Colston or Nicks: Who Stays and Who Goes?

by Travis Dauro on Feb 19, 2012 6:00 AM CST

Who will stay: Colston or Nicks? That is the question.

It is 99 percent certain that Drew Brees will be staying in New Orleans for a while, as he is expected to be signed to a record contract and has said that the deal should be done soon. Saints receiver Marques Colston and guard Carl Nicks wish they could say the same about their futures with the team but in reality they both have question marks above their heads.

The Saints have limited funds to go around and might not be able to afford both players. Colston has stated that he, "Will not give the team a hometown discount." Nicks has expressed his disinterest in the franchise tag and wants a long-term deal himself. Until Brees gets signed, the uncertainty will continue to build.

Both Nicks and Colston have been crucial cogs in the Saints offensive machine, and have been productive since they were rookies. In Colston's career, he has totaled 6,240 yards and 48 touchdowns. He has been Drew's security blanket in tight situations and is probably his favorite receiver. Being very tall and having decent speed, Colston is a great possession receiver.

Nicks is widely viewed as the best guard in the league. His role on the team is a little more important because he protects Drew, even more so due to his size. In Nicks' career, he has twice been a Pro Bowler as well as being named to the All-Pro team twice.

In my opinion, I think that the Saints will let Colston walk and keep Nicks. With the emergence of record breaking tight end Jimmy Graham, you can wonder if the team feels Colston is expendable. Don't get me wrong, Colston is a tremendous player and has contributed immensely, but Brees isn't short on targets at which to throw. Replacing him wouldn't be that difficult either with other receivers hitting the market this year such as Plaxico Burress, Vincent Jackson, and Randy Moss, who recently expressed his interest in getting back into the league.

If the Saints lost Carl Nicks, the void would be much greater to fill. They would be losing a player on the Madden Most Valuable Protectors tandem and Brees' best guard. There also are not too many Pro Bowl guards floating around that are willing to play for cheap.

Obviously, we as fans would be ecstatic to have Colston and Nicks both return next year, but the numbers will be very hard work. The Saints' number one enemy this off-season, the salary cap, is going to get closer and closer to being met with the many players the Saints will need to re-sign. Ultimately, the team will have to decide if they feel comfortable without one of these players. If so, one or both could be let go to save a little cash.

Poll

If you had to choose one, who would you want to stay with the Saints?

Marques Colston

158 votes

Carl Nicks

444 votes

602 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 35 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

No option on both staying?

The source of Colston’s discontent is a league source (agent) talking to PFT…. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT…. PFT….. we need some perspective here….. also you overlooked that whatever Drew wants Drew gets, and he has stated already few times that he wants Colston to stay…

From the lower to the higher jersey number…..CONTRACT, CONTRACT, TAG….

Yes sir we want the ball...

by bondcrash on Feb 19, 2012 7:03 AM CST reply actions

I was thinking:
Brees-contract
Nicks-contract
Colston-tag

(if we as fans had our wishes come true)

But I think you’re right bondcrash, that may be a less expensive way. Ballpark tag for Colston would be 10-12 million or so? Anybody?

"Move over Marino, there's a new Brees coming through town!"-Jim Henderson

by BRSaintsFan on Feb 19, 2012 7:46 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

WR tag, approx. 9.4 mill.

by the 9th plague on Feb 19, 2012 8:42 AM CST up reply actions

i think it would be easier to sign colston than nicks, crash..

a hold out by nicks scenario may ensue, but a contract could be reached later.. the cap impact is about the same.. but i think a 28-30 million, 4 year contract for colston may be easier to achieve.. since you got a monstrous contract precedent in evans’ contract within the team, no less, nicks will want that, minimum..
a number like i’m thinking for colston would put him in elite money for WRs, sure somebody may offer him fitz money.. & he’ll walk.. but hopefully, not..

by the 9th plague on Feb 19, 2012 8:49 AM CST up reply actions

agree plague

Nicks ends up with the tag. also we are all underestimating the number of surgeries that Colston had (six or seven I think)… that will chill out a bit suitors out there

Yes sir we want the ball...

by bondcrash on Feb 19, 2012 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

Carl Nicks won't get tagged.

That would force the team to pay him elite LEFT TACKLE money. Not elite GUARD money. Hell, we don’t even pay our Pro Bowl LT that kind of money. Colston won’t get tagged either. He’s not worth top 10 WR money, but he’ll get it on the open market. The only shot we have at keeping all three is if Brees takes less than he should, which is a possibility.

Drew Brees- the REAL MVP.

by Alex Swift on Feb 19, 2012 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

the precedent of the highly paid guard has already been established by..

our own GM, loomis by giving evans his contract..
the tag may be temporary anyway.. & if the league interprets the tags as the same for the whole O-line.. that must be because they all matter.. in fact, guards matter a lot in our offense.. we help with chips more on the edges than inside.. drew, known for his pocket climbing.. needs solid guards..
i disagree on your evaluation of colston’s value..
i have posted enough info.. he has been among the best, most consistent performing receivers since he’s come in the league..

by the 9th plague on Feb 19, 2012 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

Any chance of Drew taking less now to help keep them all?

I know he deserves to be as highly paid as any player in the league, and I know there is a lot of pressure from the players union not to undercut the salary structure but Drew is Drew and he wants the team back to the Superbowl. Does anyone think things could be worked out with money down the road to help keep both Colston and Nicks?

"when an opponent is down, kick'em when they're down!" Bobby Hebert

by saintslam on Feb 19, 2012 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

colston's agent was supposedly quoted with the "home discount"

agents will work angles the media mongers obliging.. force deals..
the fact that nicks may not like the tag (which, by the way would be 9.4 million) doesn’t preclude that the team and player reaches a contract later on.. even if he refuses to show up and holds out..
what cannot happen is the QB in that situation.. it would undermine our chances to get rolling early & have a strong offensive season..
didn’t like the black & white options (quit reading prisco, he hates us..)
so i’m concocting my own scenario..
brees signs with a relatively cap friendly number for this year since it will be the hardest to stay under the cap.. something about 16 million.. the total 6 year contract worth 105 mill.
colston gets a 4 year.. about 7 mill/year which would put him top 5 in WR earnings..
nicks gets the tag = 9.4 whines about it, holds out & eventually they sign him for a similar contract that evans got.. which in actuality would ease the cap hit for this year..
of course this would mean a 40 million cap hit so some restructuring of the top 5 contracts to ease this years impact would be necessary..
i totally disagree with you idea of replacing colston with a street FA such as V. jackson (that would actually cost more..?) how could we think of that..? let’s see.. let’s get a guy that costs more & does less.. yep.. that should fix it..
the other 2 are not even close.. plax.. stiff.. only good to play inside the 20..
moss.. only knows one route.. the deep-fly.. not no mention baggage..
obviously you haven’t seen colston play much.. he is consider by real pundits a top 5 talent.. for his versatility/size/underrated speed/toughness/good hands/sharp routes..
recognizing that he may be gone is one thing.. but downplaying the importance is another..

by the 9th plague on Feb 19, 2012 8:32 AM CST reply actions

Colston is a reliable route runner with amazing hands

that’s big and has a large catch radius, and is a consummate professional on and off the field. That can’t be ignored and shouldn’t be downplayed. But he’s a possession receiver at this point, with a long laundry list of injuries. We already have Sproles, Graham, and Moore to work that section of the field. I would like to see a true deep threat with a little more ability than Meach/Henderson. There is no way Colston should be paid as a top five wideout. Brees is a lot more valuable to Colston than Colston is to Brees. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy. Absolutely. But we can’t overpay for him just because we appreciate what he’s done and the way he’s done it when that money could be much better spent in true areas of need both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. We need to pay him exactly as much as he’s worth going forward, and that is definitely not top five money.

