Name one top free agent that we were not able to get that the front office was interested in. And don't say Josh Norman because he settled with his very first contact, the Redskins, and never even gave the Saints a chance.

What you fail to comprehend is that the basics of a deal are already in place with Brees. The final amount of cap space required is the only piece remaining and that will not be known until after the draft. They could have easily made a deal with Norman, or for that fact, any other free agent.

Any free agent who has the potential to make a significant impact is of interest. How often does the team come out and say who they are interested in? What would be the point of that?

And I don't really care about the Norman thing, because he isn't worth the money he got. Not when compared to this team's overall needs. But I'm curious. On what authority do you think you know that he never gave the Saints a chance? I'm sure he gave them a chance, and his number was too high. That's not difficult to comprehend. I'm glad the Saints didn't give in to his demands.

What YOU fail to comprehend, ole friend, is that I have never stated that a deal wouldn't get done, or that one was not in place. I have no idea if one is in place, and neither do you. But if one is indeed in place, which it could be, then I do not agree with the approach of waiting til after the draft. I've already outlined the reasons why.

I'm sure you'll be telling me that it doesn't matter what I think. So let me get out ahead of you, and remind you that this forum is for discussion, and every single person here understands that our opinions are not, and never will be under consideration by management. Most of us have seen enough football to recognize what kind of philosophies work. We've seen teams fail miserably with certain plans, and succeed with others. That's how we form our opinions. The fact that I disagree with something does not make me ignorant of it. You have a hard time understanding that.

The fact that Payton had a discussion with Brees about the extension when Norman first came available meant Brees was not the reason Norman isn't a Saint. The Saints, and everyone else, had an idea of what it would take to get a deal done, but nothing has a chance of getting done without meeting face to face. The ONLY franchise that Norman gave that chance to was the Redskins, therefore, he never even gave the Saints, or any others, a chance.

I never said you personally didn't think a deal would be made with Brees. As I pointed out, that was directed more at others. But, I see no advantage whatsoever of finalizing the deal (if already agreed to in principle as I fully believe) until every single factor of cap space requirements for the 2016 season are known. The ONLY reason to do so before the draft is over is if it is required to make a free agency move. To this point that has not been necessary.

You have to meet face to face to talk money? Since when? You're telling me that it has nothing to do with Norman giving the Saints a number and subsequently having the proverbial door shut in his face, but rather that it was because he didn't look them in the eyes first? Not buying that.

Furthermore, the talk of Brees negotiating to help sign Norman has never been proven as anything but speculation. I find it convenient that this is your hard evidence, when any other time you poo poo any report that comes out as being unreliable.

But again, I was clear that I don't care about not getting Norman. It's about all the other players. Whether it be that the Saints missed out or simply had no interest in them, I think that's a mistake, as I just stated in another thread.

I'm just saying that the Brees extension has not been a factor in any FA deal or non-deal. Brees himself said he told Payton that he wanted Norman and would do whatever it took. Several sources beyond Brees indicated the same.

And, no, you don't have to meet face to face to talk money, but meeting face to face is what it takes to usually get a deal done. For whatever reason Washington got that advantage.

Well I haven't read any direct quote from Brees, himself, on the matter. Only people saying that Brees told Ed Werder that. But assuming Brees did say it, I'm not sure it's anything more than PR. I don't say that to demonize Drew. It's kind of a normal practice in negotiations. I'm not sure why Norman would be so much more important to Brees than any of the other previously available free agents. We have Keenan Lewis coming back from injury, and Delvin Breaux. What the secondary lacks is quality depth and the ability to stay healthy. The latter of which is unpredictable. There was not an immediate need for Norman.

But Norman listed the Saints in his final two. So that kind of makes it easier for Brees to come out after the fact and say that he was willing to do whatever.

Back to the meeting face to face thing, you have to be present to do a physical and SIGN a deal, but I don't know that having a verbal agreement takes all of that.

I tend to believe multiple sources especially when sources report that it came straight from Brees and Payton. And I also don't believe Brees to be the type of person to lie to try to make himself seem more likable.