Rating: (0 votes - average)

Doug Tatum, The Times-Picayune
To cap off a very active day on the Drew Brees front, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports posted a story Tuesday evening that said the NFL Players Association has sent a letter to the NFL asking the league to investigate whether the New Orleans Saints have been negotiating in good faith with their franchise quarterback. Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneThere were multiple developments on the Drew Brees front Tuesday.

The report, based on anonymous sources, said that some within the union believe that Brees' work with the organization last year during the lockout might be held against him during the negotiations. Brees has been seeking a long-term extension while the Saints placed the exclusive rights franchise tag on him, which means if the sides don't reach agreement on an extension by July 16 Brees would havew to play under a one-year deal worth about $16.3 million. He could skip all of training camp or part or all of the season although during a media blitz earlier Tuesday Brees made it clear that he would never miss an "entire season."

According to the CBS report, the letter asks the NFL to respond in a timely matter. The next step for the union would be to take it before the NLRB.
Brees and the NFLPA have scheduled an arbitration hearing Wednesday in Philadelphia to get a ruling on Brees' franchise tag status. Brees has received the exclusive franchise tag twice -- once with the San Diego Chargers in 2005 and once with the Saints in March. The dispute centers on whether the new collective bargaining agreement dictates Brees should receive a 20 percent pay raise or a 44 percent raise if he is designated as the Saints' franchise player again next year.

The Saints and the NFL argue that because New Orleans has only placed the franchise tag on Brees once, he should receive a 20 percent raise, while the NFLPA believes that since next year's designation would be his third in total, he should receive a 44 percent raise. The difference between the two figures is nearly $4 million. The NFL and the Saints declined to comment for the CBS story. The Times-Picayune's attempt to reach the organizations very late Tuesday evening was unsuccessful.
Earlier Tuesday Brees had some strong criticism of the NFL's bounty investigation - which has resulted in unprecendented suspensions for Saints personnel - and the NFL responded with an equally strong rebuttal.

NFLPA reportedly has asked NFL to investigate whether New Orleans Saints are negotiating in good faith with Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

TheOak

Really DeMaurice Smith????? Investigate the Saints?

ScottF

offering him more money than any human has ever made to play football = negotiating in good faith

SaintsBro

Both sides arguing over the difference of a hypothetical theoretical 4 million dollars next year, based on the interpretation of the tag issue, is definitely within the bounds of "negotiating in good faith." It's just a hiccup that needs to be settled, folks. In fact, I would *expect* BOTH sides to argue about it, and wait for the arbitration decision. It's four freaking million dollars. Drew would be a fool not to push for it, and Benson would be a fool not to push back for his interpretation of the rule....Nothing here but cool-headed good business sense, by both parties -- but for some reason it makes the really impatient nervous nellie Saints fans freak out.

CharityMike

Whats really going on here? Something don't smell right. There are players through out the league battling with contract issues yet the NFLPA "randomely" wants to investigate the Saints??

TheOak

Smith apparently thinks EVERYTHING warrants an investigation.... He is turning everything into class warfare... The NFLPA against the world.

Ashley

This just in........ The Nfl has now put an investigation on all Saint fans around the world. By using the the NFL Sunday ticket. That's right Roger now has the power to watch us at home.

TheOak

Ive got something Roger can watch

Rugby Saint II

I'm about fed up with this off season!

ChrisXVI

Wow that's some ridiculous crap... an investigation?! Let me break it down like this: it's a massive contract that will make him the highest paid player in the NFL plus he wants it front-loaded instead of the traditional increasing salary. There's a lot of work that goes into that considering that the Saints have to think about the rest of their roster over the next year or two and how Drew's contract will effect cap space. Player's may have to be cut, etc. They'll get it done.