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| Brees doesn't sound like a happy camper when it comes to his contract. (Getty Images) |
Drew Brees, appearing on a radio interview on Wednesday morning, wouldn't specifically say that he wouldn't play on a one-year, franchise-tag deal. But he also made it clear he's been there and done that and isn't a fan.
Brees was tagged by the Saints prior to the March 5 deadline and was reportedly "livid" about it. That showed through some when Brees discussed what happened the last time he played under a franchise tag in San Diego.
"I've played under the franchise tag before," Brees said on ESPN's Mike and Mike Wednesday morning. "And that ended with 13 anchors in my right shoulder and having a 25 percent chance of playing football again. So that didn't work out too well for me. And I've talked to the Saints about this many times and they definitely know my desire to have a long-term deal and they certainly want me to have that as well. So we'll continue discussions and, like I said, get a long-term deal done sooner or later."
That is not a guy who's willing to put his career on the line because the Saints couldn't figure out how to get him the money he wants.
And it should be a big-time concern for New Orleans, because if Brees is saying things like this now, in March, imagine what he'll be saying when the season gets closer if the team doesn't have a deal in place. Brees did acknowledge, of course, that negotiations will "continue on."
"I would say there are definitely going to be discussions that are going to continue on," Brees said. "All the franchise tag means is no one else can talk to me, but I can still have discussions with the Saints which I know will be ongoing and we're still hoping we can get something done sooner or later."
But here's the thing: some of the damage has already been done. The division-rival Bucs stole away one of Brees most important pieces in All-Pro guard Carl Nicks. That doesn't happen if the Saints and Brees work out a deal before the franchise-tag deadline.
