Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

Graham has said that as long as Brees is QB, he's not going anywhere

Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

Whilst I agree with you - Brees "said" his contract would be team friendly - then he held out for months and we lost carl nicks

Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

Brees did not "hold out" he was waiting on a ruling about being "franchised" for the 3rd time. If you remember once the ruling went in his favor he was signed.

Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

So? Carl Nick's contract as opposed to an easily replaceable player would have handicapped the Saints more than the Brees deal. Get your priorities straight.

Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

I am not sure how losing Carl nicks can be placed on Drew... especial when Drews cap hit was a whopping 10M in 2012...

Evans carried 9M and Smith carried 11M in 2010.....

Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

Not that it matters now anyway and the fact that Grubbs is more than a serviceable replacement but because of Drew's contract negotiations, we had to use the franchise tag on him instead of Nicks which allowed Nicks to walk. In hindsight I don't think it worked out to badly since Nicks was injured most of last year anyway.

Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

I forgot about the tag since Drew signed a contract.

Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

Oak,

Trying to decipher your statement re; Brees ability to;

"and hit the market this year"

Do you have one of those "linky" things which provides a bit of clarity.

TIA

Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

Which reply? Do you mean this link?
Drew Brees wins franchise-tag grievance vs. NFL, Saints - NFL.com

Re: I hate to bring this up, but...
 

Oak,

"That's correct, and he won his franchise tag appeal, he could have played under the tag and made more money last year and hit the market this year. But he didn't, he signed his contract.... "

The quote of "he could have played under the tag and made more money last year and hit the market this year". It is this part which is confusing to me... "hit the market this year" (2013) appears to be inconsistent with the "linky" thing you provided. i.e. the Saints had one more year to use an exclusive franchise tag for Brees.

I thought the CBA indicated a player can be "franchised" three times.