Drew Brees

Drew Brees was offered the franchise tag this season by the Saints. That means he'll get paid really well this season but he has no ongoing contract.

The Saints and Brees are close on a 5 year $100 million deal BUT Brees wants at least $10 million more written into that contract in guaranteed money.

The Saints don't want to do that.

Brees says he doesn't want to report or accept the franchise tag. He did once before in his career  at San Diego and got hurt the year he did that. As a result he only made $10 million a year the last six years, about half of what a QB of his stats and stature should be making. He does not want that to happen again so he will be holding out.

Football is a weird sport for contracts. Players get offered huge money deals long term all the time but it's always dependent on the team not cutting the player. If they are cut they usually receive nothing but their guarantees which are a fraction of the "big deal" they signed.

My Take:


At 33, Brees might not be worth a 5-year deal. But he is worth an extra $10 million in guaranteed money as a bonus for years of faithful service. Sign him and cut him in three years. That's what every other team does. I don't see why this situation should be any different.

I'm not sure what game New Orleans is playing, but it's not the game everyone else plays.