Meh.... everybody thinks its the end of the world. Probably a really smart football move for the saints. They save ~7 million in cap space, can re-sign nicks and colston right away, and Brees will now be forced into having a stellar year, with the Superbowl in the dome. Kind of acknowledging that this group has 1 more season to get it done, expect big house cleaning next year.
Carl Nicks says he will accept a fair market value offer from the Saints and bypass free agency. That remains to be seen if A) the Saints offer such a contract, and B) he really does accept it.
I don't think the negotiating ends here with Brees, unless the feeling is if they can get him to next year, the team will be in a better financial position to give him the kind of deal he wants. If he realizes this, he may be willing to accept the one-year tender, which I believe would bring him around 16 million this year.
It's still a fumble by Saints management. Brees has been lighting it up for years, no reason for it to come down to this. Should have inked him at the beginning of last season, no way they can afford to let him go. If it becomes a bidding war after this season the Saints will end up paying him tons more or losing him because he feels disrespected.
i believe your thinking is wrong. Scenarios: 1.) brees/saints stink it up --- then the move was good. 2.) brees/saints win superbowl --- then the move was good. (brees will be driven to play well to get that long term deal from someone, saints or otherwise) 3.) brees gets injured --- move was good 4.) brees is mediocre, team around him solid --- move was good. 5.) brees is stellar, team sucks -- move is bad/questionable (as he may want to bolt then) --- however, if we are that bad, then obviously rebuilding would be in order next year so maybe the move isnt so bad. did i miss any? they offered him 18MM/year which is exactly what brady and manning make (brady is 18mm/year, mannings contract averages 18mm year). he does not deserve more (manning has been to 2 sb (won 1), brady 5 (won 3). mannings contract is also an example of what NOT to do for teams.
If he plays this year at 14.4 then it is bad. It will create animosity as he will continue to be underpaid. We have to get a deal done before the season period. We got him on the cheap for 6 years because of his shoulder but that is over. Nobody owes anyone anything for the past. It's a straight up deal and he's worth more than 14.4. If he plays for less, it will sting.
