vtiger72

Agreed that Brees came to NO because the Saints offered the most guaranteed money, but it was clear by the second year of that deal that Brees was outplaying it. At that time, the Saints had the choice of either enjoying the benefits of having a QB playing very well on a deal that was less than what other QBs at that level were being paid, or giving him a new deal which would up his current level of pay, yet buy some future years at a cost lower than they might pay. The Saints and Brees chose to ride out the former deal, so when Brees negotiated he asked for and received the going rate for elite QBs, which has since been surpassed by non-elite QBs. He even did so in a way that gave the Saints greater flexibility in the first three years.

This dilemma isn't unique. The Seahawks are going to face it with Wilson. He's been cheap on his rookie deal. They have let him play that out, but will have to pay market value to keep him if they choose. They benefited from the low cost rookie deal, but it won't be Russell's fault if he asks for and receives the going rate.

Everyone wants to put this on the players while the owners rake in money. The salary cap is there because the owners want it there. They want protection from themselves. They want to be able to look at us fans and say, "sorry, but we want to keep our teams together or sign better players, but the cap prohibits how much we can." Well. who put the cap in place? Surely not the players. The cap exists because owners put it there. And the owners surely don't pay players who play better than their contracts unless they have to.

So, to fault Brees over the contract he signed and expect him to fix the mess is ludicrous. Why not ask Galette to give back some money? OR tell Byrd that he was hurt all last season so he should give it back? Or tell Grubbs to? Because they won't do it and shouldn't have to.