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For the first time in months, there was news today of actual progress in the contract talks between the New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees. However, two sources close to the negotiations stressed that no deal is imminent.

A source close to Brees confirmed an ESPN report that the Saints sent a new contract proposal to Brees, but the source said negotiations are still ongoing. It was not clear how much the Saints' offer had changed, but it was clear that the gap between the two sides hasn't been closed entirely.

Earlier on Thursday, two sources also refuted more optimistic reports from WWL Radio and FOX 8 that suggested a deal could be done as early as Friday or Monday.

The best advice for the overly-stressed members of the Who Dat Nation would be to brace yourselves for the possibility that this deal won't get done before the July 16 deadline for franchised-tagged players to sign long-term deals - then be pleasantly surprised if it gets done sooner.

Still, the new proposal was a good sign, considering that Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis and Brees' agent Tom Condon had barely spoken in the last two months.

And it is possible that a deal could come together quickly whenever the two sides decide to speed up the negotiation process. They really aren't that far apart in their financial demands - less than $2 million per year even before the Saints' latest offer, according to sources close to the negotiations.

Clearly, however, both sides have proved their willingness to move at a snail's pace in these negotiations.

And now that the Saints have just one week left in their offseason workout program before they break for more than a month, there is no pressure whatsoever to get the deal done before July 16.









Signs of progress in Drew Brees contract talks, but New Orleans Saints fans should stay patient - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

|Mitch|

Get It Done; Loomis!

The Dude

Jeeze I feel like a yo-yo

bobdog86

Only a fool would believe anything written, on TV, heard via twitter, blogged, screamed from a roof top, heard in a bar anything, I mean anything until we see him on the practice field. There is way too much BS out there and every saint fan in the world, including me, is waiting for any positive news regarding Drew. Until I see him on the field, I'm not giving two sh**s about anything i hear or see on the news. Not trying to be Debbie Downer, but hell, theres just too much crap in the media, and everyone wants to be the first to break the big news. It will happen.

Rugby Saint II

This needs to be the head line until he signs....."Brees still not at camp."

alleycat_126

How can you have members from the station you own use words like imminent, and then in the next breath tell fans to remain paitent..... thats just funny to me !!!

Srgt. Hulka

"However, two sources close to the negotiations stressed that no deal is imminent."

Holy Crapoly, There's a shocker!



Sorry, I'm just REALLY fed up with this whole thing.

foreverfan

Patient... I need a nurse.