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CAPT-ATL

Several factors involved and one of them is his and all other players hatred for the Exclusive rights TAG. I believe his stance is to set a trend for not playing under that tag. I know he said he wont sit, but he is smarter than giving up his leverage, and he actually created leverage with that statement. His next statement will be that while he loves the game, he loves his family more and it is in their best interest for him to sit for the rewards that he has earned longterm for his family without risking injury. That way the Saints must sweeten the pot, and Brees is not the bad guy, as everyone agrees that he deserves to be paid more than the 16MM tag in todays market of elite QB's. Another key element on management side is the Saints current guaranteed obligations for 2013, along with 2/5's of their starting O-Line (bushrod, DLP as well as Moorstead, Gallete, Ivory, Henderson who get substanial playing time) being free agents next year. Couple that with Jimmy Graham most likely, wanting an extension in the Gronk Neighborhood and the Saints cant afford Brees long term without some real pain in other areas for years to come. I hold to the belief that Brees will sign a ONE year deal for more than the TAG amount and have verbiage written into that deal that gives him immunity to the exclusive rights tag in 2013, which is exactly how the Union wants this to play out. Im sure this will hit some nerves, but it is just my opinion, and could be way off base. We will see. For the record, I;d like to see Brees get a long term deal though.
316 Days ago

49ersNewHarbaughDynasty

Brees will sit this season, stay healthy , all while not being associated with a corrupt and cheating organization, then after his year off, he can sign with whatever team HE wants to play for, and the deal will be similar to what he would get staying with the sinking ship that is NO. Peyton Manning showed him that a year off in a QB desert like the NFL is these days can REALLY pay off.
342 Days ago

Eagles Beak

Now their backup QB Chase Daniel's fractured is thumb on his throwing hand. May have elevated Drew Brees' leverage
343 Days ago

northshoresaint9

...@ this juncture, I'm not sure what 2 think regarding who's more responsible (or, most certainly, irresponsible) 4 these balls-dropped, stymied contract negotiations (or lack thereof) of a particularly talented fellow that some folks might recognize by his given name: Drew Brees.... Is the Brees-camp @ fault? Is the Drew~Krewe being, dare I say, a tad bit greedy? R the Saints-brass now purposefully dragging their feet while displaying a holier~than~thou stance, quietly screaming "*We run dis' sh#t. Like a Boss.*"? The facts r, we REALLY don't know what the facts r. Over the last fortnight I've wrestled w/ my thoughts about why &/or what & who (all I think, I.d.k.) is causing this stalemate. Is Brees & Condon's asking price really that over the top? R the Saints so numbed by the hardcore penalties that they've been injected w/that they're now oblivious robots, thick skinned & impervious 2 damage; toughened like a $2.00-steak, so much so that hurting the franchise & its fans further aren't even an afterthought? Who r the absolute morons here?! Drew? Condon? Loomis, Benson? All of the above? Sheesh'!... Is Brees just another greedy superstar? R the Saints suddenly stuck in neutral & trying their damnedest 2 jam N.O. in reverse after 6-years worth of positive upswing, all b/c the Black&Gold kitchen is approaching Hell-like temps.? Is Brees upset & frustrated enough w/ having 2 endure the embarrassment of being affiliated w/ a scandalously tainted team, that he & his savvy agent could give 2-shites about the 'team concept'?If so, (& quite plausible from where I'm standing) then Condon is pushing the envelope 2 make his case that a squeaky~clean Brees is worth all the tea in China. Make NO mistake, the Saints r sitting @ the table w/ only a couple of low-dollar chips & another $@%!~poor hand. 2 consider themselves winners, the Saints have 2 bluff, but would b wise 2 fold. Drew & Co. can't lose. I do believe Brees should intervene & spare the Saints a total kill-shot, but I doubt Condon will allow that.... Has Benson spent so many mega-millions lately that he reverts back 2 his old & shallow pocketed ways of treating his flagship franchise's star players like $@%!$@% redheaded step-children? I hope 2 Hell he's not!... Time has healed all wounds when it comes 2 good/great Saints players that came & went under less than deserving circumstances, 2 put it mildly. If Brees in his prime gets sent packing, that's a cut that will always bleed profusely. That must NOT happen! Benson said Brees would remain a Saint. He had better keep his word, so help him God!... My main beef w/Brees is that he said he would work w/ the team so his contract would b friendly enough 2 retain key-guys & sign F.As.. Well, DAT' went out the window real quick! We hear the Saints offered D.B. a few different long-term contracts, starting w/ an 18M+/yr. deal that was turned down by Brees prior 2 the start of last season. Why turn down THAT kind of bread? Ego? Delusions of grandeur?Better things around the next bend than mountains of cash? Strange. I mean, a player of Drew's stature will make MORE $$$ through endorsements over the life of WHATEVER contract he signs, than the actual contract will pay out 2 him! J.H.C.!!! I.m.o., Drew freaking Brees took a HUGE gamble playing out the final year of his contract w/o taking the generous extension that would have guaranteed him the security 1 needs 2 balance the risks of playing a dangerous game. (Yes, that's right, a game. A frigging' GAME!!!) Brees though, is a different breed of cat. Not just different as in the superficial way that most would think; more intangibly so. He's different like an alien species from a different planet, that resides in a different solar system, all of which orbit around a different galaxy. In his neck of the Universe, a small percentage of exceptional Q.Bs. r created. They don't grow on Trees. Throughout almost a half-century, of the mostly laughable Saints franchise, Drew #9 Brees is the ONLY truly~elite signal-caller we've ever had. Period! He fulfilled his contract & crushed the record books in2 dust. C'mon Loomis! C'mon Benson! GET DREW BREESUS' SIGNED!!!!!!!!! DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!! ***WHO-DAT'?!!!***
343 Days ago

