AP source: Drew Brees agrees to 5-year-deal

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drew Brees has agreed to a five-year, $100 million contract with the New Orleans Saints, with $60 million guaranteed, said a person familiar with the deal.

Brees and the team reached agreement toay, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been publicly announced. Brees had been tagged as the Saints' exclusive franchise player and could not negotiate with other teams.

Had a deal not been reached, the tender for a quarterback was worth $16.3 million. Brees would have had to play for that amount or hold out without a contract.

Brees skipped the Saints' offseason practices while holding out for a new long-term contract that now makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

New Orleans had designated Brees, 33, its franchise player in March after the club was unable to reach a new long-term extension with the record-setting quarterback before his previous six-year, $60 million contract expired.