New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is eager to get back to playing — for fans and for himself. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Brees: 'American people need sports right now'

Unfortunately, the coronavirus has postponed all major sporting events for the foreseeable future, and now the 2020 NFL season may not even start on time.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was on "The Ellen Show" Wednesday to discuss the $5 million donation he made to the state of Lousiana, among other things, and said that sports have been an escape for many fans — adding that the "American people need sports right now."

"That's typically something that's really brought us through a lot of tough situations throughout our country," Brees told Ellen, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett. "I think people have been able to lean on their local sports teams or national teams to just unite them and get their minds off the challenges of daily life or daily struggle.

"We don't even have that right now, and I think that's another reason why this is so tough. And obviously we hope that football can be back to normal — or this can be back to normal so that we can play real football."

While football is a cause of stress itself, it allows fans to express themselves in ways they otherwise can't.

Brees, who signed a two-year, $50 million deal to remain with the Saints, is eager to get back onto the football field. But why is that exactly? He says because the NFC South just got a whole lot more competitive with Tom Brady joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

When sports do finally come back, it's going to be a big sigh of relief from Brees, fans and other teams across the four major sports. But, if Brees is excited to compete against Brady... he should think twice. 

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