Drew Brees future contract/options

Brees and Condon are exercising a game of chicken with the Saints front office that they will win. All leverage is in Brees' corner as it is clear that the Saints franchise needs to do everything in their power to retain him.

Condon and company are simply waiting for Andrew Luck to set the market for quarterbacks in 2017.

[http://www.stampedeblue.com/2016/5/26/11762456/projecting-andrew-lucks-contract-extension-with-the-colts]

Risks of entering a season on your final contract:

• most players into the final year are playing to win big in free agency with the gamble that you could get injured and get nothing. Brees already won the free agency payoff before so his final contract means little. He would need to suffer a career ending injury to even doubt his return to the field in 2017 as a high performer. Brees has enough money to not care about earning more, but if he returns to the field it won't be for anything less than $25M / season.

Position of leverage:

• There is no way the Saints can afford his franchise tender in 2017, if they want to keep him he HAS to be extended for a long-term deal

• He's only 38. A decade ago, he wouldn't be re-signed, but in the age of Manning, Rodgers, and Brady....he's good for another 2 years at least

Teams needing a quarterback in 2017:

• Washington

• Denver

• NY Jets

• (Indianapolis)

• Buffalo

• possibly Dallas

Imagine the number (in excess of $25M) needed to move Brees away from NO, provided the organization actually draws a hard line with him.