Saints Predicament: which FA do they franchise?

[DonBlackmon55]

Looks like Saints may franchise Colston as opposed to paying 2 of the highest salaries for Guards.

"Of course Colston is a must-keep for the Saints because he does things no other receiver in the league can come into New Orleans and replicate successfully"

2012 NFL Free Agents: Pros and Cons If New Orleans Saints Franchise 3 Players | Bleacher Report

T minus 2 weeks till the FA madness starts !

 

[Ring 6]

Looks like Saints may franchise Colston as opposed to paying 2 of the highest salaries for Guards.

"Of course Colston is a must-keep for the Saints because he does things no other receiver in the league can come into New Orleans and replicate successfully"

2012 NFL Free Agents: Pros and Cons If New Orleans Saints Franchise 3 Players | Bleacher Report

T minus 2 weeks till the FA madness starts !

Dude, thats a Bleacher Report (Bleachers reports are written by any fans that want to sign up to write them) written by a guy who thinks Colstons tag would be the cheapest becuase there are so many WRs that the average WR pay is low.
He couldn't even take the time to look into what the tag numbers are. I doubt this fan has inside info about the Saints thought process.

 

[Blizzzard]

Sooooo....

A list of FA's includes the name Drew Brees, and..... They say that the Saints will use the tag on one of thier WR's? hmmmm....

They must have some good "stuff" down on the bayou

It's this simple...If they fail to lock up Brees in the next 2 weeks... he gets the tag. No Ifs, Ands or Buts

 

[BadMoFo]

Looks like Saints may franchise Colston as opposed to paying 2 of the highest salaries for Guards.

"Of course Colston is a must-keep for the Saints because he does things no other receiver in the league can come into New Orleans and replicate successfully"

2012 NFL Free Agents: Pros and Cons If New Orleans Saints Franchise 3 Players | Bleacher Report

T minus 2 weeks till the FA madness starts !

I think you mean 3 weeks until free agency.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

mods please delete this thread..anything bleacher report is stupid..how do people not know this site anyone can write anything?

 

[DonBlackmon55]

I think you mean 3 weeks until free agency.

yes, 3 weeks, good catch, March 13th.

 

[eom]

I think you mean 3 weeks until free agency.

the madness starts a week prior.

 

[IcyPatriot]

mods please delete this thread..anything bleacher report is stupid..how do people not know this site anyone can write anything?

what's the difference between that and the stuff written in threads here ... :confused3:

 

[Rob0729]

Last time I checked, the Saints will need to use their franchise tag on Brees until further notice. Since there seems to no immediate contract coming for him, both Nicks and Colston look to hit free agency.

If the Saints get a deal done with Brees, I see the Saints franchising Nicks over Colston. Nicks is an elite guard, Colston isn't an elite WR.

 

[Ring 6]

what's the difference between that and the stuff written in threads here ... :confused3:

The fact that people post it as coming from a credible source.

 

[DonBlackmon55]

Last time I checked, the Saints will need to use their franchise tag on Brees until further notice. Since there seems to no immediate contract coming for him, both Nicks and Colston look to hit free agency.

If the Saints get a deal done with Brees, I see the Saints franchising Nicks over Colston. Nicks is an elite guard, Colston isn't an elite WR.

They have an ELITE guard in Jahri Evans, to whom they've forked over 7yrs/56.7Mill in 2010. Franchise Tag for OL will be approx 9.5mill this year. To have almost 18mill+ tied up in 2 Guards is lunacy.

Saints do not have to use the Franchise tag immediately - they have until March 5th to workout a deal with Brees, 2 weeks away.

 

[supafly]

They have an ELITE guard in Jahri Evans, to whom they've forked over 7yrs/56.7Mill in 2010. Franchise Tag for OL will be approx 9.5mill this year. To have almost 18mill+ tied up in 2 Guards is lunacy.

Saints do not have to use the Franchise tag immediately - they have until March 5th to workout a deal with Brees, 2 weeks away.

The other side of the argument would be that Nicks is much more important to their system, protecting their (huge payday) elite QB in Drew Brees.

Having 2 premium guards could certainly be viewed as much more important than one more receiving option on a team chock full of them, especially with the emergence of Graham at TE + the year that Sproles just had.

That choice is for the N.Orleans Saints to decide, but they certainly would miss the protection of Nicks much more than they'd miss the production of Colston; especially on that offense. There are only so many balls to go around, and they'd still have plenty of strength at that aspect of the game. You have to remember, they utilized Sproles and Graham a lot more this yr, and that plan proved to be pretty worthy.

 

[DonBlackmon55]

The other side of the argument would be that Nicks is much more important to their system, protecting their (huge payday) elite QB in Drew Brees.

Having 2 premium guards could certainly be viewed as much more important than one more receiving option on a team chock full of them, especially with the emergence of Graham at TE + the year that Sproles just had.

That choice is for the N.Orleans Saints to decide, but they certainly would miss the protection of Nicks much more than they'd miss the production of Colston; especially on that offense. There are only so many balls to go around, and they'd still have plenty of strength at that aspect of the game. You have to remember, they utilized Sproles and Graham a lot more this yr, and that plan proved to be pretty worthy.

Franchise LT are more important than franchise RT. Franchise T are far more important than 2 franchise Guards. If you want to keep your QB alive, make sure to keep/pay those tackles. There's a reason why Tackels as Jake Long, Joe Thomas, Jordan Gross, Ferguson, clady et al get drafted very high, eventhough they play for mostly crap teams.

Saints O revolves around WR, RB and one TE play...Outside of Colston their WR depth is Henderson, Meachem(FA), Arrington, Moore. With Colston and Meachem the primary outside targets for Brees, they can ill afford to lose both in FA. A road grader G they can picup via Draft or pickup a lower cost option via FA by letting Nicks walk.

 

[supafly]

Franchise LT are more important than franchise RT. Franchise T are far more important than 2 franchise Guards. If you want to keep your QB alive, make sure to keep/pay those tackles. There's a reason why Tackels as Jake Long, Joe Thomas, Jordan Gross, Ferguson, clady et al get drafted very high, eventhough they play for mostly crap teams.

Saints O revolves around WR, RB and one TE play...Outside of Colston their WR depth is Henderson, Meachem(FA), Arrington, Moore. With Colston and Meachem the primary outside targets for Brees, they can ill afford to lose both in FA. A road grader G they can picup via Draft or pickup a lower cost option via FA by letting Nicks walk.

All good points. I was not assuming that they'd lose both Colston and Meachem though, I don't think they'd let that happen.

Only time will tell what happens. Any of their moves will make sense on some level. I can see both sides.

 

[PatsFan2]

So i guess we can have WR Robert Meachem then...he has serious Big Play ability and will no longer be under the wings of Colston.

 

[goheels22002]

what's the difference between that and the stuff written in threads here ... :confused3:

The difference is that every post is written by the infallible and all-knowing here at New England Patriots Fans featuring News, Stats, Analysis, Messageboards & Forums, Patriots Blogs, And Salary Cap Information for Fans. - PatsFans.com.

If you need proof, just check the thread called The Jets Suck (merged many times).

 

[Rob0729]

They have an ELITE guard in Jahri Evans, to whom they've forked over 7yrs/56.7Mill in 2010. Franchise Tag for OL will be approx 9.5mill this year. To have almost 18mill+ tied up in 2 Guards is lunacy.

Saints do not have to use the Franchise tag immediately - they have until March 5th to workout a deal with Brees, 2 weeks away.

First, right now it is looking like Brees will be the one getting the franchise tag. Yes, I know they have a little under two weeks away to franchise a player, but word is the Saints and Brees aren't close to a deal from all reports. There is a chance that a deal will be done by then, but Brees' agent knows that they have the upper hand because the Saints desperately want that franchise tag for Nicks or Colston and the Saints would have to blink to get a deal done by the end of the franchise period. I don't see it happening, but anything is possible.

Second, Nicks is an elite player. Who cares about what position he plays? If he hits the market, he is generally considered one of the top 3 free agents on the market. You don't just let a guy like that go for nothing.

Third, just because he is franchised doesn't mean he will play for the Saints for that franchise tender. The Saints can still give him a long term deal or trade him to another team. There is no rule that if the Saints franchise Nicks that the only option is to pay him $9.5 million for one year.

Fourth, the reason why I don't think they will franchise Colston is because this free agency is really deep at WR. Either they will still be able to keep Colston without the tag, upgrade the position (Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe if he isn't franchised although unlikely), or at least get a suitable replacement in free agency. If there weren't so many good WRs available, I would probably feel that Colston would be franchised because he would be a primary target. Right now, there are at least 4 or 5 WRs about to hit free agency who are better, just as good, or not much of a drop off from Colston. Only two are likely to be franchised.

 

[PatsSox363804]

I don't think Brees gets the tag because I don't think there's any way he leaves the Saints. Mickey Loomis would have to give him the lowest of low ball offers, piss on his lawn, and try to sleep with his wife for Brees to even consider it. Loomis also knows that if he lets Brees walk his ass is fired. They might tag him just to be certain that no team throws a ridiculous offer at him, and in a year where he is their only free agent I think they'd do just that, but keeping Nicks is huge for them as well. Watch one of their games and see how many times Brees doesn't have a clean pocket to step into his throws.

I'll be shocked if they franchise Colston. Took many other weapons.

 

[BradyFTW!]

what's the difference between that and the stuff written in threads here ... :confused3:

No difference, that's the point

 

[Henroc]

No way thatsaints franchise Colston they have too much to worry about with brees and nicks and add in the fact that they have productive players on offense it makes Colston dispensable.hopefully pats can sign him because he shuts his mouth and lays everything out on the field.wee would love to have that here