WhoDat!656

Back on Feb. 2, Sporting News ran a story saying New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees expected to have a new contract in hand soon. Hasn't happened: Brees and the team continue talking but have yet to reach accord after more than a year of discussions.

Both Brees and the Saints want to cut a deal. Yet failure to settle up with their franchise cornerstone puts the Saints in a fix. There is no hint of rancor at this point, but it remains perplexing that a contract with clear definition in terms of money, time and necessity has yet to be concluded.

Drew Brees has yet to punch out a deal with the Saints. (AP Photo)

Comparables are clear for a Brees contract. Peyton Manning received a five-year, $90 million deal last season—which in hindsight is a bad one for the Indianapolis Colts. Tom Brady got a four-year, $72 million deal from the New England Patriots in 2010 and took them to the Super Bowl this season.

If GM Mickey Loomis can't complete talks with Brees and his handlers in time, there is a possibility he could designate Brees the Saints' franchise player, Jeff Duncan notes on NOLA.com. That tag must be applied by 3 p.m. March 5, but it would give the sides the certainty they are believed to want while continuing negotiations on a long-term deal.

One possible knot: Brees could be looking for $100 million in his deal, according to various media reports, something Manning reportedly could have sought before accepting his $90 million pact.

Part of the problem for the Saints might involve their long list of potential free agents. In addition to Brees, Loomis is looking at the possibility of losing top wideout Marques Colston, guard Carl Nicks, wideout Robert Meachem and starting cornerback Tracy Porter.

So the Saints likely have a math puzzle to answer. Do they keep Colston to retain a top playmaker for Brees? If so, does that necessarily eliminate Nicks unless he agrees to a hometown discount? Complicating that equation is the seven-year, $56.7 million contract they cut with Jahri Evans last year. Evans, like Nicks, is a guard—and SI.com suggests Nicks is better than Evans


Read more: QB Drew Brees, Saints remain at loggerheads in contract talks - NFL - Sporting News

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

halloween 65

The question might come down to do the Saints morgage the farm for Brees or do they buy seeds for the farm to grow and hope there is no drought?? Inquire minds want to know!!

foreverfan

WhoDat!656

Is it possible that the Saints and Brees have reached an agreement and are waiting on Nicks & Colston to sign off on their contracts and are going to announce them at the same time?

Danno

THAT is what I'm talking about my friend.

NO ONE KNOWS WHATS GOING ON.

Everyone assumes that since they haven't announced anything that the Saints are simply ignoring the situation, which irritates the farking sheet out of me.

I'm about 99% sure that the Saints are working day and night on various scenarios that ensure Brees, Nicks, and Colston can remain Saints AND provide some cap room to address weaknesses at various positions.

WhoDat!656

Fans need to realize that these contract talks are as complicated as Chinese arithmetic with decimal points.

CheramieIII

PAY DA MAN! NOW! WHY ARE THE SCREWING AROUND WITH THIS?

jlouhill

I think the media is just trying to start some crap with all this franchise tag, loggerhead, Brees upset, nothing happening so everything must be on the verge of falling apart talk. I think there is more going on than anyone knows. I feel that the two sides are trying to hammer out a deal that would best help keep as many FA's as possible but still make sure Brees get's what he's worth. I would be shocked if Brees asks for and gets 100 million. I think both sides know that if that happens we can kiss our Super Bowl contendership goodbye along with all the free agents as they exit stage left. JMO.

CharityMike

Book'em Danno!

SapperSaint

Another thing we as fans need to realize is that these guys don't get "Paid" like we do. It's not like there is a "Hand Shake" and everyone is happy. I will bet Drew's contract will be as thick as the LaPlace phone book. There are liitle tweeks that need to be agreed upon.

Who knows what they are talking about. It maybe a 1st ever, lifetime contract. Don't say it won't/can't happen. Jeff Gordon signed one 5 or 6 years ago. Try not to worry too much.

This IS gonna happen.