If Peyton Manning and Brett Favre can do it, why can't Drew Brees?
That's the attitude Brees said he's taking, per NFL Network, as he says he could play another 10 years in the NFL.
"No doubt. There's no question," Brees told NFL Network's Albert Breer. "I'm not getting ahead myself, like it's a pipe dream, at 45. I understand the challenges that come along with that. But why not? If I can stay healthy, and I'm having fun and playing at a high level, why wouldn't I wanna do that?
"The biggest challenge is physically, the maintenance, the recovery, the way you train. You gotta hope that you stay healthy, but why not?"
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Brees, now 35, is in a great spot with the New Orleans Saints as the face of a franchise that should remain in the hunt to win a Super Bowl the next few seasons with an improved defense and with top weapon Jimmy Graham signed long term.
But even Favre didn't make it to 45, and Manning has hinted around the idea of being on the 18th tee of his career. Tom Brady shares Brees' desire to keep going for another several years, but quarterbacks who last well into their 40s are quite rare.
According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, only seven players have played to the age of 45 or beyond, and five of those (including George Blanda, who was a quarterback at one point) were kickers. Warren Moon, Steve DeBerg and Vinny Testaverde made it to age 44, but none of them were full-time starters then. Favre at 41 leads the way for that group, but his final season with the Minnesota Vikings was mostly a disaster after his incredible 2009 campaign.
Can Brees do it? Hard to say, but Saints fans can't be mad that he plans to stick around for a long, long time.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
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