druss0814

Can't the Saints "tag" Brees again next year? And the year after? Is there a limit to the number of times a player can be tagged?
344 Days ago

jromcja

He can only be tagged 3 times. The NFLPA is working to get a clarification as to if this is his first or second tag. He was tagged in San Diego in 2005 but that was under the old CBA. If the 2005 tag qualifies under the current CBA the Saints would only be able to tag him one more time. And like RobertJ721 the price would go up significantly to around 23-24 million. Thats why all these dimwits who think he would actually sit out are just ignorant. If he sits out they will just tag him again next year, then what does he do sit out again. He could lose 40 million and 2 years of his prime playing years. It will not happen.
343 Days ago

jromcja

And we wonder why the middle of the country is gutted of jobs. Billions for sports, hundreds of millions for taxpayer supported sports palaces and tens of millions for its minions, but not enough money to make our industries more productive and better train our students for a modern economy. What was an entertaining diversion has become too much of a popular obsession, forming the basis of our consumption laden, nonproductive society. We owe a trillion to communist China, another trillion to Japan, and think we can afford to pay $60 to $100 million to athletes. Rome fell while it was enthralled with its games. So, America is heading that way. It's fans who care more about football than learning hard skills that provides greedy scum and their agents the buoyancy to rise to the top. We have met the enemy and he is us. I love you Drew Brees.
344 Days ago

neauxgeaux44

Saints rule...haters are jealous....deal will get done....nothing to see here...back to your loosah teams....
344 Days ago

LambeauOrWrigley

There is something not mentioned in this article ... a bit of surprise. I have wondered if Brees is using Bounty Gate as the excuse to claim he wants to escape this situation and hence demand more cash. I can't believe Condon is going to pass up such an opportunity and claim even if Brees was to play the team is too messed up right now and hence Brees is ok sitting out for a year.
344 Days ago

jromcja

You have lost your mind or just dont know what is going on here. If he sits out they can franshise him again next year. So what does he do sit out 2 years. His compensation for having the tag in 2013 could be as much as 23.5 million, add that to this years tag number and thats around 40 million total he would stand to lose, also becoming older and losing 2 years of his career. Not happening and to think it actually would is sheer stupidity.
344 Days ago

49ersNewHarbaughDynasty

So how come he hasn't signed yet Mr. Denial?
342 Days ago

mrdude5410

Brees needs to look at the bigger picture- one player can't single-handedly carry a team to the super bowl without at least a middle of the road supporting cast. If he forces too large of a contract, the Saints won't be able to pay anyone else around him, the team will do poorly because it has no depth, and it will be all Drew Brees' fault.
344 Days ago

