Who wants Brees now?

[D's Nuts]

ESPN reporting Brees has a dislocated shoulder and will require sugery.

QB's never seem to be the same after that. Chad Pennington anyone???

[DennyMcLain]

Phillip Rivers is a happy man tonight. This is his best New Years ever.

I was very impressed with Van Pelt. Dudes got balls, and he can run.

[WTFchris]

Maybe SD will let him walk. I'd still take him. Sign him as a FA and you only risk money.

[Glenn]

Good point.

This might be our chance to get a good QB on the cheap.

An incentive-laced deal would really limit our risk.

[Gecko]

It's his throwing shoulder I presume?

[Fool]

Just reported that Brees' injury was a complete tear and won't be able to throw a football until August. SD is going to transition tag him (speculation).

[Note: I heard it on passing but I think its correct]

[H1Man]

Brees: Chargers want to pursue long-term deal

Drew Brees let the secret slip - the San Diego Chargers would like to sign him to a long-term deal.

Brees was discussing his shoulder surgery and rehab during a conference call with San Diego reporters on Wednesday when he was asked if the team had told him anything about his future.

"They want to pursue me long-term," Brees said from Birmingham, Ala. "I know that's something that for the next few months everybody's going to be working on. As far as what's going on up to this point, it's not much, just the very beginning stages. I know they want me long-term and I want to be here long-term."

General manager A.J. Smith, who's always tightlipped about player transactions, at first refused to confirm that he or anyone else from the front office told Brees that.

"We don't have any comment on our business until we're complete with our business," Smith told The Associated Press.

Brees' agent, Tom Condon, said he hadn't heard from the Chargers.

"I know that Drew told me that, but I've had no conversations with the Chargers," Condon said.

A few hours later, Smith called reporters back to confirm what Brees said.

"We are going to try to long-term him," Smith said. "We originally wanted to do this in early February, but I guess Drew was just answering the question honestly."

Smith said he called Brees last Wednesday, a day before the quarterback had his torn right labrum repaired by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham.

"I just felt it was the perfect time to rest his mind that we were going to try to get a long-term deal done, and for him not to worry about it," Smith said. "I told him to just rehab, get better and lead us to a championship. And he said, 'Fine.' "

Brees played last season under a one-year, $8 million contract as the team's "franchise" player.

Smith stressed that the two sides still must negotiate a deal.

If the Chargers and Condon haven't agreed to a contract by Feb. 23 - well before the quarterback is throwing again - the Chargers can retain Brees' rights by using the franchise tag again, or make him the transition player.

As the franchise player, Brees would get a one-year deal that would pay him the average of the five highest-paid quarterbacks, or just less than $10 million. If he's the transition player, he'd be paid the average of the 10 highest-paid quarterbacks.

The Chargers and Brees could continue to negotiate a long-term deal even if the team makes him the franchise or transition player.

"I would assume it would be pretty soon, obviously, because they probably want to get it done as soon as possible," Brees said. "With free agency coming up in March, the franchise-tag deadline in late February, I'm sure that that's something that's probably a big priority."

Condon also represents star running back LaDainian Tomlinson and coach Marty Schottenheimer, increasing the chances a deal would get done before the Feb. 23 deadline. If not, though, Brees could also negotiate with other teams. However, the Chargers could match any offers he received.

The Chargers gave Tomlinson a deal worth approximately $60 million in August 2004, making him the NFL's highest-paid running back.

Backup quarterback Philip Rivers has pocketed more than $14.25 million while playing sparingly the last two seasons. He still has four years left on his contract, which is potentially worth $40.5 million. The Chargers have said that they will have enough room under the salary cap to carry Brees and Rivers again next year.

Brees was hurt in a home loss to the Denver Broncos on Dec. 31 when he tried to recover his fumble and Broncos tackle Gerard Warren landed on him. He tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder, which was dislocated.

Brees will remain in Birmingham for the next few weeks.

He originally anticipated a four-month rehab, which would have had him ready for minicamp. Now he hopes to be ready by the start of training camp in late July.

"Even when you come back throwing, it's a long process just to get your arm to where you have the endurance, and you gradually work from throwing 5 yards to 10 yards," Brees said. "Even once I start throwing, it's still probably two more months or so before I start throwing routes, deep passes and all that stuff, but it's a process.

"I'd love to be throwing in May, and we'll see how this whole thing goes. But really, the most important thing for me is to be ready by training camp."

The Chargers (9-7) missed the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 seasons.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5215140

[H1Man]

Brees likely to become free agent

The Chargers are primed to let quarterback Drew Brees test free agency.

San Diego general manager A. J. Smith said Monday the team has declined to designate Brees as its franchise or transition player. The deadline for designating a player with either tag is Thursday.

If the Chargers had slapped either of the tags on Brees, he would be guaranteed nearly $10 million in a one-year salary next season. That's too rich for the Chargers, considering Brees was injured in the team's season finale, tearing the labrum in his throwing shoulder while trying to recover a fumble.

Brees underwent surgery last month and is expected to begin throwing in May. But whether he is at full strength by the Chargers' July training camp isn't known.

Brees and the Chargers are talking about a multiyear pact. But so far, no agreement has been reached and on March 3, Brees can negotiate with any team.

"Our proposals have not been acceptable at this point and time, but we will continue to talk," Smith said. "Drew Brees wants to be here, we want him to be here. Drew wants a long-term contract, we want him to have a long-term contract. We are working on that and continue to work on it."

But the Chargers are confident they have enough depth to reach the playoffs even if Brees walks, according to Smith. Behind Brees is Philip Rivers, the 2004 draft's fourth overall pick, and veteran A. J. Feeley.

Brees, who's entering his sixth season, resurrected his career in 2004. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl after throwing for 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He was also the NFL Comeback Player of the Year while directing the Chargers to the AFC West title and their first playoff appearance since 1995.

Last year, Brees had another solid season, throwing for a career-high 3,576 yards, the sixth-most in team history. He had 24 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions.

San Diego's initial proposal for a long-term deal was shot down by Brees and his representative, Tom Condon.

Brees or Condon weren't available for comment.

Smith said a deal could still be struck, but only if the other party accepts the club's value it has placed on Brees.

The sticking point appears to be the guaranteed money in the pact's first year, with the remainder of the compensation being tied to incentives reached by Brees, if his shoulder is right. Smith said once Brees hits the open market - if he does - the price the Chargers are willing to pay will not fluctuate.

"We already have a value set in our mind; that is not a factor at all," said Smith, who is 25-24 in his three years as general manager. "We know exactly what we do and we have a way of doing our business."

And while Smith said he wants Brees back, it was evident in his remarks that he's cautiously optimistic Rivers can do the job.

Rivers was a standout at North Carolina State where his 13,484 passing yards were second at the time in NCAA history. Rivers has thrown just 30 passes in the NFL.

"I really like Philip Rivers very much, except he has never played in the National Football League, except to dabble in it and that is always a concern for all of us," Smith said. "Anytime a collegiate player enters the National Football League, it starts all over again. There are first-round busts and seventh-rounders that go to (the Pro Bowl) every year."

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5347404

[WTFchris]

I'd still take a chance on him. Sign him up with an injury clause (for this injury only) in case he can't recover from this injury fully. Then we'd have to address the backup spot again since Joey would be cut for sure.

[King Vlady]

He'll be the perfect fit here. 4 good young WRs to throw to after Millen drafts Santonio Holmes in the first.