Drew Brees' Negotiations with the Saints Aren't Going Well, But They Will Get a Deal Done

Well, so far, things are not going well, and now we are getting reports from the media. Jason Cole has this account, claiming sources who say that GM Mickey Loomis was calling Drew Brees “very good” and not “great” at the Combine. Cole also provides a piece that operates as good flak for Brees’ agent, and that they hope the Saints follow. According to Cole, “Brees can name his price. Is he worth $20 million a year? How about $25 million?” and later, saying that “the Saints need to realize that Brees is a bargain at any price.”

Every player has a price, even the best ones. No doubt Drew Brees will be paid a lot of money, probably the most in the league as each year the next big QB free agent will set the market, and the question is likely just where that market is set. We are getting the PR blitz now that comes with these negotiations. If the Saints are smart, they won’t engage in it, and just work toward the deal.

Mike Triplett of the Times-Picayune has a breakdown of other deals, and how they might be impacting the negotiation. Tom Brady, for example, signed an extension that averaged 18 million for 4 more seasons. Peyton Manning’s recently negotiated one exceeded that over the first three seasons (though he will not realize that amount now).

"Plus, the franchise tag serves as a baseline. The Saints could use the non-exclusive franchise tag on Brees for the next three years, starting with a projected $14.4 million this season, then a required raise of 20 percent in 2013 and a raise of 44 percent in 2014. That projected total would be around $57 million for three years, which is still less than Brees is expected to get in a long-term contract."

This is an excellent point by Triplett, and why I think the deal ultimately gets done at the 11th hour before Monday’s deadline. Both sides have an incentive to maximize (money for Brees, cap space for the Saints), but they also both have incentive to get the deal done by the deadline. Brees’ leverage is that franchise tag, but if the Saints have to use it on him and lose the capability of using it on others, the incentive to give him a little more goes down. It’s also in Brees’ interest not to lose both Colston and Nicks as teammates (my story in January mentioned the outcome for other teams that lost both a top receiver and pro bowl guard).

Just like with last year’s lockout negotiations, in which Brees played a prominent role, I think the sides ultimately get together because they have too much incentive not to do so. It may not happen until late Sunday night, though, as both use the leverage of the franchise tag until the last possible moment. My guess is Brees will be the highest paid player after this is done, at around 21-22 million per, even if it is not as much as Jason Cole would have given him.

[photo via US Presswire]