WillSaints81

Why don't they just come out and say its a down year and they are planning to contend in 2016.

Well good luck with that, here's what we have in 2016
NFC West
@Arizona, @SF, Sea, StL
AFC West
@KC, @SD, Den, Oak
Likely home against Chicago(if we finish last this year)
Likely going to Washington

Not exactly easy.

RaginCajun83

I see 3 tough games on that list (Sea, SF, Den if PM)

WillSaints81

KC is not tough? SD has given us problems. We beat them last two but the last one wasn't easy.

SaintFanInATLHELL

Let me fix that for you...

I find it amusing to see posts where folks think that the team can make one sided decisions. Brees has no obligation to change his contract. The dead cap if Brees is cut, which is the only unilateral decision the team can make, is $33+ million. Also the team would be looking for their next QB.

Now Brees may decide to play ball. But he's not obligated to do so.

SFIAH

SaintFanInATLHELL

The $27 million 3 year extension Brady signed in 2013 was in fact a pay cut.

SFIAH

SaintFanInATLHELL

On a trade, the team is still responsible for the dead cap money from the signing bonus, immediately accelerated. Right now that's nearly $15 million.

I think paying $15 million and no QB would be a tough pill to swallow.
It would have to be a Herschel Walker type trade deal to make sense.


SFIAH

hagan714

The extension includes a $3 million signing bonus along with annual salaries of $7 million in 2015, $8 million in 2016 and $9 million in 2017, when Brady will turn 40, according to the source.
Brady's relatively modest deal frees up $15 million worth of salary-cap space for the Patriots in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, a league source told ESPN.


blah blah blah

The Patriots gained $8 million in salary-cap space this year and $7 million in cap room next season. Brady's cap numbers, which were scheduled to be $21.8 million in each of the next two offseasons, now will be $14.8 million this season and $13.8 million next season.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots agree to 3-year, $27 million extension, according to source - ESPN Boston

how did they do it?

In the new deal, Brady changed the $24 million “skill” guarantee in his contract to “injury” guarantee. By doing that, Brady will get the guaranteed money only if he is injured. The Patriots will now be able to release the Brady at any time, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent, in which case there would likely be plenty of teams interested.
Report: Tom Brady restructures and gives the Patriots $24 million to spend_BINARY_2113333 - Sports - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI

simply changed the wording.

what is the difference between the saints and the pats a team the saints say they emulate? this is a huge difference. with the pats you take one for the team. if you think they are going to hog up cap space at the end of their careers or hold them hostage. think again. bye via free agency or traded, either way it is not going to happen. they are happy with comp picks for dumping greedy players that do not tow the company line.

saints do not and are not building this type of attitude among the team as a whole.

20 mill a year for an aging QB who by age itself has hit the ceiling and is cling for dear life to stay there. will always loss to gravity and start to fall back to the floor in which he came from. finger nails can only last so long. something always gives.

i love drew but if a team calls and offer serious picks in 2015 1st + additional and a 1st in 2016 i would have to think long and hard on not pulling a manning on him. target Conner in 2016

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

kaoticx101

I don't trust Griffin. He has a strong arm, but no accuracy on his deep ball.....

RaginCajun83

With this front office, I'd rather they grab a QB in free agency over drafting one and waiting on him to develop

lee909

How many good QBs hit FA these days?
Manning did but that was purly down to a circumstances that come around once in a blue moon(Aging QB with career in doubt,team has number one pick with one of the greatest QB prospects ever coming out that year)

QBs dont sit and develop these days,most start pretty quickly and Luck,Wilson have had good success really early. RG3 first year was impressive,Tannehill gets better each year. Id rather take a shot on any of them in the draft,especially when you consider what average QBs like Cutler,Flacco cost and eeven they do not make FA.

The biggest FA QBs in the past few years with salary (years/overall/guarantee)

Ryan Fitzpatrick 2/6.5/1.75
Alex Smith 3 /$27/9ml
Chase Daniel 3/10/4.8
Matt Flynn 3/19/0

Non of them will win you anything

"Two receivers to the left, Garcon to the right. Manning in the shotgun, puts Collie in motion. Looks in his direction...it's picked off! It's picked off! It's Tracy Porter again! He's runnin' free! He's gonna go all the way!