Free Jimmy John's sandwiches are on the long list of guarantees when the Saints sign Brees.
When the New Orleans Saints take the field in their first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game in a little less than a month, Drew Brees is expected to be the starting quarterback for the black-and-gold. At the beginning of what has turned out to be the most embarrassing, frustrating, pick-whatever-negative-adjective-here offseason in the history of the franchise, everyone expected the Saints to resign their franchise signal caller quickly and without much fanfare. The resigning of Brees by the Saints is (was?) supposed to be the all-time no-brainer move.Fast forward to now. Drew Brees is still, amazingly, unsigned. The biggest impasse between Brees and the New Orleans front office? A difference of about $5 million per year according to Yahoo! Sports; Brees is seeking around $23 million a year, while the Saints are looking in the $18 million a year range. $5 million is a lot of money, from most people’s perspectives. However, considering Forbes valued the team at $965 million at the beginning of the 2011-12 season, that $5 million figure doesn’t seem as looming.
Brees now has until July 16, a week from today, to either (a) sign the franchise tag placed upon him at the beginning of this crap-tastic offseason or (b) agree to a long term deal with the team.
The most mind-numbing part of this whole ordeal? The Saints know exactly what they would get from Brees in a long term deal, and still have yet to make a move. Ironically, when Brees was an unproven free agent in 2006, coming off of a torn rotator cuff, the Saints were more than happy to shell out $60 million over 6 years. In his six seasons, Brees has set NFL records for passing yardage in a season, completion percentage in a season, was the main reason for the team’s lone championship, and has become the Greatest Saint Ever (all apologies to Archie).
In retrospect, the original $60 million/6 year deal was amazingly below market value and one of the greatest bargains in the history of sports free agency, NFL or otherwise. Can you really blame Brees for wanting to be paid well after out performing his last contract?
The argument has been made that awarding a contract based upon past performance can be financially deadly for a franchise, especially for one that has salary cap restrictions. Sure, there is some validity to that. However, in the NFL, where passing is king, where rules have been altered to aid offenses, where, along with NBA, star power is hugely important for both the on field product and the television one, where having an elite quarterback is the difference between 8 wins and 12, paying Brees adequately will not bite the Saints in the rear end.
Here’s what the Saints are guaranteed with Brees under center: 9 to 11 wins, your team is in the playoff hunt every season, a few Monday Night/Sunday Night Football appearances, a high national following, free Jimmy John’s sandwiches. Not a bad package. Even without Sean Payton on the sideline, the Saints are still in the playoff conversation in late November if Brees is throwing passes. They might not win the division this year (Atlanta is still good, Carolina could be a sleeper team this year, a la Detroit a season ago, and Tampa Bay always seems to give New Orleans fits), but the Saints will keep things interesting late in the season. That can’t be said for many teams out there. (Yep. We’re looking at you, Jacksonville, Minnesota, Tennessee, Arizona, Kansas City, Miami….)
Which brings us back to square one. Why hasn’t this deal happened yet? Do the Saints really undervalue Brees that much? Is Benson that cheap? Is Brees asking for too much? Who knows? A deal will get done; I can’t imagine the Saints simply showing him the door. Post-Decision Cleveland-style riots would ensue if Brees walked via free agency or was traded.
The next week will be interesting. Stay tuned.
