Drew Brees Going to Get Paid A Whole Lotta Cash

[Tony Oday]

Wow what a bad move by the Saints.

[Freak Out]

Wow what a bad move by the Saints.

Get ready then.....Rodgers is going to get MORE than Brees. Great QBs are worth the big money these days.

[MJZiggy]

Get ready then.....Rodgers is going to get MORE than Brees. Great QBs are worth the big money these days.

I'd bet he doesn't. He's worth it, but I bet he doesn't hold the team hostage for it.

[Freak Out]

Brees didnt hold anyone hostage.

[pbmax]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/13/brees-gets-37-million-to-sign/

The $40 million paid in 2012 is fully guaranteed. For now, $20 million beyond 2012 is guaranteed for injury only. Next year, on the third day of the waiver period (typically, the third day after the Super Bowl), $15 million of the injury guarantee becomes fully guaranteed. The extra $5 million remains guaranteed for injury only.

In 2015, again on the third day of the waiver period, more than half of his $19 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed. Ditto for 2016; on the third day of the waiver period, more than half of the $20 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed.

3 years $61 million, most of it carrying a guarantee of some sort. So Condon got the average over $20 mil for 3 years and the $40/60 guarantee (40 is fully guaranteed now, 15 will fully guarantee next winter, $5 is guaranteed for injury only) will likely be a record as well.

The Saints kept it a 3 year deal so they aren't beholden to an aging QB who can force an ugly divorce in March or July with a cash versus cut standoff. The Saints can terminate the deal with reasonable cap effects in either of the last two years shortly after the Super Bowl.

Brees got the cash. The Saints got the length of contract they wanted. Cap number this year is $10.4 million. In 2013 its $17.4 million, 2014: $18.4 million, in 2015: $26.4 million, and in 2016: $27.4 million. A release might hurt a little in 2015 as they would need to clear approx $22 million in acceleration, but it would be essentially a wash. Not sure how the cap treats the injury guarantee $5 million bonus. Also unlear how the $15 million bonus gets treated after it guarantees.

[pbmax]

The Packers can do this, though I doubt they would have his cap number be as low as $10 mil in an early year. Rodgers will get similar guarantees but the term will be longer, so his overall deal will be more lucrative. To do a 5 year deal with ARod now would give him another bite at the apple at age 34.

[Tony Oday]

Brees is 33 so whatever you think I think they overpayed him by a lot. He held a gun to a beat down franchise and won so good for him bit really the Saints are done.

[pbmax]

I refuse to feel sorry for a successful business full of competent professionals that had to negotiate a contract with a popular figure. Would the Saints really have been better off if their position ($19 million dollar average) had prevailed? The Saints have received tremendous benefit not only from Brees on field play but also his standing in the community.

I think they did well considering he was the best healthy QB negotiating a deal this year and had a direct comparison in Manning's deal to work from. The cap numbers are manageable and they can bail before Brees is too old, he will be 36 when they can exercise their option to terminate the contract.

[smuggler]

Here's more on the Saints cap and Brees' contract

1st year-10.4 (7.4 in bonus)+3 salary:: $8 million in cap space (this will go up because base salaries of suspended players don't count against the cap)
2nd year 17.4 (7.4 bonus)+ 10 salary:: -$6 million in cap space (43 players on the books)
3rd year 18.4 (7.4 Bonus)+ 11 Salary:: $19 million in cap space (19 players on the books)
4th year 26.4 (7.4 bonus)+ 19 salary
5th year 27.4 (7.4 bonus)+ 20 Salary

Going back to the Eagles, their situation:

2012: $16mil in cap space
2013: -$11million in cap space
2014: $3million in cap space

I believe there is a good chance of the cap increasing for the 2015 season.

All-in-all, I think this is a decent deal for the Saints, because it allows them a window to compete for the Super Bowl (2013-2014) and then they can cope with the ramifications later.

[Guiness]

Here's more on the Saints cap and Brees' contract

2nd year 17.4 (7.4 bonus)+ 10 salary:: -$6 million in cap space (43 players on the books)

So really, they're in serious cap trouble that quickly. They need to clear $6m + enough money to sign 8 more players. If all of those players were rookies earning minimum NFL compensation, that's still another $3.2m.

Ok, questions about some of this contract language that seems a little new to me. What does 'guaranteed for injury' mean? I think it means the player still gets that part of the salary even if he is injured and cut? Does the money still count against the team's cap?

Guaranteed for skill would mean that if a player gets cut while still healthy (presumably because he gets beat out in TC) he would still get paid?

[pbmax]

I think it means the player still gets that part of the salary even if he is injured and cut? Does the money still count against the team's cap?

Guaranteed for skill would mean that if a player gets cut while still healthy (presumably because he gets beat out in TC) he would still get paid?

You are right and it does count as cap space if he is injured. If cut while healthy (and able to pass physical and theoretically sign with another team) then it would neither count or be paid. Guaranteed for skill AND injury is simply true guaranteed money.

[Upnorth]

I like his contract in that it lowers the capabilities of NO, who are a high caliber team. I also like the timing of the Rodgers extension that Ted got done. When they renegotiate in 2014 I expect Rodgers to take up a big chunk of space, but the next year should see a big bump in the cap, so his impact cap wise will be quickly reduced, unlike Bree's who is hurting the depth on his team with such a huge contract.

[Patler]

Brees' contract alone won't hurt the Saints that much. Favre's cap hit was just under $10 million back when the cap was barely $70 million. With better control on rookie salaries, there is more to spend on vets anyway. They may have to make some adjustments with others, but no more so than any team that has a topflight QB.

Most teams would gladly take the cap issues in exchange for one of the best QBs in the league.

[Upnorth]

Brees' contract alone won't hurt the Saints that much. Favre's cap hit was just under $10 million back when the cap was barely $70 million. With better control on rookie salaries, there is more to spend on vets anyway. They may have to make some adjustments with others, but no more so than any team that has a topflight QB.

Most teams would gladly take the cap issues in exchange for one of the best QBs in the league.

So Favre's was about 14% of the cap, Bree's takes up about 16.5%. I am not saying he is not worth that, but I do think it will limit the SAints. I think Rodgers will get that (and more) but they are projecting the cap to jump into the 140 to 150 range, making the increase a little more managable. That was the point of my post.

[Patler]

So Favre's was about 14% of the cap, Bree's takes up about 16.5%. I am not saying he is not worth that, but I do think it will limit the SAints. I think Rodgers will get that (and more) but they are projecting the cap to jump into the 140 to 150 range, making the increase a little more managable. That was the point of my post.

...and rookies "share" declined beginning last year. Besides, the Saints first selection this year was what, third round? Their rookie pool will be tiny. Making up the 2.5% shouldn't be that difficult. All teams with big money QBs have to make adjustments, and the Packers will have to, too. If the cap goes up significantly, QB salaries are likely to go up to match.