RockyMountainSaint

Drew Brees doesn

The Saints have placed the exclusive franchise tag on Drew Brees, which means he’s not allowed to negotiate with any other team, and therefore his only leverage in negotiations is the threat that he simply won’t sign at all. And Brees sounds like he’s ready to use that leverage.

Brees said on Mike and Mike in the Morning that after signing the one-year franchise tender with the Chargers in the 2005 season, only to suffer a serious injury to his throwing shoulder at the end of that season, he’s in no mood to sign the one-year franchise tender again. Instead, Brees wants the Saints to commit to him for the long term.

“I’ve played under the franchise tag before, back in 2005, and that ended with 13 anchors in my right shoulder and a 25 percent chance of playing football again,” Brees said. “That didn’t work out too well for me. I’ve talked to the Saints about this many times. They definitely know my desire to have a long-term deal, and hopefully they want me to have that as well. We will continue discussions and hopefully get a long-term deal done.”

Brees is making the promotional rounds as part of an endorsement deal, but he sounded like he wasn’t particularly thrilled to be talking about his contract — and not particularly thrilled that his contract is still an issue after he and the Saints’ brass had said repeatedly during the season that they fully expected a deal to get done. Brees did, however, express some optimism.

“I’m still hoping that we can get something done sooner than later,” Brees said.

But if they don’t get something done, the Saints better not count on Brees reporting for the one-year franchise tender.

Not really news, but it's newer non-news.....

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dizzle88

Well nicks has reached an agreement with the bucs, meachem has gone, that's got to free up some cap space? Get sed Ellis to restructure if possible

saintfan

The franchise tag had nothing to do with the injury. Sorry Drew. I'm not biting on that one.

As for the Saints committing, they've tried to, twice, with very VERY VERY rich offers. Drew won't sign them. He doesn't have a long term deal as of today and it is nobody's fault but his own.

I'm not hating. This is just the reality of how things stand.

MatthewT

I am not worried about Drew. Since he didn't sign his contract offer (the long term one), the Saints are now going to work around his franchise tag, and then decide how to structure the long term contract that he will eventually sign. As for Drew holding out, I doubt Tom Benson would let that happen.

Danno

His value is only going to drop if he holds out. He knows it, his agent knows it and Loomis knows it.

Maybe we should cave in and offer him a contract that makes him the highest paid player in the entire NFL.

Oh wait, WE ALREADY DID...TWICE!!!

jcp026

I don't care about all that. I heard him on Mike and Mike this morning and he sounded sad. The contract thing will be worked out, but I think an unhappy Brees would be an underperforming Brees. We need to cheer this man up.

RaginCajun83

I think he was sad because he was asked about the witch hunt the Saints are dealing with, since he wasn't a part of it my guess he is tired of having to answer questions about it

Crusader

...and the horse he rode in on.

SapperSaint

Well, with Nicks gone; I don't see what the freakin problem is, NOW.

Surely, they can take $5 Million frrom what they were going to give Carl and give it to Drew. I think that would make it the 3rd time the Saints have offered him the richest contract in the NFL.

RockyMountainSaint

I totally agree with the way Loomis is handling this. Sign guys who are willing. When the cap starts really tightening, Drew will be forced to sign for whatever is available, or walk.

I like the fact that we are making moves that are right for the team and disregarding the strong-arm tactics being used by Drew and Condon.