Saints Slap the Franchise Tag On Drew Brees - East Idaho News
Sports

Saints Slap the Franchise Tag On Drew Brees

  Published at

Getty S 3312 Brees?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1330825124535Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)(NEW YORK) — Quarterback Drew Brees had a record breaking season for the New Orleans Saints in 2011, and the team is making sure he stays in a Saints uniform. The Saints have placed their exclusive-rights franchise tag on Brees. The two sides were in talks about a new long-term contract, but they were unable to come to an agreement.

If Brees does sign the team’s franchise tender, he would earn about $14.4 million in 2012, which is the average salary for the top-five paid quarterbacks in the NFL. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the two sides are around $5 million apart in the first three seasons of the proposal. Schefter also is reporting that Brees is seeking a contract that would average $23 million for the first three years of the proposed new deal.

In 2011 Brees had a season to remember for the Saints. He set NFL single-season records with 468 completions, 5,476 passing yards, and a 71.4 completion percentage.

Because the Saints placed the exclusive franchise tag on him, other teams are not allowed to contact Brees and remains exclusive property of the team.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION