Drew Brees isn't slowing down as he inches towards the tail end of his career, according to Sean Payton.

"At the stage he is in his career, it's a question that gets asked a lot," Payton said on NFL Network's Total Access. "I have not seen -- there's not a rep, a play where I've noticed something different.

"I think it's a credit to, look, we know how he trains, his diet, everything in his day to prepare to play well at that position. I think it's really changed, we've seen a change and we're talking about a Manning or a Brady, a number of these guys at that position can play longer. I don't want to put a number on it because I have not seen the beginning or a tick down at all."

Brees and the New Orleans Saints are coming off a 7-9 season that included five losses by eight points or less. The quarterback finished with 4,870 yards passing (68.3 completion percentage) and a 32-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio.