Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

Linebacker reps: Craig Robertson worked in the middle and Nate Stupar was on the weakside. Stupar had a very nice blitz.

More flashes: Brandon Coleman had a very nice catch on a vertical route. On the next play, Michael Thomas got behind prevent coverage by beating a corner down the sideline. Fleener made a handful of contested catches.

Grayson solid: Grayson looks much more comfortable than last seaosn. You can see his growth. He made a very nice throw to R.J. Harris late in the practice down the sideline. Both he and Luke McCown were almost picked off at different points, but you can see Grayson’s growth.

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Re: Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

GIGI will be the starter next year if Drew doesn't sign a new contract at a lot less money then he's getting now. If he hits FA he will get a 2 or 3 year deal that will be totally skewed to the signing team. Drew has always said he wants to stay in New Orleans. PROVE IT!

If after all is said and done Drew plays hardball with the team and city that took him in when no one else would then he deserves to end his career getting beat up in Cleveland.

Re: Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

Rankins flashes: The first round pick had a pair of nice interior rushes. One of them would have resulted in a sack. The other, at worst, was a solid pressure. One of those came with Nick Fairley also playing inside on a third-down rep.

Re: Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

WOW! It's amazing to watch how quickly someone can turn from hero to goat. Don't you think that 10 years of HOF excellence, playoff performances, and a SB win is sufficient repayment for the "team taking him in"?

Also let's not forget that Brees took a depressed, team skewed contract when he came in 2006. 6 years/$60 million was literally theft by the Saints for what they got in return. And 5 years in, even the second contract at $100 million turn out to be middle of the road in 2016.

I guess that anything other than complete capitulation to the team and the fans against your own self interest is playing "hardball". Does anyone really think that Brees retiring a Saint is worth shortening his career by two years and giving up $50 million? I mean really?

Let me propose an alternative for you to think about. John Elway and Gary Kubiak recognize that the window is still open for Denver after 2016. They offer Brees 3 years at market rates. The offense rises to top 5 status matching the top 5 defense that's already in place. The Broncos go on to win consecutive championships and Brees goes into the hall of fame as a 3 time winning SB QB as a Bronco.

Don't get it twisted. Negotiating near market rates isn't hardball. Hardball would be asking for a contract that's 5 year/$150 million/$100 million guaranteed with $75 million at signing. That's hardball. There is no indication that's what Brees and Condon are asking for.

I'm really glad that the cool, reasonable head of Mickey Loomis is managing this negotiation. That way something reasonable that is actually in the ballpark of the market will actually get done instead throwing out an insulting lowball offer and then waving "Bye!" to the best QB that this organization may ever see.

I think everyone needs to get wrapped around their heads that the market rate for top 5 NFL HOF level QBs (Brees, Brady, Rodgers) is $25 million a year. That's the market. The Saints can rightfully decide that they cannot afford paying Brees at that rate. But it's really disingenuous to say that asking for a contract at that rate level is playing "hardball"

SFIAH

Re: Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

If you actually believe what you just posted then you are living in some kind of fairy driven fantasy land.

:shock::rolleyes:

Re: Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

If Brees won't play for a paltry $17 to $20 million after this year, I would let him go. Better a year early than a year late.

Re: Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

:lolup:

Re: Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

Explain Guido? That's my opinion.

Re: Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

Look I didn't say Brees didn't do anything for the Saints or the city. I'm saying that the Saints don't have the money, period. That Drew needs to recognize what we really did for him. If we hadn't sign him NO ONE ELSE WOULD HAVE and you think that wasn't a lot?

I think it's time for Drew to consider taking a lower salary, NO PLAYER IS WORTH 25 MILLION A YEAR TO PLAY FOOTBALL!

and if the Broncos want to pay that then let them have at it. I'm not going to worry about 10 years from now when we need to worry about today and the Saints current situation.

Re: Notes and observations from Thursday’s organized team activity
 

Ok. I thought it was pretty obvious, but I'll spell it out for you.

This is delivered as a statement of fact. First of all, where do you get the insane idea that Grayson has the ability to be a starting QB in the NFL when he hasn't even proven he can hold a clipboard? On top of that, you make the proclamation that the Saints will absolutely part ways with Brees if Brees refuses to sign a deal at a number FAR below his market value. That is pure fantasy with no hint of reality. That would be the single worst personnel decision ever made by the Saints, and they have made quite a few. Given the quickly growing cap numbers and the FACT that over $25 million in dead cap rolls off the Saints books after the 2016 season, the Saints can easily afford to make Brees the highest paid QB in the league.

First of all, what does this even mean, "totally skewed to the signing team"? If Brees hits the free agent market he will get what the market will give for one of the top five QB's in the league. In today's market that would be around $25 million per year for three to four years with most likely two thirds of that guaranteed.

Brees has repeatedly proved that he wants to stay in New Orleans since 2006 through his commitment to the city on and off the field. At no point has that commitment ever shown anything other than supporting what is has said on numerous occasions, that he wants to end his career as a Saint.

This statement is just plain dumb. First, why would he decide to suddenly "play hardball" when he has never acted that way before, and secondly, why would you ever dislike him so much that you would wish something like that on him. This is what I was talking about when I said that illogical hatred was being pointed toward Brees by a few around here.