The largest contract in NFL history.

The largest contract and all involved are the best in the game. Who woulda thought we'd be in this position a few years back.

I've tried to remain upbeat and positive throughout this whole process. And to a degree I still am , but those dang butterflies are causing my inards a lot of grief as the deadline looms before us. I can only hope that a compromise of some sort is hammered out here in these last few days and Drew signs. The alternative if he doesn't is too bad to comtemplate.

GREED GREED GREED GREED !

I think at age 33 he has almost no leverage. It wouldn't make sense to play for a tender and sitting out isn't an option. So he has to sign the best offer the Saints give him.

I'm all for shooting his agent too. Just sayin...

The market and his productivity is his leverage: Drews Productivity average has been top of all lists for a few years now.

Drew Brees: 1 SB Ring Age:34 Contract: RFA

Tom Brady: 3 SB Rings Age: 34 Contract: 9/9/2010: Signed a five-year, $78.5 million contract. The deal contains $48.5 million guaranteed, including a $16 million signing bonus and a $4 million second-year roster bonus. 2012: $950,000 (+ $10.8 million "signing" bonus), 2013-2014: $9.75 million (+ $5 million roster bonuses)

Payton Manning (turned down 25m/year and health is arguable): 1 SB Ring Age: 36 Contract: 3/20/2012: Signed a five-year, $96 million contract. The deal includes $18 million guaranteed -- Manning's 2012 base salary. The guarantees can rise to $60 million (Manning's 2013-2014 base salaries) if he passes a physical on March 13 of 2013. 2012: $18 million, 2013-2014: $20 million, 2015-2016: $19 million, 2017


Mannings Contract is what is driving this...

His market worth would be up the roof if he were to play under the tag this season, and win the second SB with the Saints at NOLA. Then next offseason he'd have more leverage against the Saints, who'd place the tag on him again in order to have negotiation peace, but would hardly be willing to pay about 20% of the whole cap to just one player.

That's true, but on the other hand, this year he's coming off a season in which he shattered a 25+ year old yardage record AND set another record for accuracy. He's the biggest reason the Saints went 13-3 again. He's arguably the most valuable player in the league today. He really can't be worth much more than he is right now.

He risks having a sub par season and having his value drop somewhat. If he were to throw for less than, say 4500 yards, or his completion percentage drop to 66% (just making up numbers here) or if the Saints don't win more than 10 games, there will be plenty of writers doing stories about how it's really Payton that makes this offense run or how he's not so special when he doesn't have the best guard in football protecting him...etc, etc and he'll be another year older which might further decrease his value.

I don't mean to imply that he'll be worthless but he runs a very significant risk of being worth less.

Correct... The Risk/reward isn't in favor of him if he plays under the FT this year.

Winning a second SB is a long shot and takes into account a lot more than just QB and QB health... Two years ago our running back core was crippled. This is a year with out Payton... He could get hurt.... He could throw for one yard less than last year and the critics would say he didn't preform as well....

His time to strike is now...