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Drew Brees Franchised by Saints

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FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2012, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees passes during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans. Brees and Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford, two of only four quarterbacks to finish a season with 5,000 yards passing, will be indoors in perfect conditions and coming off their best seasons when they are scheduled to face off in a playoff game on Jan 7. (AP Photo/Bill Haber, File)

The New Orleans Saints are making news on Saturday, but it has nothing to do with defensive players earning a few extra bucks for taking out opposing players.

FOXSports.com is reporting that the Saints have exercised their franchise tag on quarterback Drew Brees, which will keep one of the league’s best QBs in New Orleans for at least one more year.

Brees and the Saints have been negotiating a new deal for more than a year, according to reports, but the two sides have been unable to come to an agreement to keep Brees in a Saints uniform for multiple years.

Brees, 33, is coming off a career-year in which he threw for 46 touchdowns and more than 5,400 yards, breaking the previous single-season passing record held by former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino. His QB rating through 16 games was an impressive 110.6.

Pro Football Talk.com reported Saturday afternoon that the Saints placed the “exclusive” version of the franchise tag on the quarterback, which means he can’t talk to other teams, according to the report.

Under the exclusive franchise tag, Brees’ pay would be based on next season’s salary cap number for the five highest-paid quarterbacks, according to the report.

Brees is going into his 12th season in the NFL.

He was drafted out of Purdue by the Chargers in 2001, and Brees spent five seasons in San Diego before heading to New Orleans in 2006.