the bold, the beautiful, theprofessor
Rumored to be a bad rumor by a taxi driver per Brees being traded.
I saw it on dead pelican and on twitter. It is all being traced back to the same source which is not credible.
In my opinion, Brees earned his money when he led the Saints to the franchise's first Super Bowl title. It was really the first time in his career he'd been paid like a premier quarterback. People forget that when he signed in New Orleans, he was injured and had been let go by San Diego, and he didn't exactly command top dollar. He hasn't been paid like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or really even Aaron Rodgers during his career. It's hard to ask him to take a pay cut.
the bold, the beautiful, theprofessor
Better offensive and defensive line play will be key for Saints to win. That should be able to improve. Also, less Jimmy means more Colston. He and Brees are a great combo. With more time in the pocket, we should see a lot more of that connection.
All this talk about Brees being traded is a bunch of BS. If the Saints trade Brees for Jameis Winston, I'll walk from Las Vegas to New Orleans in a Mardi Gras Indian outfit, doing the Stanky Leg the whole way.
Brees is 36, and his production dropped last year, but his O-line protection was awful. Unger will make a big difference, but the two guards probably need to take a pay cut, or one of them might be released. Manning and Brady are both older than Brees and he can still get it done at their level when he has time in the pocket. His cap hit next year (2016) is too much. So, depending on his play this year, they will probably either extend his contract before next season, to lower the cap hit, or they might release him. I won't believe that they will cut him until I see it. It would be great to start grooming his replacement, but those guys aren't just out walking the street. If we lose Brees, who is the replacement? He isn't getting traded.
Graham was a great pass catching TE, but he didn't block well. There is also a (somewhat credible) rumor that he pouted all year because he didn't get WR money in his dispute last offseason. There are not any TEs in this draft with Graham's physical gifts, but there are some who are good enough....and they won't get alligator arms when they go across the middle.
Two interesting things to watch:
1. The physical for Unger. He missed time with injuries last season, and if he isn't fit, the Saints might ask for more compensation, like an additional 7th round pick.
2. The Saints can't miss in this year's draft like they did last year. They blew it last year with Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Tavon Rooks. It's great to get an extra first round pick, but it's only as good as the player you pick with it.
+1
Everyone assumes Brees wants to stay in New Orleans. I'd imagine he's interested in winning another SB before he retires, and that won't happen in NO in the next 3 years.