NFP and Dan Pompei: Marques Colston a possible free agent?

[dwmyers]

That and more in Pompei's latest.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Sunday-Blitz-7040.html

Excerpt:

*It’s possible Marques Colston will be a former Saint in the near future. The Saints have made no attempts to re-sign the star wide receiver up to this point. The front office has been pre-occupied with trying to work out a new deal for Drew Brees. If the Saints can’t sign Brees, they likely will use the franchise tag on him, giving them one less way to retain Colston. Also complicating the issue is the pending free agency of guard Carl Nicks. Given the cash outlay this team will be facing, the Saints may have to choose between Colston and Nicks.

 

[realtick]

It would not surprise me if Colston isn't resigned.

If I'm the Saints, I'm of course making resigning Brees the priority and then I would prioritize signing Nicks over Colston, and that's no slight to Colston.

 

[hsfolk]

If Brees get signed before FA starts then Nicks will get the franchise tag and then Saints will do their best (within reason) to keep Colston

 

[Future]

It would not surprise me if Colston isn't resigned.

If I'm the Saints, I'm of course making resigning Brees the priority and then I would prioritize signing Nicks over Colston, and that's no slight to Colston.

Agreed. With the amount of time Brees gets to throw the football they don't need a big time #1 receiver like Colston.

 

[Muhast]

It would not surprise me if Colston isn't resigned.

If I'm the Saints, I'm of course making resigning Brees the priority and then I would prioritize signing Nicks over Colston, and that's no slight to Colston.

They very well could do this. They did just make Jahri Evans the highest paid OL in NFL history last off-season though. Nicks will command close if not more money. I can't see them making two different Guards in back to back years the highest paid OL in Nfl history.

 

[Hoofbite]

They have a lot of work to do.

Brees
Nicks
Colston
Meachem
Porter

No way I can see them getting all of those guys to fit back in.

I've seen them penciled in for being at 101.5M of next years cap.

Lets say it's 125M.

That leaves them with 23.5M to spread around?

Not happening. I also saw that Will Smith is schedule to make like 10M and they might get rid of him if they absolutely have to.

You look at the 1st year of Vick, Brady, Peytons contracts and their cap hits are like 13-17M.

Even if they lowballed Brees and he took it, he's gotta count for 15M.