Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees

jeanpierre · 05-25-2016, 08:27 AM

Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees

By Adam Stites @AdamBCC on May 23, 2016, 9:00a

nding a good quarterback is difficult, but finding a great one is such a rare accomplishment that teams will do everything to make sure that player doesn't slip out of their grasp. And justifiably so.

All NFL teams are in constant pursuit of a passer who can lead the way to a Super Bowl, so it seems crazy to trade one or let him walk. But at what point is it no longer worth it to cling to an aging quarterback when a roster is in disarray?

Drew Brees, 37, is due to count $30 million against the New Orleans Saints' salary cap in 2016, after counting $23.8 million against it in 2015. It's a crippling amount for a franchise that has had one of the NFL's worst salary cap situations for several years.

Of course, the Saints could get a reprieve soon if a contract extension with Brees defers some of his salary to later seasons and eases up the burden on New Orleans for 2016. The quarterback sounds optimistic that a new deal with the Saints is on the way too.

"I'm very confident that it will [get done]," Brees told Sirius XM Radio in April regarding his contract negotiations. "I've got one year left, so it's not the end of the world if it doesn't and we play through the year. I'd rather not do that."

But what's the point?

The Saints finished dead last in points allowed, and discount shopping for players like James Laurinaitis and Nick Fairley isn't the best way to turn things around. Drafting Sheldon Rankins and Vonn Bell is a good way to begin the rebuild of the franchise's defense, but grooming those young players to eventually lead a top unit will be an exercise in patience.

And that's where holding on to, and throwing record contracts at, aging passers becomes a pointless act. Paying Brees more than $20 million is a move for an impatient team looking to win right away, but that's not the Saints ... or at least, it shouldn't be.

Brees accounts for nearly 20 percent of the Saints' salary cap, a much higher percentage than any other player in the NFL. While dead money to players no longer on the roster like Junior Galette and Brandon Browner is a big part of the problem for the Saints, Brees is easily the most damaging contract.

Philip Rivers carries a $21 million cap hit, which represents 13.4 percent of the San Diego Chargers' salary cap in 2016. Eli Manning will cost the New York Giants $24.2 million against their cap, or 14.5 percent. Both players are on the tail end of their careers, but worth the money so long as the Chargers and Giants believe they can rebuild around their veteran quarterbacks in time for another Super Bowl run.

Pulling off one of those rebuilds is more difficult with a cumbersome contract to work around, though.

In Kobe Bryant's final seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, he played on a contract that reflected his lengthy accomplishments and Hall of Fame career. But the team fell into disarray around him and struggled to work around his crippling deal, especially when his eroding skills meant he was no longer the top player he had once been.

The play of Brees, Rivers and Manning hasn't dropped off the way it did for Bryant, but the Saints, Chargers and Giants can take a lesson from the NBA and avoid sinking with their own franchise greats.

Comment: Don't agree with the conclusions, but there are some interesting talking points; and the pie graph will get your attention...

Danno · 05-25-2016, 09:34 AM

Our roster isn't in disarray.

We frequently back-load contracts then restructure.

Perhaps he didn't notice all of the defensive players we've signed and drafted over the last 2 seasons.

lee909 · 05-25-2016, 09:54 AM

RaginCajun83 · 05-25-2016, 09:57 AM

RailBoss · 05-25-2016, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by lee909

You got it right.

halloween 65 · 05-25-2016, 11:40 AM

He's right if this D don't get fixed. 30 million is a lot to play any player if the team finished at 7-9 for 2 years straight. At 38 this would be the last season I would pay. I don't think to many teams if any sign him to a 4 year big money deal after this season.

neugey · 05-25-2016, 12:03 PM

As a Lakers fan, I can tell you that the situation the organization put themselves in is far worse than what we've done. Just look at the recent winning percentages. And Kobe's max contract was just one of many issues that affected the product on the floor. You have to also consider the Steve Nash deal and losing our patriarch Jerry Buss.

A good quarterback ain't cheap, and a cheap quarterback ain't good. The Saints know that from decades past.

Danno · 05-25-2016, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by halloween 65

He's right if this D don't get fixed. 30 million is a lot to play any player if the team finished at 7-9 for 2 years straight. At 38 this would be the last season I would pay. I don't think to many teams if any sign him to a 4 year big money deal after this season.

How is he right if the D doesn't get fixed? Drew wouldn't be the reason our defense wouldn't get fixed.

Drew hasn't stopped us from signing or drafting anyone who would be that difference maker on defense.

exile · 05-25-2016, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

Drew hasn't stopped us from signing or drafting anyone who would be that difference maker on defense.

Tell that to Dennis Allen when he was pushing for Josh Norman.

Forget that. This is a highly inappropriate comment.

Danno · 05-25-2016, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by exile

Tell that to Dennis Allen when he was pushing for Josh Norman.

Forget that. This is a highly inappropriate comment.

I did tell him that, and he agreed with me.

