With the clock ticking on the Saints’ time period for deciding whether to match the offer sheet signed earlier this week by running back Mike Bell, Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that there’s an “outside chance” the Saints will choose to agree to pay Bell $1.7 million for one year of service, with $500,000 guaranteed — the deal he has signed with the Eagles.
If the Saints match, it’ll be interesting to see whether the NFLPA pitches a fit regarding the absence of a poison pill from the offer sheet.
Meanwhile, Duncan believes that Pierre Thomas will be getting a long-term extension. With Reggie Bush getting $8 million in 2010 and rushing for less than half the amount that Thomas managed, $10 million per year sounds reasonable.
What is the fascination with the poison pill? If the Saints match, Mike Bell still gets the contract he wants, and gets to play with a better team…
You have to keep the team to together.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
When Thomas can put his cleats on, and part the Red Sea (Jesus in cleats), then he can get 10M per.
I’m makin 8 mil….give Mike what he wants, somebody has to run inside…I’ll never do it.
Florio, why must you always equivocate Bush’s pay to only his rushing numbers? Did you see how many carries he got this year compared to Thomas? I prefer Thomas, but Bush offers so much more than his RB duties, and you know that, yet you keep writing this stuff just to stir things up, it seems.
why would a Raiders fan (BleedingSilverAndBlack) care about the Saints players staying on the team.. probably just another fraud NFL fan
THE CHANCES OF THE SAINTS MATCHING THE OFFER ARE ABOUT AS GOOD AS BELL WEARING THE CORRECT CLEATS ON GRASS!!!!
Payton “let me see your cleats”….”thats what I thought”….he may have as well worn tennis shoes…lol!!!!!!
I agree W/ Chris D. The NFLPA is going to get upset that a team has the right to match an restricted player? There’s no basis.
There is a poison pill…sort of. Eagles have written a “no-trade” clause into the contract, so if the Saints match, they cannot trade him.
Darren Sproles got 6.5 million last year and was tendered at 7.5 million this year. He had fewer yards, lower YPC, and fewer TD’s than Bush in 2009. Big difference is that Bush’s 8 million was done four years ago as part of a 2nd overall pick deal with no knowledge of his stats in 2009, but Sproles’ deal was done in 2010 with clear visibility to his 2009 stats.
PT Cruiser will get his $10 mill, but it will be as a signing bonus, not 2010 salary.
There is a no-trade clause in the offer sheet.
Remember Darryl Tapp recently signed his offer and got traded… the Saints would have to keep him if they match the offer.
I could care less if the Saints match the offer. Mike Bell isnt anything special he averaged 3.8 yards per carry which isnt very good. Also his only game that was impressive was against Detriot. Take that game away and his average is even lower.
I do wonder how ever if the Saints decide to match the offer can the Eagles up it or do they only get one chance at it?
I wouldnt mind having Bell but if signing Bell means the Eagles wont draft Gerhart then I hope the Saints bring him back.
“There is a poison pill…sort of. Eagles have written a “no-trade” clause into the contract, so if the Saints match, they cannot trade him.”
Signing a player just so you can trade him would be retarded anyway. Then again, that describes what the 0-3gles did with Vick, doesn’t it?
As a Saints fan, I appreciate what Mike has done for the Saints, but with the draft coming up and a few decent young backs available at a cheaper price, all I can say is Good Luck in Philly Mike!
“gets to play with a better team…” you had to wait a long time to say that didn`t you.
@schap17901:
I’m sure you can’t say the same about whatever team you root for, now can you?…Exactly!
It’s better to wait a long time to say we have the better team, than to not be able to say it AT ALL douche!
@ Akshun. What are you even talking about? He’s a fraud NFL fan because he thinks the Saints should keep the team that just won the Super Bowl together? Troll alert.
imaphillyguy says:
March 19, 2010 5:13 PM
There is a poison pill…sort of. Eagles have written a “no-trade” clause into the contract, so if the Saints match, they cannot trade him.
They can’t trade him now, either, because he is a free agent. And they can still cut him. So that’s not a poison pill
@ .VoxVeritas
I find it funny how you call the Eagles 0-3gles. Funny how you only count the final 3 games and refuse to count the past decade. Cause if you did, it would be something very very much different. Eagles were ravaged by injuries last year. You’ll see something very different this year. But dont take my word for it, watch for yourself!!!
Florio says…..”Outside chance”……..I say, the only chance he gets to come back is if he has a set” New Cleats” and polishes Paytons Red Wings for a year for that kind of money. My Saints dont need him…….Bey Mike
You can find Mike Bell in the 7th round. Or later.
Let the Eagles make that mistake. Why match?
Someone didn’t pay attention during Sunday school.
Moses parted the Red Sea, not Jesus.
“I find it funny how you call the Eagles 0-3gles. Funny how you only count the final 3 games and refuse to count the past decade.”
Why stop at last season OR the last 10 years? I’d be willing to include the entire history of both teams if you are. Yes, even though 0-3gles fans threw up “44-6″ thousands of times, I’ll still offer you 0-3gle fans a square deal. Let’s talk about each team’s entire history. Let’s talk about their entire history against each other, not just some completely arbitrary window of time.
“Eagles were ravaged by injuries last year.”
Waah.
“You’ll see something very different this year. ”
You’re going to see what you’ve always seen your entire lifetime. No Super Bowl win for the 0-3gles. Come on, if you want to consider each team’s entire history you get to say that the 0-3gles were the best team in the league once upon a time.
Until you’re willing to do that, you’re going to have to get used to “0-3gles” and
20-16 in Philly to take their pride
24-0 to take the division
34-14 to send them home with a full-blown QB controversy.
“…rushing for less than have the amount Bush managed.” Ahem. Bush has been equal parts receiver and rusher all along. Bush had about 700 yards total offense this past year with 8 touchdowns. Pierre had about 1,000 yards with the same amount of touchdowns. So yes, Pierre produced more, but not twice as much, like you are suggesting.
Anyway, I do hope Pierre gets some big money next year. He surely deserves it.
Is he any good?
Kind of hard to differentiate guys in a multi back system.
Thomas is the balanced starter
Bush is the 3rd down/finesse/specialist RB
what’s bell? An ok powerback?
Just asking Who Dats, I want to be educated.
Also, Thomas and Bush are good. Wanna make that clear.