The Sports Xchange

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees admits his shoulder affected a number of throws after he took a vicious hit early in the first half Sunday.

The Saints are now 0-2 after the 26-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Brees, who was sacked four times, was seen shaking his arm after the hit and his shoulder appeared to bother him throughout the game.

Although Brees completed 24 of 38 passes for 255 yards with one touchdown and one interception, he displayed difficulty throwing the ball deep and frequently settled for screens or check-down routes.

“Maybe on a few throws,” Brees said Sunday about his shoulder. “I want to say a few balls downfield didn’t come out very well.

“I wouldn’t say there’s a big level of concern, mainly just disappointment in knowing that we have put ourselves in a little bit of a hole. We can only win one game at a time, though, and that’s next week.”

Brees’ longest pass went for 24 yards, a short pass over the middle to wide receiver Marques Colston that actually traveled only 10 yards through the air.

Saints coach Sean Payton said the Saints didn’t call certain plays because of Brees’ struggles but because the offensive line also was struggling.

“I am looking at (the play sheet) with the idea that we have to get the ball out a little quicker maybe to help our offensive line out a bit, tempo wise, timing wise,” Payton said.