New Orleans Saints likely to tag QB Drew Brees as contract talks show no signs of progress - NFL News
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is said to have grown frustrated with the lack of movement on his new contract as sources reveal that the Saints are likely to tag their best player.
According to NFL.com Insider Jason La Canfora, who citing sources close to the deal, said that since both Brees and the Saints cannot agree on a new long term deal, the franchise is likely to use its tag on the quarterback.
A franchise tag will result in Brees getting a one-year deal and according to the new collective bargaining agreement signed in early 2011 the quarterback can expect to receive around $ 14.4 million in salary.
This is shocking news as many analysts believed that with Brees’ importance to the Saints a deal will be done quickly and should have been signed by now.
Yet with the March 5th deadline to tag players coming closer and no long term agreement in sight a franchise tag looks likely to be applied to stop Brees from becoming a free agent.
A few days ago Brees told media that he is happy with the progress being made on a deal and it will be signed soon.
"I think there's been progress made," Brees said. “But just like everything it's a process. It takes time. It's not something that happens overnight."
The quarterback broke several records this season as he led New Orleans into the playoffs on the back of a 13-3 regular season record where they finally succumbed to San Francisco 49ers in the divisional rounds of the playoffs.
Brees broke Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino’s passing yards record this season as he passed for a total of 5,476 yards and threw 46 touchdown passes while also becoming the most accurate quarterback in the league with a completion rate of 71.2%.
New Orleans though will not let their best player become a free agent in any circumstances and barring a last minute twist in the negotiations the Saints will move quickly to tag Brees.
The quarterback also will have no reason to move elsewhere as he has expressed his love of New Orleans and will not be looking to move to another franchise after growing so emotionally attached to the city known as the ‘Big Easy’.
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