SaintFanInATLHELL

Scott,

That is true to a degree. 5 years ago it was the largest contract in NFL history. But that 5 years is up and once again it's time to fish or cut bait.

All the evidence over the last 5 years, including last year, indicates that Brees is a top 3 NFL QB.

Quarterbacks are the highest paid players in the NFL. According to this site:

NFL's richest contracts for 2015 | NFL.com

out of the top 17 contracts, only 2 were not QBs. The highest non QB player was Suh at #10. And according to these 2016 averages:

NFL Salary Rankings | Spotrac

Brees is 10th with 9 QBs ahead of him. Now honestly, does anyone think that all of the 9 QBs ahead of Brees are deserving of more dollars? Three of them (Rivers, Ryan, Newton) do not even have a SuperBowl Ring. However, each and every one of them has signed a new contract or extension since Brees did in 2012.

Contract negotiation is an adversarial process. Each side wants to maximize the contract benefit. And for the most part it's a zero sum game, so whatever is added to one side takes something away from the other.

What Strief is saying, I believe, is that Brees' value to the organization is worth the market value of the top 2 or 3 QBs currently in the NFL. That number is hovering just about $22 million a year. And if Brees is allowed on the open market, it'll likely jump to $25 million easily IMHO. I mean who was the last healthy NFL QB to lead the league in passing and then change teams?

I also have the opinion that many think that the numbers are eye popping and extravagant. But the vast wealth of the NFL really belies that argument. The NFL is pulling in $12+ billion in revenue:

NFL revenue: Here comes another record season - Sep. 10, 2015

according to the terms of the current CBA:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation...2011_agreement

nearly half that revenue must be distributed to the players. That's $6+ billion a year distributed among no more that 2500 people. The CBA also specifies that at least 89% of the salary cap average over a 4 year rolling period must be distributed to the players. In short, the money is both there and it has to be paid out. And most importantly, if the Saints choose not to pay, which is certainly their right not to do, that there are at least a dozen teams in the NFL that would likely have both the capability and desire to cash in. This is what I keep saying when I point out that the market dictates the price point, not the player or his agent.

Finally considering the fact that the 7 QBs on the top 10 of that 2016 list have won 12 of the last 15 Superbowls (exceptions of 2 for Peyton Manning, and Brad Johnson is 2003 with the Bucs), I feel it is difficult to overstate the value of a top flight QB in this league.

I'm just suggesting take it in context. Brees' run the last 10 years has to be ranked in the top 2-3 runs in NFL history or that length. Qbs like that simply do not fall off trees. I believe that Stief is saying, and I agree, that Brees deserves each and every penny he is paid to lead one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.