I'm only shocked we had to tag Brees... beyond shocked actually. As for Nicks, I absolutely agree... we'll be just fine. We've always done a great job scouting talent on along the offensive line so I'm not at all concerned with it.

30 ppg is 30 ppg no matter how you dice it. We're good.

I cannot believe the poison coming out of the fans on this site. I know Drew Brees wants the money because I'm not naive, they all do. But maybe he does believe in keeping the team together too, however it is not down to him alone, other people have to do their bit. And when did this offer last year happen? I never heard anything about it and I never trust 'sources say...' news. I think we all wanted Brees to say 'I will take 1 million a year so you can keep all my teammates together and give them big money'. WHY SHOULD HE?! And who knows how the contracts were done and how Condon was manipulating the situation. I thought we were supposed to stand together in times of trouble but it seems to me that somebody is being vilified for asking for what he clearly deserves and I think they have treated him poorly. We were all saying how great this man is and what he means to the city and the people, and how he has raised the team and expectations to a level never before seen and what has been on his shoulders is immense...as long as he doesn't ask for money for it like any other player would. And anyone who doesn't believe he is about the team, you are fools. But he is allowed to look out for himself too. By the way, for those of you wishing ill on this man, shed your black and gold and walk away to Dallas, or maybe even Atlanta. We don't need fans like you. We are Black and Gold and, though understandably angry at what is going on with our beloved team, lets keep our heads about it please.

I'm only shocked we had to tag Brees... beyond shocked actually. As for Nicks, I absolutely agree... we'll be just fine. We've always done a great job scouting talent on along the offensive line so I'm not at all concerned with it.

30 ppg is 30 ppg no matter how you dice it. We're good.

Yup. And everyone listen up - there is still time to sign Brees to a long term deal. It will happen.

It's frustration and disappointment, but calling out other fans who are amidst of those afore mentioned feelings may not be the most productive way of going about making your point.

I do agree with some of the things that you said, but the thing that disappoints me to most about this is that if it is really true that Brees demanded to be payed $23M for the first 3 years of the contract - it shows me that he really didn't care about keeping the rest of the team competitive.

Because, if the Saints had about $20M of cap space (as was reported) to use before the restructuring of existing contracts like they're doing with Smith's contract - it would mean that Brees was asking for more than the team could legally afford to pay him without cutting some players and in affect taking away their livelihood or restructuring other players' contracts which is the same as taking money from their pockets and putting it into Brees'.

Granted this might not be what really happened, no one but the parties involved know that for sure, but the idea that this was what happened does change the way I perceive Brees as an individual and a leader - and that has nothing to do with a lack of support I'm showing for the Saints... quite the contrary.

The bolded section is where you are totally off. Brees is not demanding anything. He signed a contract with Condon's sports agency to handle his negotiations. I assure you that it includes verbiage alluding to the fact that Condon makes the calls on the process.

Surely Brees himself is overseeing the negotiations or do you think he just signed a deal with Condon, which states that Condon can freely handle the negotiations as he best sees fit, and meanwhile Brees takes off for a round of golf?

I'm not saying that you aren't right, but it seems a bit strange if Brees has completely removed himself from the negotiation process or is that the way Condon's agency prefers to handle these things?

In my opinion (however misguided it might be), the contract is ultimately between Brees and the Saints, and the agent(s) and Saints' personnel involved are only acting as intermediaries between the two sides. Therefore, I think it is correct to say that "Brees demanded" a certain contract, because his agents are only speaking in his behalf.

That is the way all agencies handle these things. Players hires agents to handle everything. If it wasn't for agents most players would play for much less. The Agent protects the player's interest by maximizing the contract. That's his job and to be able to do his job the player has to agree to be hands off.

Why is this a bad thing...

Brees will now only count for 14mil against the cap and with Smith re-structuring and possible re-structures/cuts with Ellis and Vilma we could sign everyone back and be in the running for massive upgrades on the defensive side of the ball.

Worst case is another team signs Brees. However, we still get the 2 first round draft picks and enough money to sign matt flynn securing the future of the team.

The tag is a win-win for the Saints only loser right now is Brees.