METAIRIE, La. — Drew Brees says he's studied how some Super Bowl winners past faltered following their championships.

Brees says it's important to remember how the mighty have often fallen in the NFL and he was pleased when coach Sean Payton also brought that up with the team when offseason work began.

The New England Patriots missed the playoffs the season after their first of three Super Bowl titles. Last season, Pittsburgh missed the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl a season earlier.

Brees says the defending champion Saints have an opportunity for sustained success if they work hard because most of last year's team is intact.

That work has begun with team training sessions this week and minicamp coming up in early June.