quote:
I have done nothing except see that economically and public relations wise, the Saints management is acting as though they are oblivious to the criticism and the blood in the water.

As well they should. First, they have a long waiting list for tickets, so they can afford to piss off a few crazy people. Also, fans don't care about the business side unless it effects them, like the GM making a stupid signing or ticket prices going up. At this point what has gone on doesn't actually effect the fans. Some think it does and are claiming pain and suffering like you did in the OP, but it really doesn't. We saw the exact same thing with both the NFL and NBA lockouts. Lots of negative PR for the leagues, fans bitching and moaning about never coming back, but both leagues managed to save their seasons and the fans came back and everyone is more or less happy now.

Even Bobby Hebert had been pointing to July 16th as the Oh shite date many months ago. How this process was going to unfold was obvious even to drunken cajuns. Both sides have too much to lose to go past the Oh shite date. If they do then shame on both of them and I'll join you in picking up my torch and pitchfork, but if they get the deal done then this thing is playing out exactly as it was scripted, Brees will be in camp and everything will get back to normal. There is no need to send management a message for doing what the NFL system requires of them.

I personally have been in favor of giving Brees what he wanted, screwing the cap and planing to rebuild rather than reload after the window closes on the Brees era. But if Mickey wants to save every penny and try to keep things moving let him try. The $750k they are currently apart amounts to 2-3 undrafted rookie FAs, nickel and diming Brees might allow the Saints to find the next Pierre Thomas or Chris Ivory, and cheap talent will be important as Bree's cap number rises significantly.