05-25-2016, 08:27 AM	#1
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees By Adam Stites @AdamBCC on May 23, 2016, 9:00a nding a good quarterback is difficult, but finding a great one is such a rare accomplishment that teams will do everything to make sure that player doesn't slip out of their grasp. And justifiably so. All NFL teams are in constant pursuit of a passer who can lead the way to a Super Bowl, so it seems crazy to trade one or let him walk. But at what point is it no longer worth it to cling to an aging quarterback when a roster is in disarray? Drew Brees, 37, is due to count $30 million against the New Orleans Saints' salary cap in 2016, after counting $23.8 million against it in 2015. It's a crippling amount for a franchise that has had one of the NFL's worst salary cap situations for several years. Of course, the Saints could get a reprieve soon if a contract extension with Brees defers some of his salary to later seasons and eases up the burden on New Orleans for 2016. The quarterback sounds optimistic that a new deal with the Saints is on the way too. "I'm very confident that it will [get done]," Brees told Sirius XM Radio in April regarding his contract negotiations. "I've got one year left, so it's not the end of the world if it doesn't and we play through the year. I'd rather not do that." But what's the point? The Saints finished dead last in points allowed, and discount shopping for players like James Laurinaitis and Nick Fairley isn't the best way to turn things around. Drafting Sheldon Rankins and Vonn Bell is a good way to begin the rebuild of the franchise's defense, but grooming those young players to eventually lead a top unit will be an exercise in patience. And that's where holding on to, and throwing record contracts at, aging passers becomes a pointless act. Paying Brees more than $20 million is a move for an impatient team looking to win right away, but that's not the Saints ... or at least, it shouldn't be. Brees accounts for nearly 20 percent of the Saints' salary cap, a much higher percentage than any other player in the NFL. While dead money to players no longer on the roster like Junior Galette and Brandon Browner is a big part of the problem for the Saints, Brees is easily the most damaging contract. Philip Rivers carries a $21 million cap hit, which represents 13.4 percent of the San Diego Chargers' salary cap in 2016. Eli Manning will cost the New York Giants $24.2 million against their cap, or 14.5 percent. Both players are on the tail end of their careers, but worth the money so long as the Chargers and Giants believe they can rebuild around their veteran quarterbacks in time for another Super Bowl run. Pulling off one of those rebuilds is more difficult with a cumbersome contract to work around, though. In Kobe Bryant's final seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, he played on a contract that reflected his lengthy accomplishments and Hall of Fame career. But the team fell into disarray around him and struggled to work around his crippling deal, especially when his eroding skills meant he was no longer the top player he had once been. The play of Brees, Rivers and Manning hasn't dropped off the way it did for Bryant, but the Saints, Chargers and Giants can take a lesson from the NBA and avoid sinking with their own franchise greats. Comment: Don't agree with the conclusions, but there are some interesting talking points; and the pie graph will get your attention...
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

05-25-2016, 09:34 AM	#2
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,713	Re: Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees Our roster isn't in disarray. We frequently back-load contracts then restructure. Perhaps he didn't notice all of the defensive players we've signed and drafted over the last 2 seasons.

05-25-2016, 09:54 AM	#3
lee909 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Watford England Posts: 8,793 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees saintfan, SaintFanInATLHELL, jnormand and 8 others like this.

05-25-2016, 09:57 AM	#4
RaginCajun83 Hou Saints Fan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 5,050	Re: Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees SaintFanInATLHELL likes this.

05-25-2016, 10:26 AM	#5
RailBoss 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Of The Mason Dixon Line Posts: 7,113	Re: Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees Originally Posted by lee909 You got it right. CheramieIII likes this.

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05-25-2016, 11:40 AM	#6
halloween 65 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana Posts: 5,893	Re: Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees He's right if this D don't get fixed. 30 million is a lot to play any player if the team finished at 7-9 for 2 years straight. At 38 this would be the last season I would pay. I don't think to many teams if any sign him to a 4 year big money deal after this season.

05-25-2016, 12:03 PM	#7
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,673 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees As a Lakers fan, I can tell you that the situation the organization put themselves in is far worse than what we've done. Just look at the recent winning percentages. And Kobe's max contract was just one of many issues that affected the product on the floor. You have to also consider the Steve Nash deal and losing our patriarch Jerry Buss. A good quarterback ain't cheap, and a cheap quarterback ain't good. The Saints know that from decades past. jnormand and B_Dub_Saint like this.

05-25-2016, 12:12 PM	#8
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,713	Re: Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees Originally Posted by halloween 65 He's right if this D don't get fixed. 30 million is a lot to play any player if the team finished at 7-9 for 2 years straight. At 38 this would be the last season I would pay. I don't think to many teams if any sign him to a 4 year big money deal after this season. How is he right if the D doesn't get fixed? Drew wouldn't be the reason our defense wouldn't get fixed. Drew hasn't stopped us from signing or drafting anyone who would be that difference maker on defense.

05-25-2016, 12:17 PM	#9
exile Cake or Death? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,608	Re: Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees Originally Posted by Danno Drew hasn't stopped us from signing or drafting anyone who would be that difference maker on defense. Tell that to Dennis Allen when he was pushing for Josh Norman. Forget that. This is a highly inappropriate comment.
exile Cake or Death? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,608

05-25-2016, 12:18 PM	#10
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,713	Re: Saints are suffocating themselves by clinging to Drew Brees Originally Posted by exile Tell that to Dennis Allen when he was pushing for Josh Norman. Forget that. This is a highly inappropriate comment. I did tell him that, and he agreed with me. jnormand, CheramieIII and exile like this.

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