Drew Brees Must Show True Leadership by Accepting Franchise Tag

The New Orleans Saints have been rocked by scandal this offseason, and when the team begins offseason workouts Monday, the conspicuous absence of starting quarterback Drew Brees will cast yet another pall over the Saints.

The 33-year-old signal-caller, who threw for an NFL record 5,476 yards last season, has refused to sign the franchise tender that would pay the 12th-year pro $14.4 million in 2012, and while the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that team owner Tom Benson says the two sides are close to finalizing a long-term contract extension, no deal appears imminent.

"

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is not planning to come to New Orleans on Monday for the start of the team's offseason conditioning program. Although Owner Tom Benson said Friday that Brees is due in town next week, the unsigned quarterback is not planning to attend without a contract, according to a source close to Brees.

"It is very upsetting to him not being there Monday," the source said. "He wants to be there for his teammates."

While talking about his decision to purchase the New Orleans Hornets, Benson said he spoke to Brees this morning and feels like the two sides are "close" to a long-term contract extension.

So far, however, there has been no other indication from league sources that a deal is imminent. Talks have been practically non-existent in recent weeks, as both sides appear willing to let the standoff linger past the start of the offseason workout program.

"

It's somewhat understandable that Brees would be reluctant to play under the one-year franchise tender, as the quarterback has reached the point in his storied career where his next big payday will likely be his last, and with the risk of injury always present, Brees is searching for the long-term security and stability that an extension would provide.

Had this been a "normal" offseason, this contract impasse would be a concern but not a huge problem, as these sorts of things happen every season. It's still only April, and odds are the Saints want no part of seeing this thing drag on into the summer.

However, this has been anything but a normal offseason for the Saints, as the "player bounty" scandal that led to the year-long suspension of head coach Sean Payton has dominated media coverage in the Big Easy, and according to Kristian Garic of WLW Radio, the scandal may well have been one of the things delaying the completion of an extension for Brees.

"

So what's the hold up?  Let's see here.  Uh, 'Bounty Gate?'  Yeah, that had to be a bit of hurdle in the negotiations. It's hard to negotiate this kind of deal fending off attacks from the NFL at the same time. 

All the while, team owner Tom Benson was putting a deal together to buy the New Orleans Hornets. Those are a couple of things that I think could have interrupted the progress of talks. 

Not to mention this is not as "cut and dry" as one person close to talks told me.  The Saints are trying to balance paying their franchise QB while still having enough money to surround Brees and the team with enough other playmakers to win Super Bowls.

"

Regardless of the reason for the delay, what the team needs right now is some stability, and that means getting Brees into the fold, whether it's by signing the franchise tender, a waiver that will allow Brees to participate in workouts with his teammates (unlikely, given the risk of injury) or finalizing an extension with all due haste.

It may not seem to be in Brees' best interests, but if the team is going to dig out from under this scandal and return to the postseason they need all hands on deck, including the Saints' undisputed leader on offense.

So, while Brees can still make it clear to the the organization that he expects negotiations to continue on a megadeal that will probably make him one of the NFL's highest-paid players, Brees should sign his tender and get in there with his teammates, as the last thing the New Orleans Saints need right now is any more distractions looming over the team.

Follow @IDPManor