This past July, when quarterback Drew Brees (pictured right with Jimmy John's founder and CEO Jimmy John Liautaud) signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with the New Orleans Saints, he celebrated by handing out free subs at a Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches location in Metairie, La. The lost food cost did not bother the owner — since Brees is the franchisee for that location and others in the New Orleans market.

Brees opened that first restaurant in September 2011 and reportedly was on pace to open his third Jimmy John's in New Orleans in October. He was scouting real estate sites for a fourth unit at the time he signed his contract, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

The Super Bowl MVP drops by his shop frequently, often trying to drive traffic by tweeting to more than 1 million Twitter followers that he is going to get a No. 9 sandwich, which in addition to being his jersey number also happens to be the number designated to Jimmy John's "Italian Night Club" sandwich.

Jimmy John's has more than 1,500 company-owned and franchised locations in the United States.

Contact Mark Brandau at mark.brandau@penton.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @Mark_from_NRN