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METAIRIE, La. - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. "Listen, I get compensated very well. I dont take that for granted for one second," Brees said Monday, referring to the five-year, $100 million deal he signed in 2012. "But I play this game because I love this game, I love this locker room and I love the opportunity to win a championship. "If they want to come to me and extend me even further, thatd be great," Brees said. "Whatever helps this team win and puts the best team on the field." With Sean Payton returning from his bounty suspension, the Saints improved their regular-season record from 7-9 to 11-5, then won the franchises first road playoff game in six tries, beating the Eagles in Philadelphia in the wild card round before falling at top-seeded Seattle, 23-15 on Saturday. Brees eclipsed 5,000 yards passing for a third straight season to go with 39 touchdowns. Meanwhile, New Orleans defence went from worst in the league a year ago to fourth in total defence under first-year co-ordinator Rob Ryan. And that improvement came despite a rash of injuries. All in all, it looks as if the Saints arent far off from Super Bowl contention — if they can find the salary cap space to keep some top free agents such as tight end Jimmy Graham, who led New Orleans with 1,215 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. Brees contract calls for him to have a base salary of $10.75 million next season, which along with his pro-rated $37 million signing bonus will put his 2014 salary cap figure above $18 million. Graham has said his preference would be to remain with Brees in New Orleans. The Saints can secure Graham for at least another year by placing the franchise tag on the four-year veteran, but players and teams generally prefer to avoid that route and seek long-term extensions instead. Other starters entering free agency include free safety Malcolm Jenkins, right tackle Zach Strief and centre Brian de la Puente. Strief, who has spent his entire eight-year career in New Orleans, said he wants to be back, but would clean his locker out entirely for the first time, knowing the Saints might not match other offers in what he views as his last, best chance to sign a new contract. "Obviously this organizations been a big part of my life and I feel like Ive been part of the success here and you dont want to leave that," Strief said. "The reality of the situation is I think theres going to be other possible outcomes, and theres other teams, possibly, and you prepare for that — not because its what you want but because its the reality." Jenkins, a five-year veteran, said he, too, wants to return, but understands "it doesnt always work out that way." Still, he emphasized he was proud to be part of a defence that made enormous progress this season. "Theres not a group of guys that Id rather play with," Jenkins said. "Weve come a long way, obviously night and day from last year." One problem for New Orleans is that its existing contracts would likely place the club more than $10 million above the 2014 salary cap, which has not yet been set, but is expected to be in the range of $125 million. One way teams seek salary cap relief is by renegotiating with, or releasing, veteran players with the largest base salaries. In New Orleans case, those players could include outside linebacker Will Smith, left guard Ben Grubbs, cornerback Jabari Greer, defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, safety Roman Harper and receiver Lance Moore. Smith spent the season on injured reserve after tearing a knee ligament in the preseason. Greer had season-ending torn ligaments in his knee in November. Yet the injuries also provided opportunities for younger players, many of whom demonstrated significant growth and will remain under contracts less burdensome to the club. Those included rookie left tackle Terron Armstead, who took over as starter in Week 16, second-year defensive end Akiem Hicks, fourth-year outside linebacker Junior Galette, as well as rookie receiver Kenny Stills and rookie running back Khiry Robinson. Payton refused to address potential personnel moves, but confidently brushed aside questions about New Orleans impending salary cap constraints. "Were going to be in good shape," Payton said. "Obviously when theres change from season to season, theres attrition. Theres the younger players that are coming in and the players eventually that have been here that are no longer on the team. I think thats pretty normal, and well be ready for the challenge." Hydro Flask Belgie .That sight softened the blow of what ended up as a 4-3 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.Knowing their teammate was fine after a scary headfirst fall in the opening minute of the game helped calm the Maple Leafs. Hydro Flask Waterflessen . Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun all homered to help the Los Angeles Angels get their first win of the season with an 11-1 rout of the Houston Astros. http://www.belgiehydroflask.com/ . So they rushed to re-sign the first baseman who general manager Ben Cherington described Friday as "a unique player." The World Series champions finalized a $32 million, two-year agreement Thursday with the slugging former catcher who turned into a surprisingly good defender. Hydro Flask 40 OZ Belgie .Murray has played 20 matches in five weeks, winning three titles to climb to fifth in the ATP Race.The two-time Grand Slam champion also seeks to qualify for next months ATP World Tour Finals.Murray said: I always wanted to qualify for it, but also I want to get back into the top 8 players in the world and it makes a huge difference for seedings in the major events. Hydro Flask Rietje . "We were left with the overall impression that the team wasnt trending toward being able to compete for a Stanley Cup," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said in a news conference at the clubs arena. "And that was just a clear signal and why it was time to make those changes.BARCELONA, Spain -- Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid roll to a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao Sunday hours before the Spanish club announced it had signed Gareth Bale to pair him with the Portugal forward in one of the most formidable attacks in football. Not to be overshadowed by Bales imminent arrival, Lionel Messi needed 41 minutes to score his 23rd career hat trick for Barcelona in a thrilling 3-2 victory at Valencia. Barcelona sports director Andoni Zubizarreta was one of the first to extend his welcome to the new reinforcement of the defending champions fierce rivals. "(Bale) is coming to add his part to this great league," Zubizarreta said. "A player of his talent shows that this league is strong. He will improve the competition." Silent just after its match against Bilbao, Madrid later announced Bale was leaving Tottenham and signing a six-year contract, ending the longest transfer saga of the off-season one day before the market closed. Having gone scoreless in Madrids first two wins to start season, Ronaldo headed in Madrids second goal in first-half injury time to add to Francisco "Isco" Alarcons 26th-minute opener from Karim Benzemas pass. Benzema assisted Isco again in the 73rd for his third goal in as many games since joining from Malaga this off-season. "Things are going well considering we have just started the season, three for three so far," said the 21-year-old Isco. "We are getting better game by game. Thats our goal." Messi started his treble in the 11th when Sergio Busquets intercepted a pass and shuffled the ball to Cesc Fabregas, who then used one touch to send Messi charging into the area and over goalkeeper Diego Alves before rolling the ball home. The sequence of Busquets robbing the ball, Fabregas assisting, and Messi scoring repeated itself in the 39th. Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino had said after Barcelonas 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid earlier this week that he wanted Messi and Neymar to link up more in attack. Martino got what he had asked for when Neymar picked out Messi arriving down the middle of the area to slice his pass into the net for his league-leading fifth goal in two games after sitting out one match due to a muscle problem. But just when it appeared Barcelona would romp, Valencia striker Helder Postiga used an acrobatic volley to pull one back in the 44th before he scored with a header from a corner kick in first-half injury time. Neymar was involved twice more in almost getting Messi aanother goal, only to see the Argentine miss both late chances before goalkeeper Victor Valdes was forced to tip the shot by Valencia substitute Jonas off his post four minutes from time.dddddddddddd. "The concern that Messi and Neymar didnt combine in their first game together, well, they solved that in 24 hours," Martino said. Barcelona said Busquets ended the match with pain in his right leg and will undergo tests. Elsewhere, Atletico won 2-1 at Real Sociedad thanks to David Villas goal in the 27th and assist for Jorge "Koke" Resurreccion to add a second in the 56th. Sociedads Xabi Prieto halved the final difference in the 69th in a clash between two teams set to make long-awaited returns to the Champions League. Atletico, Barcelona, Madrid and promoted Villarreal are the only teams with three wins in as many rounds. Espanyol, meanwhile, remained unbeaten after drawing 0-0 at home with the winless Real Betis, and Malaga drew 2-2 at Sevilla after Kevin Gameiro equalized twice for the hosts. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti started Diego Lopez instead of Iker Casillas for the third straight match, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to stop substitute Ibai Gomez from getting Bilbaos consolation goal in the 79th. Ancelotti said that defender Fabio Coentrao was staying at the club after changing his mind over a transfer. Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera did not play a day after his club said it had rejected an offer for him from Manchester United. Coach Ernesto Valverde said that his benching had nothing to do with the interest from United and that he expected Herrera to stay. Before the match started, Madrid dismantled a stage it had set up inside the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last weekend for Bales presentation. It will go back up early on Monday for the Wales winger to be paraded in front of his new fans. Isco poked his first goal under goalkeeper Iago Herrerin after Benzema set him up with a scooped pass made easier by Bilbaos Andoni Iraola who failed to move forward with the rest of the defensive line, leaving Isco onside to take the ball alone in the box. "Isco is playing very well, it looks like he has been playing here a long time," Ancelotti said. Ronaldo extended the hosts lead by running free to head Angel Di Marias dipping free kick into the corner of the net. Isco fired in Madrids third after controlling Benzemas short cross with one touch and scored to ensure Bilbao would suffer its first loss of the season following two victories. ' ' '