As far as time lines go, we have already heard countless so-called “time lines” put forth by the major media outlets, so I don’t want to do any unnecessary speculation until the deal is actually agreed upon. However, the latest news supposedly comes from an email from Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees to his teammates in which he says, “It now looks like free agency will begin at noon on Tuesday and it will be open free agency.  There will be no 3 day grace period for teams to sign their own players.  It will be open for anyone to sign anywhere.”

Brees goes on to discuss training camps: “It looks like the NFL is trying to force teams into camp on time.  This would move us to a report date of Thursday, July 28.   We would have physicals, conditioning, and meetings on this day.  The day before would be a travel day and the hotel would be open that night for guys to check in as well as physicals but nothing mandatory until Thursday”

He says later that all of this is subject to change, which I think is probably a huge understatement, but I just wanted to let you know what is out there so you can be prepared if it happens. Brees is obviously in the know when it comes to this stuff, because he has been one of the leaders from the beginning on the players side. Again, none of this is confirmed, but it is possible that free agency could begin 36 hours. As much as I love typing that, I’ll believe it only when I see it.

Slaton is kind of an interesting case. He had a very nice rookie season a few years ago, but he hasn’t done much since and he lost his starting job in Houston to Arian Foster. Slaton would be a nice change-of-pace back, and I think he probably still has some good years left. I wouldn’t mind having him on our team, but he is under contract with Houston, meaning we would have to trade for him. So, the question is: Would Slaton be worth giving up a draft pick? I would much rather see the Rams pay Sproles or, if they are going to give up picks, go after Reggie Bush before Slaton.  It sounds like the team

Now, I don’t want to be all gloom-and-doom about this, because Smith also said that he is optimistic because the two sides are in discussions, but this is a major blow to all the puppy dogs and rainbows we have been hearing over the last few weeks. Several other insiders, including Mike Freeman, Pete Prisco, and Albert Breen just to name a few, aren’t convinced that things are worse than everyone thinks, but in my experience, Glazer is almost always spot-on with his reports. He is one of the most informed “insiders” in the business, so if he says something happened, I believe him. The real question is: Is Smith using this to gain leverage in negotiations?

With all of the stories out there about the two sides being close, there is a certain amount of pressure to get this thing done soon. If the players turn down the offer, they are the bad guys for keeping the season from getting started. I think Smith is using this “leaked” story to show the public that the owners are still trying to get one over on the players. We are really getting into crunch time now, so this is the last thing any of us wanted to hear, but I wouldn’t give up all hope just yet. Let’s just all pray that the next report is