DREW BREES AGREES TO 5 YR $100 MILLION DEAL WITH THE SAINTS

Rest easy, New Orleans Saints fans: Drew Brees finally has a new contract.
"Deal is Done! Love you, Who Dat Nation. See you soon!" Brees tweeted Friday afternoon.
The record-setting offensive player of the year in 2011 will receive a five-year, $100 million megapact.
Brees will average a record $20 million annually -- Peyton Manning's five-year deal with the Denver Broncos averages $19.2 million -- and is also in line for $60 million in guaranteed money, reportedly to be paid out through the 2014 season. The guarantee matches what Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson hauled in earlier this offseason when he signed an eight-year, $132 million contract.
Brees' take in 2012 will be $40 million.
It's welcome good news for an organization scarred by the ongoing bounty scandal that has dominated offseason headlines. Brees' absence from Saints workouts certainly hasn't helped a team that will be without suspended head coach Sean Payton in 2012 and, barring some courtroom wizardry, probably defensive captain Jonathan Vilma as well.
Brees, who passed for a single-season record 5,476 yards in 2011 and a league-high 46 TDs while leading New Orleans to the NFC South crown, had until Monday at 4 p.m. ET to strike a long-term deal, otherwise he would've been forced to play under the one-year franchise tag this season for $16.3 million.
Since signing with New Orleans in 2006, Brees has had the most prolific six-year run of any passer in NFL history: 28,394 yards and 201 TDs. He's set single-season records not only for yardage but also for completions (468) and completion percentage (71.2%).
More importantly, Brees outgunned Manning's Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV to lead the Saints to their first title following the 2009 season and has become a civic icon in New Orleans by quickly becoming a fixture in the community in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's wrath.
Though the Saints will be short-handed in 2012, having Brees' leadership for the duration of training camp -- he and OC Pete Carmichael will be pivotal to keeping a record-setting offense on track during Payton's absence -- should surely help their bid to become the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.