Drew Brees: Saints Franchise Tag Pro Bowl Quarterback

After lengthy contract negotiations, the Saints have placed their franchise tag on Drew Brees. The franchise tag, which Carl Nicks was relieved to avoid, gives the New Orleans Saints exclusive negotiating rights.

Drew Brees, who set NFL records back in the 2011 season with a total of 5,476 yards passing, 468 completions, and a 71.2% passing average, eventually led the Saints to achieve an outstanding total of 7,474 offensive yards which set a new NFL record. With all of the aforementioned achievements, six years with the Saints, and a 2010 Super Bowl victory under his helmet, Drew Brees is one highly sought after quarterback which the Saints logically have no interest in losing were he to hit the market as a free agent.

While the Saints Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees is locked into negotiations, that still leaves Marques Colston (wide receiver) and Carl Nicks (guard) free to hit the market as free agents come March 13. Nicks was quoted by USA Today saying:

“Now I kinda know how free agency will go, the anxiety’s still there, but I’m a little calmer.”

Brees and the Saints might not necessarily be seeing eye to eye when it comes to the terms of Brees’ contract, however, that most certainly does not imply that Brees will be unable to reach an agreement prior to the end of the off-season. While there might be a difference as much as $5 million per season, Brees seemed quite certain that the two would come to an understanding as he was quoted saying he would be “beyond stunned” if they were unable to reach a contractual agreement that was suitable for both the Saints as well as NFL pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees.