Right now Drew Brees is just playing a game of chicken with the Saints and while I am for players getting every dime they can, you can’t say the Saints haven’t given him fair offers.
At least three to my knowledge that would make him the highest player in the history of the NFL, but he wants more. Because he has ring protection no one will point that out, but the only person stopping Drew Brees from playing is Drew Brees.
If Drew Brees does not have a long-term contract in place by Monday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, the New Orleans Saints quarterback has no plans to sign his franchise tender and report to training camp, according to league and team sources.
Brees and the Saints must work out a long-term contract by July 16 or he will be required to play the 2012 season under his $16.371 million exclusive-rights franchise tender that restricts the free agent from signing with another team.
However, sources say Brees has made it clear to confidants that he will not sign the tender and report to Saints training camp when it begins July 24. The sources also said that even though Brees is on record as saying he won’t miss the regular season, he may leave the Saints guessing as to whether he will report in time for the team’s opener against the Washington Redskins on Sept. 9.
The Saints have offered Brees a contract that would average $19.25 million per year, a team source said, which is slightly more than the $19.2 million the Denver Broncos gave Peyton Manning.
Brees is seeking an average of $20.5 million per year, sources said, and is justifying his position based on his performance during his six years with the Saints, which included a Super Bowl MVP after Brees led the franchise to its first title during the 2009 season.