Arbitrator Stephen Burbank ruled in favor of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ franchise-tag grievance, a league source said Tuesday.
If Brees is tagged again by the Saints in 2013, Burbank ruled it would mark his third franchise tag and he would then be eligible for more than $4 million than the NFL had previously said he was due. A third tag would cost the Saints 144 percent of this year’s price, which is $16.4 million.
The NFL declined to comment on Burbank’s ruling when reached by NFL.com and NFL Network.
NFL.com’s Steve Wyche previously reported that Brees and the NFL Players Association’s argumentstated that he was due the increase because he was tagged by the San Diego Chargers in 2005 and then by the Saints this offseason.
Brees and the Saints are currently working on a long-term extension, but the deal must be finalized by July 16, otherwise Brees will have to play under the franchise-tag for the 2012 season.
WRITTEN BY Albert Breer & FULL STORY HERE
