Sean Payton: Drew Brees right to veto contract talks during season

The New Orleans Saints and star quarterback Drew Brees have yet to come to terms on a new long-term contract extension, as many presumed they would by this point of the offseason.

Brees recently admitted that discussions between the two parties have not progressed of late, and that if no deal can be reached before the season begins, he'll wait until the conclusion of the campaign to restart negotiations.

Head coach Sean Payton backed his quarterback's decision during an appearance Friday on PFT Live, saying he believes Brees is right to ask that contract talks be tabled.

"Just having seen the interview and his comments, they totally make sense," Payton said, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

"It was the case (five) years back. You don't want to be, A, as team or, B, as a player focusing on player contracts right during the middle of the season. . . . I wouldn't say that there hasn't been a sense of urgency with (GM) Mickey (Loomis) and (agent) Tom (Condon). Those guys are the ones that are in contact and are the ones that are doing it. . . . I just know how Drew is and his focus and his ability to work and concentrate on the task at hand that won’t be altered, and that’s a strength of his."

Many believed Brees' cap hit of $30 million in 2016 - the highest number in the league - would be motivation for New Orleans to lock him into a deal that would make the figure more manageable.

However, there's appeared to be no urgency in the discussions between the All-Pro passer and the Saints' front office.

Brees said he has no intention of staying away from the team during OTAs to help force negotiations forward.

The 37-year-old is entering the final year of his current contact, but showed little sign of slowing down in 2015, throwing for 4,870 yards and 32 touchdowns.