It may be annoying but it's a crucial point. The franchise tag is the average salary for the top 5 players at the position. For WR that will be close to $11 million, while for TE the number is closer to $6 million.

There are two sides of the coin. The Saints want the best value. Jimmy wants the most money. Which position Jimmy gets designated to will determine his overall value.

I believe that in the end hell be the highest paid TE in NFL history. But he won't get receiver money.

And trust this is not going to happen quickly. No point in hoping or praying for it. The Saints will slap Jimmy with the exclusive franchise tag. Jimmy will sign the tender (in June). They'll work it out by training camp. Jimmy will get a chance to rest that sore foot this offseason.

He's not going anywhere. I don't think any franchise is foolish enough to give up 2 #1 draft picks for the chance to negotiate with Jimmy for WR money.

But it's going to be exactly the same as Brees a couple of years ago. All the fanbase wanted was for the contract to be done quickly. It wasn't.

Honestly nor should it be. This is likely Jimmy's singularly huge contract. It's both his right and frankly obligation to maximize his value. By the same token the Saints have to think about an entire organization. So maximizing the value is crucial.

Both will compromise... eventually. But it's not going to be a quick process. Because if it were quick, then someone is getting screwed in the deal. The eventual deal needs to balance the needs of the player with the needs of the team.

All anyone needs to do is track 3 dates:

1) Franchise tender deadline (early March)
2) Tender signing deadline (mid June)
3) Training camp (late July)

You'll see some movement around those three dates, and nothing otherwise.

So pack a lunch, cause it's going to be a long haul.

SFIAH