by Jimbo03 on Feb 19, 2012 10:14 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I agree with you Jimbo03

We’ll have to see what the $$ distribution looks like – I could see Brees signed first, Nicks tagged until a long-term deal is worked out, and Colston might get offered more money elsewhere and go – Pay-loo will not get Top5 WR money from Saints – he’s good, and one of our best ever, but not Top5…

"We live by the blitz, and we die by the blitz.'' - Roman Harper

"So I guess the blitz died.'' - Alex Smith

by Hans Petersen on Feb 19, 2012 10:44 AM CST up reply actions

ok, you cap understanding people, what about that article over there on the right at Y! sports. yeah, quit laughing. what about tagging brees? it says that would help since the formula for the tag is different, but I don’t think that’s much of a savings.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/lower-numbers-could-lead-record-franchise-tag-designations-152702753.html

"Move over Marino, there's a new Brees coming through town!"-Jim Henderson

by BRSaintsFan on Feb 19, 2012 11:51 AM CST up reply actions

I think the major issue with tagging Brees

is that it would piss him off. He’s at least hinted strongly in that awesome, I’m not a jerk way he has, that he really doesn’t want to be franchised after what happened to him in SD.

by Jimbo03 on Feb 19, 2012 4:07 PM CST up reply actions

often times you don't realize what you had til it's gone..

cinderella flashback gaaaaaaaaaaaaahh..!! ben..?
/plague entity fights off hair-rock era images – composes himself..

have to say that my hand hurts of copying & pasting this article over and over..

http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/wr

i want y’all to find me an FA receiver that could produce like that..

by the 9th plague on Feb 19, 2012 11:54 AM CST up reply actions

oh.. & that would play for less than 7 million/year..

maybe we can get to the top of the 1st round & get backmon.. he looks ok..

by the 9th plague on Feb 19, 2012 12:06 PM CST up reply actions

works for me.

you got Mickey’s fax number? send him your plan.

"Move over Marino, there's a new Brees coming through town!"-Jim Henderson

by BRSaintsFan on Feb 19, 2012 12:07 PM CST up reply actions

agreed

Haters gon' hate...

by TAYDIGGA on Feb 19, 2012 6:58 PM CST up reply actions

Boom!

Rec’d

Repeat? Run it!

by FrenchFreak on Feb 19, 2012 11:37 PM CST up reply actions

plague island is not that bad..

apparently, no one thinks colston is worthy of a big contract.. for what we know the saints might agree with the y’all..
the cold numbers do not..
i arbitrarily ranked 6 WR & posted their career stats.. see for yourself..

1. fitz.
http://www.nfl.com/player/larryfitzgerald/2506106/profile

2. calvin j.
http://www.nfl.com/player/calvinjohnson/2495647/profile

3. andre j.
http://www.nfl.com/player/andrejohnson/2505551/profile

4. jennings
http://www.nfl.com/player/gregjennings/2495867/profil

5. welker
http://www.nfl.com/player/weswelker/2505790/profile

6. colston
http://www.nfl.com/player/marquescolston/2495821/profile

other “superstar-with-lots-of-attention” players with lesser numbers such as holmes, v. jackson, desean, wallace have got a big year here & there.. but they are a lot less consistent than the the top 6..
also, our nemesis steve smith deserves a place midways to the top but i left him out cause i hate him..
another veteran.. reggie wayne still could be considered among the better players..
roddy does not qualify in the top 10 although he earns top money..
miles austin is the 3rd best payed player.. a contract he earned after the 2009 breakout season.. has not lived up to it since, for various factors.. not a very steady player..
other players such as nicks, cruz & jordie n. have gotten really good in the last 2 years and are making enough noise to be considered in top contention, if they remain so productive..

by the 9th plague on Feb 20, 2012 6:31 AM CST up reply actions

I despise Roddy White, but how is he not a top ten receiver? