Good article on the difficult task facing the Saints in signing Drew long term

I understand saints not having a lot of leverage but the leverage of drew having to leave is kind of our leverage. I don't think Drew wants to leave. Does he really wan tto have to start over with a new franchise, new coach, new city at this point in his career age wise and family wise with kids. Yes it all can be done, Peyton was kind of forced to with the Indy situation. I mean, I'm sure Saints know they'll have to hand out probably the largest 3 yr deal ever to drew, but they aren't going to over target those numbers by much. If drew is really asking for astronomical numbers, then he's going to have to get them likely from a bad team. Saints aren't cash strapped heading into next season. That whole angle of this is played out now. I mean, if Drew does have a year where Saints feel his body may start to be breaking down, its a game changer for sure. I dont' think that's the case. Hopefully we're able to keep him protected like we've normally done during his tenure which is another reason drew has done well here.

LINK

Decent article but it definitely had some flaws.

The biggest being that the Saints let Brees have this advantage. Brees wanted to play out his last contract to maximise his next one, and then his agent helped guide that contract to where we are now at this point.

They knew exactly what they were doing and unless we wanted to let him just walk there was literally nothing else we could have done.

quote:

---

The biggest being that the Saints let Brees have this advantage.

---

Isn't there some truth to this since it would not have been that great of a savings if they tried to extend him last offseason?

quote:

---

Isn't there some truth to this since it would not have been that great of a savings if they tried to extend him last offseason?

---

Depsite what may or may not have been said, it's been Brees and Condon's intention to let this contract play out just like the last one.

The adjustment they were willing to do to bring in Norman was just adding a void year next year and pushing this year's hit into next year. It was never going to be a true extension.

I feared this was the case after we didn't extend him last year, and after what's been said this year it is definitely the case.

Brees' agent knows what he's doing, and Brees is going to let him do his job because of the "political" position his is in in the union.

The only question remaining is if Brees will truly leave for more money or cave for slightly less to stay (because he isn't staying for a ton less).

So either we cave now and pay him more than what should be reasonable (only way he extends now), or we gamble on how much he loves us.

Once the season hits we have to pay an extra $1 mil, and then have enough to pay the PS players each week, though that's pay as you go.

It'll be no more than $2 mil with about a mil left over for emergencies.

In other words, it's what we normally have left every year at this point. No coincidence we will have that amount come June 1st.

quote:

---

In other words, it's what we normally have left every year at this point.

---

That's what I thought, the way they wrote it made it sound like there would need to be further cuts to make sure we have a full roster.

Sean Payton hasn't shown any signs of coaching a new QB other than Brees. He'll be back it will just take some negotiations