And you don't think any of these other teams weren't trying to do the same thing to Brees. Just for starters, example #1, Green Bay game, right around the 13min. mark of the second quarter, twice, GB tried to hurt Drew Brees. The first was a high, low hit on Drew just like the one they're complaining about with us against Farve. Example #2 just a play or two later, Matthews pile drives Drew Brees to the ground, same play we got called and fined for against the Falcons. This is all complete BS and if no other teams get the SAME EXACT TREATMENT by this POS commissioner, then I'd think there is room for a law suit. I can go through ALL the other games of the season and come up with NUMEROUS times other teams did the exact same thing to Drew as we did to any other QB and they get nothing??? BS!!!

The biggest ramifications I think from the bounty scandal would be a long term Sean Payton suspension.

Here's a really crazy thought.....what if this was all part of a Grand Plan? Brees is franchised in case Goodell overreacts to the "bounty" issue, and Brees' salary under the Franchise Tag allows them to sign the FA's they need to keep the team largely intact? (ie: Nicks and Colston) Brees and his agent have an "agreement" that the Saints will ensure he is properly paid after this whole thing blows over.

OK...maybe this is stupid, but when you're grasping at straws...GRAB "EM ALL!!

I don't think thats such a far fetched thought. I almost feel this is exactly what happened. If we were going to Franchise Drew all along, we would have done it earlier.

Of course the gloom and doom answer is that there's nothing preventing Goodell from still taking the tag and leaving the Saints in a lurch making Brees an UFA.

But I never believed the tag was really in play for punishment for all that crap. The only credible source who floated it was Florio.

I think the tag on Brees is designed to try to leverage a long-term deal prior to March 15 and to create some cost certainty so Loomis knows how much room he has for the other players.

A nice thought, but in my current state of depression I have to deem it as wishful thinking.