The Facts: As Brees heads into the final year on his contract, the Saints lack the ability to lock him into New Orleans with a tag. Brees' contract contains a little-known, rarely-used clauses that prohibit the Saints from using their franchise tag on Brees, league sources told ESPN.

Diehards Line: It doesn't mean Brees won't eventually re-sign with New Orleans, a city he loves and always will be connected to. But New Orleans lacks the flexibility to block him from leaving. Last year, under similar circumstances, Brees and the Saints worked out a one-year, $24.25 million extension just a few days before the regular-season opener so that he wouldn't become an unrestricted free agent after the season.