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Wide receiver Hines Ward will be released by the Steelers after 14 years with the franchise, the team announced. “This isn’t how I wanted this chapter of my career to end,” Ward said in a statement. “I did everything in my power to remain a Steeler and finish what…
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Nicks said the team might as well sign him long term
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Frustration has built with New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees , according to sources with knowledge of the situation, and the Saints will franchise him, short of a rapidly developing long-term deal.
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To the dismay of New Orleans Saints fans, their team still remains far apart in a long-term deal with franchise quarterback Drew Brees.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday morning that the Saints will likely use their franchise tag on Brees if an agreement isn’t made by the Monday, the March 5th deadline.
This is bad, bad news for the Saints.
Acquired before the 2006 season, Brees turned one of the NFL‘s most lethargic organizations into a perennial Super Bowl contender. The Saints had only seven winning seasons in 39 years before Brees, who has brought a Super Bowl and three divisional crowns in just six seasons.
Placing a franchise tag on Brees would also be a monumental mistake. Both parties have been confident for what has seemingly been years that a long-term deal will get worked out before free agency begins. Putting a franchise tag on him opens the question of whether or not they’d get a deal done next offseason.
Brees has been only a small part of the offseason talk in New Orleans. The front office is scrambling to keep Marques Colston, Brees’ favorite target and one of the most solid pass-catchers in the league.
Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks is also an impending free agent and the Saints are making efforts to re-sign him. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2011 along with Saints guard Jahri Evans, the first time a pair of guards from the same team have accomplished the feat since 1953.
The Saints would love to use their franchise tag on one of these two stars to keep them in house and give them the pay they deserve.
If they end up using the tag on Brees, they forfeit that ability as well as put the thought in the free agents’ minds that Brees may not be around much longer. Both would most likely test out the market if that were to happen.
Could it possibly be a bit of bartering done by the Saints with the news today? They want Brees to know that the franchise tag is available for him of course, but he has to be thinking what the repercussions would be if he were to take it. With a lot of teams in the market for a big-threat wide receiver, he might have to kiss Colston goodbye upon taking the team’s tag.
His career has been historic in New Orleans. His career completion percentage is the highest in NFL history (65.94) and he also holds the single-season NFL record with a 71.2 completion percentage last season.
He has been performing as well as the league’s top quarterbacks, and even better in many facets. He’s only made $10 million per year in New Orleans, which is small compared to the likes of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady who make nearly twice as much.
He’s arguably the only quarterback ever to lose his starting job on one team (San Diego) and become one of the best in NFL history with a new team, which was no easy task considering the state of New Orleans when he arrived.
Oh yeah and last year he broke the record for passing yards in a season held by none other than Dan Marino.
In just six seasons, Brees has captured nearly every career franchise record including passing attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns. He also has seven single-season records and five single-game records for New Orleans.
Despite his historic success with the Saints, his biggest influence to New Orleans is in the community.
Coming off an elbow injury in the 2005 Pro Bowl, Brees decided to come to New Orleans despite the city recently being torn to shreds by Hurricane Katrina.
The damages were apparent and can still be seen in some parts of the city. Brees and his wife Brittany have formed the Brees Dream Foundation, which has raised about $2 million for rebuilding efforts. Brees himself donated $450,000 to help rebuild classrooms and a football field at Lusher Charter School.
Even their stadium, then named The Superdome, was ravaged by both storms and those who stayed there during the hurricane.
Hurricane Katrina transformed the Saints into a movement. It was the chance for New Orleans to prove they could do anything, whether it was rebuilding the city from one of the worst natural disasters in US history or turning one of the worst pro football franchises into a Super Bowl contender.
With the help of Brees, they did both.
The Saints have shaped to Brees’ style of play, thanks in large part to his charismatic chemistry with head coach Sean Payton. It would be hard for anyone associated with football to think of one without the other.
Drew Brees will always have a place in New Orleans natives’ hearts, whether he finishes his career there or not. Though, if they want to remain the lone relevant sports organization in the city, they’ll give Brees the money he deserves.
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While it’s no secret that the Washington Redskins have a major need at the quarterback position, the team…
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TWEETS:
Carl Nicks @bigbrickhouse77So I guess people are getting hot so I’ll just say this… I want to be a saint but I want what’s fare… Be mad… If u don’t like it…
Carl Nicks @bigbrickhouse77@jgoody59 so I guess people aren’t feeling my comments… I guess I should calm down huh?
New Orleans Saints @SaintsRoaf will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday (Aug. 4). Saints-Cardinals on Sunday (Aug. 5)
Jeff Duncan @JeffDuncanTPSaints kickoff season in 5 months, 5 days. RT @Saints: Saints and Cardinals Will Open Preseason in Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 5
Jeff Duncan @JeffDuncanTPSaints-Cardinals Hall of Fame Game will be televised by NFL Network on Aug. 5.
Lance Moore @LanceMoore16Nice cardio, core and neck day w @AlfredFincher56 now it’s shake and shower time lol. Get it right get it tight
Courtney Roby @robyslyfeMy baby has 2 teeth coming in..my heart jus dropped..
New Orleans Saints @SaintsSaints and Cardinals Will Open Preseason in Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 5
New Orleans Saints @SaintsThe Pro Football Hall of Fame Game will be televised nationally on @NFLNetwork with kickoff set for 7 pm CT
Will Smith @iWillSmithChatting with Saints fans at 5pm EST TODAY. Football talk, prizes, and more.. @SOTLNFL bit.ly/xg7HGM
Johnny Patrick @JohnnyPatrick32Time will tell…. I’m still living everyday like its my last… Enjoying the moments…
jonathan goodwin @jgoody59@bigbrickhouse77 your twitter, your thoughts, and your life homie. Besides I know you won’t hold your tongue for anyone.
