AP

Last year was a mess for the New Orleans Saints, with the bounty scandal costing them their coach and serving as a distraction throughout the season, and a team that had made the playoffs three straight years slipped to 7-9. This year, Saints quarterback Drew Brees says, things will be different.

Brees said on NFL AM that he likes his team’s chances of demonstrating that last year was an aberration.

“We had 100 percent attendance in our offseason through every workout — weight workouts and once we got to our OTAs and our minicamps,” Brees said. “So the commitment level by our team, by everyone, was unprecedented. Everybody’s ready to go. Obviously, last year leaves a bad taste in our mouths, and we can’t wait to get back on the field and get to work and watch our team come together and re-create our identity.”

Brees said the last few offseasons have been harder to concentrate because three years ago they were the defending Super Bowl champions with all the distractions that come along with that, two years ago they were in the midst of a lockout and last year they went through the bounty mess. This year is different.

“It’s all about football and that’s really the way we like it,” Brees said.

If Brees is right, Saints fans will like that.