saintswhodi

Unless Len Pasquarelli is wrong, which I can accept.

Euphoria

Yeah, he is wrong... thats why 3pm is a big deal today. If he signed it then 3pm doesn\'t matter. Not signing gives him a better chance at a long term deal with another team and is supposedly a bit more attractive to another team that they can sign him to a long term deal. If trade is worked out before 3 then the other team has 24 hours to work out a contract with him.

What I don\'t understand is that if he doesn\'t sign then he becomes a UFA... if someone signs him then we get 2 first round picks for him... is what I am hearing.

E U P H O R I A

saintswhodi

To me, I understood 3pm to be a big deal as far as him signing a long term contract, if not we must wait until July 15th. Basically, if he agrees to a contract with another team, we sign him to it and then have the 24 hours to complete the trade to that team without taking the hit for bonuses and such. He does not once again become a UFA by 3pm if nothing is worked out though. That is false. We would have until 3pm to CUT him if no deal is worked out, or the possibility is we will be stuck with him. He would then be a UFA if we CUT him, but not if nothing is worked out.

nola_swammi

I believe we shouldn\'t rush on it cause Dallas is more likely to give up that 11# pick for Howard. The way Howard dominated and practically manhandled Samuels (Redskins OT) Dallas will be foolished not to trade for Howard. They\'re licking they lips, they know that with a true pass rusher and the corners they will improve from a 21 pass defense and improve with more turnovers. It is more likely to get that 11 pick it will come down to draft day or if Minnesota or any other team put up a serious offer.

I just hope in the draft we are able to pick Carlos Rogers #11 and Jammal Brown #16 (if dallas give up #11) great chance. I also think if Alex Smith be there at 11 the saints will pull the trigger

Carlos Rogers #16 & Jammal Brown or Khalif Barnes #18 (Minnesota give up #18) fingers cross

Euphoria

partically right... the cap hit becomes automatic at 3pm and the Saints can\'t deal with him until July 15. Until he signs the offer he can be traded and then has 24 hours to work out a long term deal with that team if not then the cap hits them for the 7.6/7.8 figure. If a trade is made then its the other team to negociate with Howard for the contract if we sign him to a long term deal then we have a long term deal and we can opt out of trade, lol... sneaky but hey it could happen, lol, and we\'llhave him at that long term deal.

E U P H O R I A

saintswhodi

That\'s pretty much how I understood it. I am sure we won\'t back out of any long term deal if we get him to agree to it. No other NFL team would ever offer to make a trade like this wuth us again if we were that under-handed. But I do believe he has signed the tender cause if he hadn\'t, he would be able to visit other teams to solicit deals like Orlando Pace is doing. With the Saints holding all the leverage in negotiations it leads me to believe he definitely has signed the tender, and therefore we are holding all the cards. That\'s where the deadline comes into play moreso. What I read was Howard wants a deal similar to what Wistrom got last year with Seattle with bonuses approaching 17 mil, and teams are balking at that. But he is definitely better than Wistrom so I don\'t know why.

Euphoria

I don\'t know... if the Saints dump him today I think he is playing in black and gold this year. I don\'t doubt Dallas would benefit having him but I just don\'t know if there is going to be a deal struck today... makes no sense that Dallas will strick a deal after the deadline today and take the tag hit and be stuck with contract problems with him. Dallas has to get him to agree to a long tream deal before they make any trade and Iif I was Dallas I wouldn\'t give up a 11th pick for him. this year that pick is to valuable.

E U P H O R I A

nola_swammi

[if I was Dallas I wouldn\'t give up a 11th pick for him. this year that pick is to valuable.
[/quote:846032d1b6]

I can see it happening because they\'re noone with the slightest potential in this year draft to improve they\'re roster better than Howard. Think bout it if Howard was in this draft and Dallas pick 11, don\'t you think Dallas will pick him over all the other?

Euphoria

actually Howard holds the cards... see if the Saints can trade him now then he can negociate with other team for a long term deal. Aside from the 7.8 tender that will take affect at 3 and the 24 hour grace period to sign a deal with another team, he won\'t be able to get a long term deal. He has the option of dealing with another team by not signing.

I guess it all becomes mute at 3pm... lol. Because I don\'t see a trade happening. Howard is going to be a Saint at 7.8 or so million.

E U P H O R I A

saintswhodi

I never thought they would give up number 11. That thought hadn\'t even crossed my mind. #20 did though. I agree if we don\'t get a deal done, we will see him in black and gold next year, unless he is traded after July 15th for picks in next year\'s draft. But if that is the case, then there would be hold ups with long term deals for other players, cause we have to keep the rookie portion of the cap in mind. I think if it comes down to the wire, the team accepts the offer of only a second for Howard from Dallas. With them not even discussing a long term deal with him leaves them no other option. They have to trade him today, or it throws a wrench into any other plans they had. What I expect is for them to field offers until the last minute then pull the trigger on the best deal. I hope they don\'t get burned playing the game this close, but it is the only option they really have.