wilson was probably too good to pass up. Last season, Olsen played in 14 games hauling in 52 receptions for 597 yards and two touchdowns.
While he is far removed from his 2015 days, where he caught 77 passes for 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns, the Seahawks still hope that he can help solidify their tight end position.
Olsen needs to prove that he can continue to stay healthy, though. While last year was a pretty successful year in terms of health, he has battled injuries, particularly foot injuries, for years.
If he can stay healthy, it will be a big catch for the Seahawks and an opportunity for a postseason run for Olsen. If that ends up being the case, it might just be worth avoiding the broadcast booth for another season.
Redskins Part Ways With Norman
Back in 2016, the Washington Redskins could not have been happier to have landed a premier cornerback like Josh Norman. At that time, they were so enamored that they signed him to a five-year, $75 million deal.
Fast forward to 2020, and he is now back on the free-agent market. According to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, the Washington Redskins released cornerback Josh Norman in what was likely a cap-saving type move.
There was some belief that new head coach Ron Rivera, who coached Norman in Carolina, might want to keep him, but ultimately it appears that he was too expensive and not productive enough. Last season, with Washington, Norman played in just 12 games, recording 40 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception.
At 32 years old, Norman will look to latch on somewhere else, but having been graded as a far worse cornerback than his earlier days, he will likely have to do so at a much cheaper rate than he has been accustomed to.
Cardinals, Humphries Agree To Extension
With concerns that they could lose left tackle D.J. Humphries to free agency, the Arizona Cardinals announced Monday that they have agreed to a new deal with the former first-rounder. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, Humphries agreed to an extension that will pay him $45 million over three years.
While injuries have hampered the 26-year-old early in his career, Humphries was able to play in all 16 games last season and is seen as a building piece for an offensive line tasked with protecting Kyler Murray.
Hoping that both health and productivity will follow, the Cardinals are taking a big risk on the left tackle that they hope pays dividends in the long run.
Garrett Reinstated
After an extremely ugly incident that saw him hitting Steelers’ quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with a helmet, Myles Garrett has been reinstated to the NFL. After the incident, Garrett had been suspended indefinitely, but that was rescinded late last week.
Prior to his suspension, Garrett had played in 10 games, amassing 29 tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles. The Cleveland Browns will absolutely welcome him back and will hope that the 24-year-old can continue to put up solid production as they aim to return to relevancy in the upcoming season.