The Facts:
Following up on the
ongoing story. ... The chances of Brees signing a long-term contract with the Saints before the first OTA practice May 22 are practically zero. In fact, the two sides may wait until the final hour before the July 16 NFL deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals. Nobody has picked up the phone for more than a month to resuscitate talks, and there's no indication either side will reach out in the near future.
Reported by the New Orleans Times-Picayune
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
So wrote Times-Picayune staffer Mike Triplett, who added the only unusual thing about these contract negotiations so far is that they have played out the same way as most contract negotiations. As Triplett suggested: "We all thought it might be different with Brees and the Saints, him being such a "team guy," and the Saints being so devoted to him. We all thought Brees might offer a hometown discount, while the Saints offered a blank check. ... Instead, we're seeing the exact same thing we see with almost every player who gets a franchise tag, every first-round draft pick and every player who holds out for a new contract. Instead of getting the deal done early because it would benefit both sides, they're going to wait until practices are missed, feelings are hurt and pressure mounts. ..." Given the current circumstances in New Orleans -- especially the leadership void left by Sean Peyton's suspension -- getting Brees on board sooner rather than later seems like a wise course. And neither side is being unreasonable in its demands. Unfortunately, as Triplett notes, both parties are just being uncooperative. And like most big-money deals, they tend to get done when there is real -- as opposed to artificial -- urgency. And we're just not there yet. ... Stay tuned.
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