Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

I really don't see that happening. That is top 10 money, and 43 tackles doesn't make top 10. We helped him, he helped us, but...
If we pay more than $5 million then we have overpaid yet again on an only above average D-lineman.

Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

Let him and his agent set the market and come back with some numbers...

If he truly wants to be here, he'll sign and give as much as a 10% hometown discount...

Problem is that we now have Rankins and Onyemata, unless Ony moves to DE...

Even then, do you want to commit that kind of money to a guy who'll be on limited snaps, a situational player?

Davison is a beast for us at the Nose, and we've got two FA futures who are more than capable of backing him up...

And then we have the draft coming as well...

Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

Offer him a fair deal and don't overpay, sure. But don't fool yourself. Nick is past having to accept a hometown discount type contract.

Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

but, he has hinted that he would take one Nick Fairley 'of course' wants to re-sign with Saints | NOLA.com .
Will he turn down $6.5 if the Saints offer $4.5? Of course not.
But Seattle is a hell of a lot farther from Mobile than NOLA is, and it might save us half a million.

The guy has made some money over his career, so the "last big contract" thing might be overblown.

Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

I would offer him a two yr deal at fair value 1yr guarantee no more. If he walks Cie La Vie.

Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

If he wants 6-9 a year let him walk. No way he is worth that. One year does not warrant that much of a jump. 3 yr 15 million at the most.

Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

I very much want him back, he has had the best pass rush production from an interior lineman for the Saints since forever. But the price needs to be right. No more than 5-6 mil/year.

Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

Hear me on this one ...

The past two years have been Nick's first opportunities to shine out right. He flashed in Motown (Detroit). At least I thought so. One could argue that this past season in NO was his first true shot, because the Rams are loaded with defensive talent. In LA/Stl, Donald is the future at 3 tech, so NF wasn't going to get a load of production there either.

I want to bring Fairley back, but it's a tricky situation. He may not like the idea of a very heavy incentive contract considering this could be his "big" signing. As far as will he play as great as he previously, I've seen nothing that would believe me to think he will pull a Haynesworth on us.

Nick has played great for us. Our defense has been perennially bad. Even if we are somewhat "loaded" at DT with Rankins, Davison etc, having solid rotation on the front four allows us to blitz less & slow down offenses with more bodies in the back seven. The guy has been in the league for a few years and knows how to be a Pro, is on a hometown team & knows he has a legitimate shot to win a ring with Brees and company.

The market in the NFL is what matters. Flame away :handguns:.

Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

Certainly hard to find a good DT these days or one that can play within the Disney rules. Back in the day swiping a QB in the head was par for the course.

If he warranted constant double teams that would be the only way. He does not so he will be home shopping.

Re: Nick Fairley expected to test Free Agency
 

I don't think we are loaded at all, so if Fairley goes, we need to spend the 4-5 million on a replacement.
I think he played well, but that he is just not a top 12 DT. Some team might think he is worth $6 million, but I personally don't