New Orleans Saints Quarterback TomSavageConference Call With New Orleans MediaFriday, March 16, 2018

What encouraged you to sign with the Saints?

"I think with Sean (Payton) and Drew (Brees) here it's a no-brainer. It's a great opportunity to kind of learn from them and just become better."

You are accustomed to being the starter or competing to be the starter, is this a different situation given that Drew is so ensconsed?

"No, I think even as a backup, you need to go in week in and week out and prepare as a starter and do whatever you can to help out the team."

How are your tackling skills given that Taysom Hill was assigned special teams duty?

"They haven't been tested yet (laughter)."

Could you do what Taysom did?

"Whatever gets me on the field right (laughter)? I don't know if it would be pretty."

Have you had the opportunity to talk to Drew Brees or Taysom Hill?

"No, I just had a little text message with them, but nothing personal yet."

What past experience, if any, do you have with Drew?

"Obviously, practicing with them a couple of times when I was in Houston. Just seeing how he operates and stuff is incredible. It is going to be fun to learn from the guy."

Do you think those joint practices kind of led the Saints to you a little bit?

"I'm sure it didn't hurt. Just to be able to see, year in and year out, we went against each other and I'm sure it had some type of factor."

How do you view your time in Houston?

"I loved it. It was an incredible experience. Great organization. Great fan base. Just when the contract ends, it ends. You look for the best opportunity for yourself and the team."

Have you ever spent much time in New Orleans?

"Yeah, no. I haven't. I stopped down here last year when I was driving to Florida. I kind of did the whole tourist thing, but that is about it. But it is a gorgeous city and I'm excited to get my family down here."

Can you sense the loss of Mr. Benson in the (Saints) building?

"For sure. It is just horrible. He was a legendary owner. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to really meet him but it's terrible."

Was this past year in the NFL anymore inspirational for a quarterback like you with a couple of guys getting some really incredible opportunities later in their careers?

"Yeah, for sure. You always look around the league and you see the different opportunities present itself. Last year I had a blast, obviously it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to in terms of wins and losses, but week in and week out I had a blast with my teammates and met a lot of incredible people in Houston. I am just excited about this new journey."

Does that effect your thinking in any way trying to identify a team that you might have the best opportunity to start in 2018 as opposed to the best situation?

"I just thought, whatever opportunity presented itself, we were going to take and kind of run with it. We knew this was a great opportunity to learn. I mean, you see the name Sean Payton and Drew Brees, for any quarterback, that is a heck of an opportunity to come in and learn and be a better quarterback week in and week out."