New Orleans Saints Make New Offer To Drew Brees
By Mike Dyce
Yesterday New Orleans Saints’ GM Mickey Loomis submitted a new contract proposal to Drew Brees’ representatives in an attempt to get a contract done before the franchise tag deadline. Brees’ agent Tom Condon has said that the two sides differ by about $2 million per year, but after a long period of silence resumed talks earlier this week.
But according to ESPN’s sources the renewed talks have not created a breakthrough. This new proposal is at least to get the conversation going again and bring both parties to the proverbial table. So far the following issues are still present between the sides: guaranteed money, Brees’ desire to make $20.3 million annually. Brees has provided devices to lower his salary cap number offer the length of the contract.
Brees realizes this could be the last contract of his career and that is why he is taking such a hard stance and not being very willing to negotiate down from what he wants and thinks he deserves. Brees, at 33, hasn’t seen a drop off in production since leading the franchise to their first Super Bowl victory a few years ago. Last season Brees broke Dan Marino’s single-season passing record and has been one of the most prolific passes, if not the most, since coming to New Orleans in 2006.
The contract Brees wants would make him the highest paid player in the NFL, surpassing fellow QB Peyton Manning. Terms of Loomis’ new contract proposal were not made public.
Brees hasnt been at OTAs since he is unsigned and hasn’t accepted the franchise tag yet. In one of many legal quarrels between the union and the NFL season, attorney Jeffrey Kessler, and attorney on retainer with the NFLPA, has a grievance tentatively scheduled for late June with arbitrator Stephen Burbank to determine the designation of Brees’ franchise tag. Brees was tagged once before while playing for the San Diego Chargers so they are trying to sort out whether this is Brees’ first or second tag. This current tag would bring Brees $16.731 million this season. Far below what he is trying to earn.
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