ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Saints and Drew Brees are no closer to reaching an agreement on a contract. We'd be surprised to hear otherwise, as both sides have reportedly been far apart in previous negotiations. Brees is set to hit unrestricted free agency after the end of the season, and while it's a longshot that New Orleans would allow him to walk, a new contract may not be reached until after the season. Both sides could pull the plug on talks in the immediate future (and may have already) for fear of them becoming an in-season distraction.

A source with knowledge of the situation tells ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio that the Saints and Drew Brees have still not reached an agreement on a contract extension. New Orleans reportedly wants to get a deal done, but the financial gap remains too wide. There's a good chance that both sides pull the plug on talks in the near future, as each fear that ongoing negotiations could become a distraction as the season wears on. Brees is set to hit unrestricted free agency after the end of this season.

There is "nothing imminent" in the contract talks between Drew Brees and the Saints, according to the Times-Picayune. Sources tell the paper that Brees doesn't want the contract to become a distraction in-season, so it's possible talks have been placed on the back burner. The Saints could always use the franchise tag on Brees in February, thus keeping him off the open market while they work on a new deal.

A source with knowledge of the situation tells ProFootballTalk that Drew Brees and the Saints have been having "non-stop" contract negotiations. The same source says it's a "close call" as to whether or not the sides will be able to reach an agreement within the next week. The talks will be tabled until after the season if not. Brees' deal should probably fall somewhere in between the contracts recently signed by Peyton Manning (five years, $90 million) and Michael Vick (five years, $80 million).

Drew Brees' agent Tom Condon and the Saints had a "substantial" contract talks on Tuesday. "We spent a good deal of time together and had a substantial talk," Condon said. He refused to divulge how close the two sides are to an agreement. That's probably a good thing after the talks were characterized as "far apart" last week. With both sides appearing motivated to get a deal done, an agreement shouldn't be far away.

The player rep for Drew Brees is in New Orleans Tuesday to meet with the Saints about a new contract. The sides were reportedly far apart a week ago. Tuesday's face-to-face meetings are an attempt to find common ground, so the gap can be narrowed.

Drew Brees completed 32-of-49 passes for 419 yards and three touchdowns in the Saints' season opening loss to the Packers Thursday. Brees was the victim of a big Marques Colston drop and shaky protection early on, but took full statistical advantage of the Packers running up 28 first-half points. Brees led a furious comeback attempt, spreading the ball around while hitting Devery Henderson for a 29-yard touchdown and Jimmy Graham for a 5-yard score. Brees had the Saints in position to tie the game with a textbook one-minute drill, but Mark Ingram was stuffed on first-and-goal from the 1-yard line with no time left on the clock. Brees gets the Bears next week in a home game.

Drew Brees and the Saints "remain far apart" on a new contract, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Saints aren't realistically going to let Brees get away and agent Tom Condon knows that. In the 39 seasons before Brees arrived, the Saints won one playoff game. In the five seasons with Brees, the Saints have won four playoff games and a Super Bowl. He should end up with a bigger deal than the five-year, $80 million deal Michael Vick got last week.

Drew Brees said his agent and the Saints have been in talks about an extension. The topic came up after Michael Vick got his long-term deal Tuesday. Brees is in the final year of the six-year, $60 million deal he signed back in 2006. Still just 32 and showing no signs of decline, he's a prime candidate for a $100 million deal of his own. Brees has missed one game as a Saint, posting a 49-30 record as their starter.

Drew Brees completed 15-of-23 passes for 189 yards against the Raiders in the third preseason game. The NFL's most accurate QB carved up the Raiders defense on his way to two touchdowns and a field goal on three drives. Brees was in mid-season form, spreading the ball around, picking on Raiders CB Demarcus Van Dyke, and exploiting mismatches with athletic TE Jimmy Graham. In what may be a preview of things to come, Brees lost short touchdowns to Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas.