WOW! It's amazing to watch how quickly someone can turn from hero to goat. Don't you think that 10 years of HOF excellence, playoff performances, and a SB win is sufficient repayment for the "team taking him in"?

Also let's not forget that Brees took a depressed, team skewed contract when he came in 2006. 6 years/$60 million was literally theft by the Saints for what they got in return. And 5 years in, even the second contract at $100 million turn out to be middle of the road in 2016.

I guess that anything other than complete capitulation to the team and the fans against your own self interest is playing "hardball". Does anyone really think that Brees retiring a Saint is worth shortening his career by two years and giving up $50 million? I mean really?

Let me propose an alternative for you to think about. John Elway and Gary Kubiak recognize that the window is still open for Denver after 2016. They offer Brees 3 years at market rates. The offense rises to top 5 status matching the top 5 defense that's already in place. The Broncos go on to win consecutive championships and Brees goes into the hall of fame as a 3 time winning SB QB as a Bronco.

Don't get it twisted. Negotiating near market rates isn't hardball. Hardball would be asking for a contract that's 5 year/$150 million/$100 million guaranteed with $75 million at signing. That's hardball. There is no indication that's what Brees and Condon are asking for.

I'm really glad that the cool, reasonable head of Mickey Loomis is managing this negotiation. That way something reasonable that is actually in the ballpark of the market will actually get done instead throwing out an insulting lowball offer and then waving "Bye!" to the best QB that this organization may ever see.

I think everyone needs to get wrapped around their heads that the market rate for top 5 NFL HOF level QBs (Brees, Brady, Rodgers) is $25 million a year. That's the market. The Saints can rightfully decide that they cannot afford paying Brees at that rate. But it's really disingenuous to say that asking for a contract at that rate level is playing "hardball"

SFIAH