Brooks

The New Orleans Saints stepped up Friday and gave quarterback Aaron Brooks a six-year, $36 million contract extension.

The deal included a $5 million signing bonus.

Brooks, who was the Saints' quarterback during the team's first playoff victory, is entering his second full season as the starter. The Saints had been talking about a $30 million deal, but Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signed a four-year, $30 million contract to raise the stakes.

Included in the Brooks deal is a $5.75 million option bonus in 2003.

Brooks has started 21 games over the past two years and threw 26 touchdown passes last season. Physically, he wore down last year and finished the season weighing around 206 pounds, but he's added weight and strength. His poor finished jumped his interception total to 22 by the end of the season.

Brooks, 26, went to the Saints in exchange for a third-round draft pick from the Green Bay Packers two years ago. Once he got on the field, he started to show the potential of being a future star at quarterback.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.