W_HAMILTON wrote:Ah. I never understood what that whole franchise tag thing meant. It's like something where if the two sides can't agree on a deal, the team can force him to play for them another season at a set price? So, essentially the only options for him are re-negotiate a long-term contract or play one season at that set price?
By franchising Brees, the Saints owe him something like the average salary of the top 5 (or 10 maybe?) QBs in the league. So players normally get a year of a huge payday instead of less over a long-term deal. There's two versions of the tag: the exclusive version (Brees is the only exclusively tagged player in the NFL), and the non-exclusive (if he signs to another team, his new team gives the old team two first rounders). Either tag is usually a last resort since players don't like playing under one-year contracts in a sport where injuries are so common, and it can cripple a team's cap. Though players don't typically like the tag, they usually sign once they see all the zeros and have an agreement to continue to work on a long-term deal.
By being exclusively tagged, Brees can't even hear offers from other teams, the franchise offer is the only option unless he and the Saints can work out a long-term deal. The nature of the tag typically causes players to get more than they deserve, but Brees has a case as a top 3 QB (top 2 if Peyton isn't as good post-surgeries), so the Saints actually save money (rumor is he wants over 20 mil per year, and the tag is like 18 for one year I believe).
What's interesting is that Drew is refusing to sign the franchise tender. Understandable, since he's been tagged before. In 2005 he played under the tag with the Chargers and suffered a torn labrum, thus making him an injured free agent with few offers. He still got a good contract with the Saints, but the tag likely cost him millions. During the lockout he tried to get rid of the tag, and even sought immunity from it for himself and the other star players that were suing the NFL.
With free agency approaching, and the Saints and Brees well apart in negotiations, they were forced to franchise him. Thus keeping him from testing the market. Honestly, a really sleazy move by the Saints (but if you're like me, you expect nothing less), but the guy has limitless leverage right now with the whole ongoing bounty scandal.