Saints know disgruntled QB Brees, ‘can’t sing or dance’
Quarterback Drew Brees skipped Thursday’s voluntary workout with the New Orleans Saints, a team that could use a welcoming and familiar face in a turbulent offseason, as he and the club remain at loggerheads over his unresolved contract situation.
Brees hasn’t signed the franchise tag tender that would pay him $16.4 million in 2012. But the team remains confident an accord will be struck before training camp starts in late July.
“I had a great conversation with Drew the other day. . . . He’ll be here,” interim head coach Joe Vitt said. “What else is he going to do? He can’t sing or dance.” ver Broncos kicker Matt Prater, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh
Scobee — haven’t signed tenders. Welker has rejoined teammates in workouts but seems to have strained his relationship with team brass by publicly addressing negotiations. Bowe and Forte appear prepared to hold out.
Those not signing long-term deals by July 16 must choose between the franchise-tag salary and the couch; after that date, the players can’t resume talks with their teams until after the season.
Brees last played under the tag in 2005 for the San Diego Chargers and was burned by its lack of security when he tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder in the regular-season finale.
The Saints gave Brees, with his re-
The real question is when he’ll resume his role as the wheelman of the team’s record-setting offense.
Brees isn’t the only one; a record 21 were franchised. The collective bargaining agreement put in place last summer cut the franchise-player payout by about $2 million a position. How’s it working out for them? -Five have reached long-term extensions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth, Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell, Philadel- phia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, Indianapolis Colts defensive end Robert Mathis and New York Giants
punter Steve Weatherford. -Seven signed their one-year tenders but might get longer deals: Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch, Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis, Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson, Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes, Cincinnati Bengals kicker Mike Nugent, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer and New England Patriots wideout Wes Welker.
-Nine — Brees, Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril, Kansas City Chiefs wideout Dwayne Bowe, Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson, Tennessee Titans safety Michael Griffin, Den- built shoulder, a six-year, $60 million free agent deal. His 28,394 passing yards and 201 touchdown passes are records for a six-year span, and the team won its first Super Bowl title.
Brees characterized recent talks as “extremely frustrating” in a radio interview, adding, “The negotiation shouldn’t have been this difficult.”
Vitt said Brees and general manager Mickey Loomis would pass through their contractual crossroads. “I think everybody knew it was going to come back to the 23rd hour and it would get done,” he said. “There’s a lot of revolving pieces Mickey has to get in with the cap and so on and so forth. . . . And it’s going to get done when Drew and Mickey know what’s best for our football team and we can move forward.”