Carl Nicks @bigbrickhouse77@jgoody59 better believe I won’t boi!!!
Carl Nicks @bigbrickhouse77@jgoody59 lol
New Orleans Saints @Saints.@camjordan94 leaps to block a pass by Falcons‘ Matt Ryan twitpic.com/8qayv2 #LeapDay #Saints
Malcolm Jenkins @MalcolmJenkinsHad a nice workout earlier… Bout to go grab some lunch and tackle the business side of life.
Courtney Roby @robyslyfeMan it’s 70 degrees outside..time to make moves!!
Carl Nicks @bigbrickhouse77I don’t want to be franchised!!!!
Jermon Bushrod @j_bushrod7475I hope so… “@Mikemaza11: @j_bushrod7475 were keeping nicks right?”
Malcolm Jenkins @MalcolmJenkins@CSCtweet thank you for your forgiveness! Lol Like you I am excited about this upcoming season
Malcolm Jenkins @MalcolmJenkins@CSCtweet you can’t stay mad at a Jersey Boy
Malcolm Jenkins @MalcolmJenkins“@CSCtweet: Forgiving @MalcolmJenkins —>> sbn.to/zwvSue” I had no idea people were still mad at that.
Greg Romeus @GregRomeus91“1 universe, 8 planets, 204 countries, 804 islands, 7 seas, 7 billion people don’t let 1 ruin your day”
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefterWho would you like to see the New York Giants face in the Wednesday night NFL season opener? Dallas, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, or New Orleans?
Carl Nicks @bigbrickhouse77Man… 6 days counting today! I just want it to be over!…(Keisha Cole voice)
cameron jordan @camjordan94I kno after today’s workouts imma hit my man @HellaTight up gotta get some new snapbacks
Lance Moore @LanceMoore16I had a dream last night that I was swept away by a tornado lol. What in sam hill does that mean???
New Orleans Saints @SaintsIn honor of #LeapDay, we will post some of the best pics of Saints leaps from last season: @TheJimmyGraham vs Houston twitpic.com/8q80y0
Jeremy Shockey @JeremyShockeyIn the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away – shing xiong
Lance Moore @LanceMoore16Happy leap day everybody. You only get one every four years so make sure you make the most of it.
SAINTS:
Nicks still wondering what will happen as franchise tag deadline approaches | wwltv.com New Orleans
Carl Nicks is likely eyeing his calendar these days with a stress-inducing panic. March 5 is approaching and he has no idea what’s happening in regard to his long-term future.
Report: Saints, Brees far apart | wwltv.com New Orleans
With the deadline to designate a player with a franchise tag fast approaching, it’s beginning to seem more likely that the Saints will hit quarterback Drew Brees with it.
ManningWatch: Alternative to Drew Brees? – NFC South Blog – ESPN
This is very far-fetched and probably incomprehensible. But, with every day that quarterback Drew Brees remains unsigned, there’s a growing pan
Drew Brees asked to be exempt from tag – NFC South Blog – ESPN
Back in the dull days of last summer’s lockout there was a story that got some brief attention, but quietly faded away as a new collective barga
Nicks doesn’t want to get the franchise tag | ProFootballTalk
Previously on Twitter, Saints Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks shared his anxiety regarding the looming expiration of his contract. If the team and quarterback Drew Brees work out a contract in the next few days, Nicks gets the franchise tag.
New Orleans Saints re-sign safety Jonathon Amaya – New Orleans Saints Football NFL News – NOLA.com
Amaya was exclusive rights free agent
New Orleans Saints re-sign receiver Adrian Arrington, long snapper Justin Drescher – New Orleans Saints Football NFL News – NOLA.com
Arrington, Drescher were exclusive rights free agents
Carl Nicks’ anxiety level: “a hundred thousand trillion” | ProFootballTalk
“Man I don’t know what to do? My anxiety is on a hundred thousand trillion!…march 5 is a big day!?” Nicks wrote on Twitter this week. “I think I should start a countdown to the 5th… Stuffs getting real!”
Saints Agree to Terms with Three Players
Halftime Voodoo ” Have No Fear, Saints Fans: GM Loomis Proven Talent-Evaluator
Reggie Wayne could thrive with the New Orleans Saints
On this assumption it would also be realistic to think that the odd-man out would be Colston, as the Saints could likely manufacture his production with other receivers already on the roster.
New Orleans Saints continue to work on new contract for Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints Football NFL News – NOLA.com
News and notes
Superdome architect liked top seats: A letter to the editor | NOLA.com
The Saints are fools for their treatment of Brees – CBSSports.com
FreeStyle – The Saints are fools for their treatment of Brees
Saints prepared to franchise Drew Brees – NFC South Blog – ESPN
This is approaching crisis stage. The Saints are on the verge of losing Colston and Nicks and they’ll probably need to cut several other prominent players to stay under the salary cap. The Saints will be able to keep Brees, one way or another, but it’s looking like their roster won’t be nearly the same.
There’s only one Darren Sproles – NFC South Blog – ESPN
He’s a unique player, who has defied all the stereotypes about being too short and too light. The caveat with those usually is that the player can’t be durable enough to be a long-term factor.
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints still far apart on new contract, sources say – ESPN
Saints and quarterback Drew Brees still remain a ways apart in their efforts to produce a long-term contract, according to league sources.
NFL.com Blogs ” Blog Archive Saints likely to franchise Brees; QB frustrated “
Frustration has built with New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, and the Saints will franchise him, short of a rapidly developing long-term deal.
LAGNIAPPE:
NFL season will kick off with Wednesday night game in New York – New Orleans Saints Football NFL News – NOLA.com
League is trying to avoid conflict with president’s speech