Rik1822

So your telling me the estimated $3m difference between the franchise tag and what it is "believed" he wants will cause his supporting cast to be below middle of the road? $3m of cap room spread across the entire rest of the team will ruin them?
344 Days ago

leomaz_espn

Why does Brees need all the money? He isn't that important a player for the saints.
344 Days ago

johndoe83106

strait idiot! he revived that city and he braught that franchise it first superbowl..hes a hero down there..hes worth watever he wants and more
344 Days ago

Rik1822

It continuously amazes me how many people either miss or willingly ignore tongue and cheek and/or out right sarcastic comments.
344 Days ago

JasonLiles76

The Saints' don't think that Brees is going to be productive after this year. The top fortune tellers in New Orleans aren't predicting him to be a good investment for the future. The same can't be said of Tebow who according to most fortune tellers, will have a long successful career as a top QB. I think, the Saints are going to trade for Tebow next year.
344 Days ago

jromcja

And monkeys will fly out of your butt.
344 Days ago

Rik1822

OK lets forget the economics involved with establishing market value and just focus on dollars, why are so many people concerned about Brees wanting a larger dollar figure? Do you think they are going to lower ticket prices or merchandise prices? You would rather the billionaire owner have it? Most likely you are concerned about the cap impact on the other players (be honest what does 3 mil a year in extra cap space buy, 1 starter? 2 backups?). Whats the cost impact of upping to his price to get the deal done? People say you can't lock up 1/6 the cap room in one player, guess what the franchise tag is very nearly (about 3% away from) 1/6 already... Saints want to take their chances they have another Hall of Fame QB on the roster for that?
344 Days ago

MilitStrat54

GMs try to get the BEST players they can for the Cap money available to create the best possible team. Unfortunately, Agents for players, especially, Condon and Rosenhouse seem to try and get max contracts which limit team success. For them it seems to be only about the money with winning not in the equation. Is it any wonder that some teams, Pats are one, generally refuse to deal with these Max Contract type of Agents. Bree's would do well to negotiate his own contract if it is about how much he takes home. His current push for $20M per, is only losing him fans of which I WAS one. Loved him at our Marine Base, thought he was special, but now see that he is like the rest. Can't stand a guy who thinks he can't live on $18M a year, or believes his personal value is tied to a contract figure. Even P. Manning has to out do other QBs contracts and all at the expense of the rest of the team. These guys are not models to follow. They are examples of the ME Generation (Whats in it for me). ONLY Brady took less to maximize his teams capability, which showed through when he was injured. And Brady's attitude/insight that it's a dream to get paid millions for a game he loves to play, so why try to squeeze out another million, is refreshing. Regardless of stats, wins or SB victories, these other QBs are not in Brady's class. In fact, they lack it.
344 Days ago

mrdude5410

I don't like Brady, but I agree with the rest of your post.
344 Days ago

Shags Cents

I like Brees and I have no problem with him trying to get a good contract but geez...how much money does 1 person need
344 Days ago

MilitStrat54

The good man that he may have once been has been replaced with one who has the need to be the highest paid and thereby viewed as the best. Wait...sounds a lot like a magnificent creation I once heard of...think his name was Lucifer. Not condemning just food for thought. It's sad when someone offers you $19M and change (or second position in Gods kingdom) and you don't jump for joy, but instead wants to know what the other guy is making. Lucifer was so in awe of his own abilities that he wanted to have a higher pay scale than God. I pray that Drew will discern the blessing with which he has been gifted, exercise wisdom and return to the quality individual he once was. So Sad, sad, sad.
344 Days ago

SoonerBoy1981

As a big time Saints fan I can step back and look at this from both sides. Drew rightfully feels that he should be a top paid QB,...the man has proven himself consistently since landing in NOLA,...he has been instrumental in making Saints football relevant,...from the teams perspective they have to be careful not have their hands tied with long term salary cap problems. Drew needs to make sure that this contract sets him up,...it has a good chance of being his last. The team needs to show a strong united front in not being strong armed by a player and with Drew being THE player he makes a great example. The end all be all is that losing Drew would be a setback for a team that has become a consistent NFC title contender. Drew knows this and at the end of the day really does have more leverage than the team,...the idiotic Franchise Tag just distorts the subject.
344 Days ago

jcons82

Too much money to be lost on both sides if Brees doesnt sign....
344 Days ago

Devin53045

brees should already be set for life. he's made over $60 million thus far in his career.
344 Days ago