Drew Brees led New Orleans Saints to the Super Bowl on Sunday but that doesn’t mean they are favourites to repeat next year.
The Saints’ front office is going to face an even busier off-season than they normally would. Winning the Super Bowl does that to a front office but the impending free-agency market will keep the Saints’ executives busy deep into this year.
More than half of the Super Bowl winning team is eligible for free agency this year. Eighteen of the roster will be restricted free agents while 11 will be unrestricted.
The Saints’ restricted free agents include running backs Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell, receivers Lance Moore and Courtney Roby, offensive tackles Jermon Bushrod and Jammal Brown, guard Jahri Evans, defensive tackles Anthony Hargrove and Remi Ayodele, and safety Roman Harper.
The unrestricted free agents include Pro Bowl safety Darren Sharper, linebacker Scott Fujita and quarterback Mark Brunell.
Add the fact the Saints have already said they will renegotiate Drew Brees’ contract to bring it in line with other top quarterbacks’ salaries and Reggie Bush’s impending salary bump, New Orleans may not be able to afford to keep their Super Bowl winning team together.
One thing that will work in their favour is that for the first time since 1993 there will be no salary cap in the NFL, unless a labour agreement is reached by March 5th – the first official day of the 2010 NFL season.
But would the Saints be really willing to break the bank to keep the team together? It doesn’t look like it but they could spend more than normal to try and repeat.
As a result the bookmakers have the Saints third favourites at 9-1, behind the San Diego Chargers 8-1, and behind the team they beat in the Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts who are priced at 7-1, the New England Patriots are fourth favourites at 10-1.
Whatever happens in the off-season the Saints will still have a strong team come opening day and will be one of the teams to beat in 2010.
Tags: