Franchise Tag Argument Ends In Drew Brees’ Favor

In the ongoing battle between quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints over the club's designation of the franchise tag on him, an arbitrator in Philadelphia has ruled in his favor.

This ruling deals with the Saints trying to put the franchise tag on Brees in 2013 which would make it two years in a row that the team decided to do that since they have already done so for 2012. If New Orleans tries to do so with Brees, the arbitrator says he would be entitled to a 44% raise, meaning he would make more than $23 million because it would be his third-career franchise tag. The NFL was arguing that Brees would be due a 20% raise.

This year, with the tag being placed on Brees, he has been forced to settle for a one-year, $16.3 million deal that is much less than what he wants, both financially and length of time with the club. A new long-term deal must be reached by July 16.