Brees growing 'frustrated' over contract

[panthers55]

Right now the franchise taq for quarterbacks is 16.4 million. Next year his salary jumps to 19.6 or 120% and the year after it goes to 23.3. The gap is speculated to be the difference between 17 million and 23 million. Obviously by 2014 they will be paying that much but would have the advantage of not having to guarantee money up front and would be working on one year deals so Brees would have to stay productive. I guess we know why Brees added himself to that lawsuit to do away with free agency and the franchise tag system.

If they are within 5-6 million it seems hard to understand why they are being so stupid about paying him. After all they ought to be able to structure it in such a manner to limit the cap hit until 2014 when the cap goes way up. If Brees is gone they will lose 5 million in ticket sales alone each year. With all the things you can do with the cap, it makes no sense to say you couldn't sign other players because you paid him too much.

[rayzor]

very good read by andrew brandt on the situation and each side's case (as he saw it happening) here: Negotiations not a Brees

excerpt:

Brees' Arguments

The Marketplace: Condon is using the Brady, Manning, and Vick contracts as jumping off points to – as all good agents do – selectively cull statistics to make the case that Brees is more valuable than all of them.

Here are some relevant numbers in terms of average per year (APY) and guaranteed money:

• Manning: $23 million APY (first three years); $54.4 million guaranteed assuming option exercise in 2012

• Brady: $18 million APY; $48.5 million guaranteed

• Vick: $16 million APY; $35.5 million guaranteed

The Manning contract will be used by both sides.

Condon contends that Brees should be compensated similar to Manning's $23 million three-year APY, as that contract was (1) negotiated by Condon and (2) best represents the current compensation for a premier quarterback. Condon will point out that Manning had two neck surgeries prior to this contract – and a third since – and is three years older than Brees with an uncertain future ahead.

Condon distinguishes the $18 million APY in the Brady deal by pointing out that it is over a year old and therefore not as accurate a data point as Manning. As to Vick, Condon distinguishes it as based on Vick's one-year sample rather than Brees' sustained performance.

The Stats:

Condon argues that Brees is statistically superior to all three quarterbacks, arguing that since 2006, Brees has averaged more passing yards per season (4584) than both Manning (4327) and Brady (4158 – excluding the 2008 season lost to injury). Over that same period, Brees has thrown for the same number of touchdowns as Manning – 155, or an average of 31 per year.

Consistency:

Condon is stressing Brees’consistency and durability, missing only one game due to injury in five seasons. The Saints have averaged nearly 10 wins per season during that span.

Intangibles:

Condon will stress that there may be no player in the NFL more aligned not only with his team and community. Brees is a Super Bowl MVP hero who has provided hope to a city in desperate need of inspiration after the tragic Hurricane Katrina experience. Simply, he is the heart and soul of the Saints organization and the region.

the rest of the article is really good. the saints argument is pretty lame.

one really interesting thing i'd point out is that this article was written September 29, 2011.

[rayzor]

:lol:

LHolderCBS #Saints offered Brees a contract before '11 season to make him highest paid player in NFL and Brees turned it down, via a league source.

[Frizzy350]

That would make him the highest paid player in the NFL. Looks like at least one of their players has a shred of humanity in them :P.

Source: Front Page of NFL.com

[CatMan72]

LOL, it's getting ugly.

[CarolinaNCSU]

If I'm Brees, I bolt now. Why in the hell would you stay in NO now?

[megadeth078]

[Panths]

I guarantee he knew about this head hunting. The high and mighty Breesus will play ignorant and disgusted of the whole situation and get out of NO claiming he doesn't condone these actions, maintaining his shiny white image and getting paid elsewhere.

[Frizzy350]

I guarantee he knew about this head hunting. The high and mighty Breesus will play ignorant and disgusted of the whole situation and get out of NO claiming he doesn't condone these actions, maintaining his shiny white image and getting paid elsewhere.

Maybe so, but now he's out of our way.

[Kakarot]

If I'm Brees, I bolt now. Why in the hell would you stay in NO now?

Brees doesn't have a choice but to stay in New Orleans for the time being. They're gonna slap the tag on him Monday if he doesnt sign a contract.

[rodeo]

Give him a shot. After a couple years learning behind Cam he'd make a solid back-up for us.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Give him a shot. After a couple years learning behind Cam he'd make a solid back-up for us.

Carolina Chargers

[mav1234]

What if it turns out Brees is the one that brought this down on the Saints and the reason he refused to sign was because he knew there would be a firestorm?

I have always thought Brees was a decent guy even if the coaches and some of the other players around him were questionable at times.

[Peppers90 NC]

:lol:

dude, dont you know? brees doesnt want that much money, he cares so much about the team and especially about the city, he wants to take less so the Stains can resign their guys.

Psych!