Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The question isn't if Drew Brees and the
New Orleans Saints will ever come to an agreement on a long-term contract --
the benefits to each side are so favorable that anything other than doing so
makes absolutely no sense.
Still, as the most prominent and important player negotiation not involving
Peyton Manning of this offseason keeps dragging at a pace that's completely
contradictory to the Saints' quick-striking offense, both the team and its
record-breaking quarterback continue to gamble with their respective
credibility as the deadline draws near.
Brees' victory in his grievance case against the Saints and the NFL, in which
independent arbitrator Stephen Burbank ruled on Tuesday that the 2011
Offensive Player of the Year can be considered a three-time recipient of the
franchise tag if New Orleans applies the designation for next season, should
give the Saints additional incentive to cutting a deal by July 16, the last
day clubs can negotiate with franchise players. The decision allows Brees to
be eligible for a 144 percent raise if he's again tagged in 2013, which would
increase his salary to a whopping $23.574 million for that year.
One can make a very strong argument that Brees is worth every penny of that
exorbitant rate of pay. He's been the savior of a franchise that hit rock
bottom the year before his arrival, winning a mere three times during a 2005
season filled with heartache and adversity, and an absolute shining light to a
city that had been in ruins due to the tragic devastation of Hurricane
Katrina.
New Orleans made the playoffs just once in the 13-year span that preceded the
amazingly savvy additions of Brees and head coach Sean Payton in 2006. In six
seasons since, the Saints have won 62 regular season games -- second only to
Green Bay (63) for tops in the NFC -- reached the postseason four times,
captured three division titles and claimed their first and only world
championship.
Needless to say, the team has gotten well more than its money's worth when it
signed Brees to a $60 million pact six years ago, a risky venture at the time
for a quarterback coming off career-threatening surgery to his throwing
shoulder. A roll of the dice for sure, but a leap of faith that turned out to
be one heck of a bargain in the end.
With less-credentialed cohorts such as Sam Bradford, Jay Cutler, Tony Romo,
Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan and Michael Vick all securing contracts with a
higher average salary, there's little question that Brees has been underpaid.
And he probably still would be if the Saints decide to let him play out this
season under the franchise figure of $16.371 million. But with little wiggle
room under the cap at the moment and aspirations that remain high even after
Payton's league-imposed exile and the Bountygate repercussions, it'd be in the
club's best interest to work out a multi-year deal that lessens his short-term
hit.
And Brees clearly doesn't have a desire to play anywhere else. He's on a
legitimate Super Bowl contender with a pass-happy offense perfectly suited to
his strengths, not to mention an icon in a community in which he and his wife
have invested enormous amounts of their time and resources towards charitable
causes.
So, what's the holdup here?
Well, for one, the five-year, $96 million deal Manning got from Denver in
March despite not playing a single down last season certainly didn't help
untangle what was already an complicated process between Brees and the Saints.
Neither did Burbank's judgement to a great degree, as New Orleans still holds
some leverage with the exclusive franchise tag. Brees can't play anywhere else
unless he forces a trade, and runs the risk of jeopardizing his market value
if he gets hurt while playing under the tag in 2012 -- though that wasn't
really true in Manning's case.
And as always, there's some ego involved as well.
The dogged competitiveness that's made Brees one of the game's greats on the
field has shown up at the bargaining table as well, as his desire to surpass
Manning as the league's highest earner has played some part in stalling talks.
It's a goal that may be more easily attainable now that he's been determined
to be a two-time franchise designee (the first came while with San Diego in
2005, with the Saints arguing that it shouldn't apply since it was from
another team), but one that could lead to unintended negative consequences
down the line.
Brees could achieve that mark simply by agreeing to be tagged in both 2012 and
2013 (though it's improbable the Saints do so next season), but the ripple
effect likely greatly diminishes the chances of accomplishing his other
primary objective: winning a second Super Bowl. It would take some awfully
creative accounting by general manager Mickey Loomis -- and a whole lot of
sacrificing from some of Brees' teammates -- to fit a $23.5 million salary
under the current cap without some roster downsizing that compromises New
Orleans' championship chances.
As a player who's prided himself on being a leader and harboring a team-first
attitude, that's a situation that Brees shouldn't be comfortable with,
therefore he'll need to be careful in walking the very fine line between fair
compensation and all-out greed.
He's also a smart guy who can see the big picture, however, and the Saints
didn't get to their enviable position as one of the NFL's elite by making dumb
and short-sighted decisions (regardless of what the league may think on
certain issues). That's why when July 16 comes around, there's a real good
chance a deal is finally struck.
But as the Saints' eventful history has shown, things are never easy in the
Big Easy.
The Sports Network