The New Orleans Saints have tagged Drew Brees as the clubs franchise quarterback after both sides couldn’t agree to a long-term contract.
The current quarterback franchise tag carries with it a $14.4 million cap which could be increase this spring when quarterback cap numbers are re-evaluated by the league.
Both sides are believed to remain millions of dollars apart in negotiations and the Saints were afraid they would lose Brees to free agency if they didn’t use the franchise tag.
According to NFL insiders Brees is seeking a $23 million per season contract for the first three years of the team, the same amount Peyton Manning’s contract averages for the first three years.
In the meantime the New Orleans Saints are believed to offer Brees just $18 million per year. That amount would be the same money the New England Patriots are paying to Tom Brady.
News of the franchise tag comes just 2 and a half months after Drew Brees said he would be “beyond stunned” if the Saints and his team weren’t able to reach a deal.
Named the 2011 Offensive Player of the Year Drew Brees last season broke Dan Marino’s long standing record for the most passing yards in a season when he threw for 468 completions with 5,476 yards and a completion percentage of 71.2.
The Saints also pulled off 7,474 yards total for a new National Football League record.
The NFL franchise tag means no other teams can contact Drew Brees as he remained the exclusive property of the New Orleans Saints.
Do you think the New Orleans Saints will reach a better deal with Drew Brees in the future to ensure the happiness of their star quarterback?
