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Drew Brees wins tag ruling

Updated: July 3, 2012, 11:59 AM ET
By Chris Mortensen | ESPN

Arbitrator Stephen Burbank has ruled in favor of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in his grievance over the designation of his franchise tag.

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Burbank's ruling means if Brees does not sign a long-term contract this summer and plays out the 2012 season under his current franchise number, the 2013 season is the last time he can be tagged. In addition, a tag in 2013 would earn him a pay raise of 144 percent.
The NFL Players Association had asked Burbank to determine whether Brees has been hit with the franchise tag in 2012 for a first or second time, because the language in the collective bargaining agreement is vague.
The Saints placed their exclusive rights tag on Brees earlier this offseason, but his first team, the San Diego Chargers, placed the tag on Brees in 2005 after his rookie contract expired.
The union's position is the CBA intended for a player to be franchised no more than three times, regardless of which team places the tag.
In making his ruling, Burbank said all franchise tags will be viewed this way in the future.
Brees' current tag is worth $16.371 million, which won't change with the ruling. However, taking into account the 144-percent raise, a would-be tag in 2013 would put Brees' cap number at $23,574,240, according to ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton. If the Saints chose to use their exclusive-rights tag on Brees in 2013, that would put his two-year earnings at $39,945,240, or a little less than $20 million per year.
The Saints and Brees are locked in a protracted contract battle and have until July 16 to hammer out a long-term extension.