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I would like to observe that the same was said of Farve in Green Bay and Manning in Indianapolis.

I really feel that many folks here are misreading today's NFL QB market. Frankly many Saints fans have gotten so used to Brees being so good and so consistent for so long they really do not realize how valuable a commodity he is, even at 39,40, and 41 years old.

As pointed out earlier, Brees has all the leverage here. A $75 million, 3 year, all guaranteed contract isn't out of the question next year for Brees. There are teams out there that have both the cap space and the desperation to make that offer.

There are only 3 or 4 elite NFL QBs. Brees is in that category.

And I reiterate that Brees isn't in the same situation as Brady. Brady's wife literally makes $40 million+ a year. Brady can afford to be flexible.

Like Farve and Manning, Brees' legacy is already cemented. He doesn't have to finish as a Saint to be considered one of the greatest QBs in NFL history. He already has the stats and track record to ensure that no matter what happens from 2017 to 2020.

Like everyone, NFL players want to be paid worth their value and to have safety and security. Just take a look at Joe Flacco last year to see why multiple years and guaranteed money are important.

So just to put it in perspective. Think about the type of dollars it would take to get Brady, Luck, or Rodgers to come and play for the Saints. Think about the total contract value, years, and guaranteed money.

That's what's going to have to be put on the table to keep Brees beyond 2016.

And it's a worthless argument to try to mitigate this with age. 10 years of elite performance, including being in the top 3 in every passing category last year means the age is just a number in this instance.

So the only question is whether or not the Saints are prepared to pony up $25 million or so per year for at least 3 years with most of the dollars guaranteed.

At $44 million, franchising isn't an option.

SFIAH

NOLA54

New England does.

NOLA54

Sorry...but I can't see Drew in any other uniform but black & gold.

voodooido

His cap hit if taged next year will be more like 43 million. If he wants that type of money I say go after cousins.

hagan714

I stand corrected. we can not play that tagging with Drew. I forgot we lost the arbitration claim in 2012, Crap

That’s the closest Brees or his agent have come to pointing out the reality that, if the Saints allow Brees to play out the final year of his five-year, $100 million contract, the circumstances will change, dramatically. They’ll change thanks to the arbitration claim filed by Brees after the Saints applied the franchise tag to him in 2012, which resulted in a ruling that the next application of the tag to Brees will be the third of his career.

Drew Brees applies deadline to talks with Saints on a new deal | ProFootballTalk

Need to read slower i guess

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

Rugby Saint II

This feels like extortion to me. Remember Drew Brees is who hired Tom Condon in the first place. He was advised by Condon and held out at camp last time while missing the reps with his team. I don't believe that Drew Brees is team oriented anymore.

dizzle88

Drew deserved his contract at the end of 2011, but now he knows he's nearing the end of his career he should try and think about the team more than himself. He's already more than set up his family for several lifetimes, why hold out, sign a two year contract, coach up your replacement and retire a saint.

I still believe Brees' contract was the reason we lost Carl Nick's, our O line was incredible in those years, now Brees runs for his life and won't give the team any money as they try to help him get more super bowls before his time is up.

Your bonehead creator picked a fine chapter to omit from your memory bank....let me ask you, does a machine like yourself ever experience fear? - Vegeta, DBZ

44Champs

Brees has already made a helluva lot of money w the Saints. Saints showed him the love in 2011 and he is set for life plus some. It's time for Drew to do the same if he's really sincere about wanting to retire as a Saint.

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Cruize

Today's NFL is becoming more and more like the WWE. Drama. Talk. BS. Like a bunch sissy girls.

AsylumGuido

I'm sorry, but you are totally wrong about that. It was the NFLPA that wanted Brees to hold out until a ruling could be made on the franchise tag issue. Brees agreed when asked by the PA to force the Saints to apply the tag by not committing to an early deal. If you remember, Brees was previously tagged by the Chargers. The league argued that a Saints tag was not a second tag and therefore only carried the average of the top five players at the position. The PA insisted that a second tag by ANY team, not only the first to apply one, should be subject to the increased level of compensation. After several weeks it was determined that the PA was correct and Brees signed the new deal almost immediately thereafter.

Brees took that hit for all players in the league. The Saints front office knew exactly what was going on. To imply that Brees is not team oriented is crazy. Brees has said he is more than willing to finalize an extension on several occasions. It is Loomis that is holding things up, not Condon and Brees.