Perfectly written.

The deadline to sign Drew Brees to a long-term deal is looming, so what's the holdup, and when will it get done?
 

The good news is that we're now officially less than a month from the deadline for the New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees to reach a long-term contract agreement this year.
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There are many details to be worked out in Saints quarterback Drew Brees' contract, but the biggest issue is total value. And the biggest question is whether Brees will become the first player in NFL history to average $20 million per season.
The bad news: They'll probably use up every last minute of that month before the deadline of Monday, July 16.

Now that the Saints have wrapped up their offseason conditioning program, there really is no incentive for either side to compromise before that deadline pressure reaches a boiling point. And by now, it's abundantly clear that Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis and Brees agent Tom Condon are willing to remain patient in this protracted contract standoff.

THE DEADLINE

The Saints have exclusive rights to Brees because they used their franchise tag on him, which came with a required one-year offer worth $16.371 million. So he can't play for another team this season, even if he never signs that offer.

Both sides, however, would prefer to reach a five-year agreement. And the deadline to work out a long-term contract with franchised players is July 16. After that date, Brees could only agree to a one-year deal until after the season.

A five-year deal almost certainly will be reached by July 16. The sides aren't that far apart, and both are motivated to make a long-term deal.

THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO

If a long-term deal isn't reached by July 16, Brees' holdout could continue indefinitely. He could skip training camp and the entire preseason if he chooses, and he would still collect the full $16.371 million if he signs before Week 1 of the regular season. Or he could choose to skip some regular-season games without pay -- perhaps even the entire season.

Those scenarios are extremely unlikely. Even if a long-term deal isn't reached and Brees is unhappy about it, it would still be stunning to see him skip the entire season -- or even the preseason -- out of spite or anger.

Brees wouldn't want to walk away from an enormous amount of money. And he wouldn't want to jeopardize either his chances or the team's chances of winning a championship while he's still in his prime.

It would make for an awkward relationship between the team and player, though.

THE $100 MILLION QUESTION

There are many details to be worked out in Brees' contract, but the biggest issue is total value. And the biggest question is whether Brees will become the first player in NFL history to average $20 million per season.

Earlier this year the Denver Broncos signed Peyton Manning (another Condon client) to a five-year deal worth $19.2 million per year, the richest in league history. Before that, Manning's 2011 deal with the Indianapolis Colts and Tom Brady's 2010 extension with the New England Patriots each averaged $18 million per year.

As of a few weeks ago, the Saints had been offering Brees around $18.75 million per year, and the Brees camp was seeking around $20.3 million to $20.5 million per year, according to sources and reports. A source confirmed that the Saints made a new offer two weeks ago, but the details have not been disclosed.

Eventually the sides are expected to meet somewhere between $19.2 million and $20 million per year, making Brees the highest-paid player in NFL history.

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Yawn :whatever:

Jesus, are we doing this again????????????

Q. Why do we keep banging our heads against the wall?
A. Because it feels good when we stop.

GOd I hope so. I Have the feeling he would sit.

Blah blah blah blah.... Brees will be there moving on

SSDD!!!

Saints, Brees going down to the wire
 

Even with the broken right thumb sustained this week by backup Chase Daniel, an injury that left New Orleans with only two functional quarterbacks — Luke McCown and Sean Canfield — for the final day of the club's minicamp, Saints' officials weren't exactly burning up the phone lines checking out potential training camp arms.

New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees going down to wire in contract negotiations - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN

Lets just end this.

Reporters have nothing to write about. So this is what they do. Brees will be their and he'll get a great contract.