The New Orleans Saints have several potential roads ahead at quarterback right now, but few clear-cut answers.
It's a scenario the Saints didn't find themselves in during the Drew Brees era, with the legendary New Orleans QB joining SportsTalk this week and sharing his thoughts on the injury saga of Derek Carr and and the outlook at the game's most important position.
"It seems like everything has been pretty … hush hush. Hopefully there’s been very clear communication between Derek and the organization. I really hope there has been," Brees said, making the rounds to promote Surge Entertainment, a family entertainment center he's partnered on to open in Metairie. Click here to read more about the project.
Listen to the full, exclusive interview with Drew Brees in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
Brees said he's reached out to Carr directly and wishes him the best. The Saints have maintained that, if healthy, the veteran will still be the starter. That scenario has been murky as of late with a shoulder injury that could potentially require season-ending surgery. Carr has been in New Orleans and spoken to team doctors, according to a report from Jane Slater of the NFL Network, but there's still yet to be an official decision.
The Saints opted to draft Louisville QB Tyler Shough at No. 40 overall in last month's NFL draft, with rookies scheduled to report for their initial minicamp this week.
"You’re always preparing for football, so whether the drafting of Tyler Shough was because hey, we really think we need a guy who can come in and start for us this year or push Derek Carr or hey, we’re just thinking about the future, regardless a lot of times, hey, you see a player that you really like and you see that he’s in a great value position in the draft, you know, you’re gonna take him anyway," Brees said. "Bottom line is I think they got the guy that they wanted. The Saints got the guy that they wanted, they got the guy that they had their eye on and that they thought really, really highly of and feel like he can be a solution for them into the future. We’ll see how it plays out."
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More on Tyler Shough
"I just see some of the throws that he made last year and, you know, he’s a big, strong guy who is tough, who will stand in the pocket, who will take hits. Obviously a great athlete for his size as well, but man, you just see him making some throws that are pretty rare, pretty unique, great anticipation, good arm strength. I think moreso than anything, I just think there’s a level of maturity. He comes in and he’s probably not going to act like a rookie or sound like a rookie just given the level of experience that he has. … I think he comes in really well equipped.”
On head coach Kellen Moore
“I’ve been really impressed with Kellen and everyone in the building seems to be really impressed with him, as well. ... Here’s a guy who is kind of used to being a little bit of the underdog, maybe used to being kind of sold a little bit short and yet he came into the NFL, I think it was obvious that he had a bright future as a coach, has kind of worked his way up from being a quarterback coach to a play-caller and he’s been in some really unique situations with some other great coaches and great offensive minds, so I can see where he’s developed, kind of his philosophy and I think just the things that he’s implemented just within the building as I talk to scouts and I talk to players and I talk to other coaches, I think he’s really kind of instantly made a big impact and guys have a ton of respect for him and I think they’re really excited to play for him.”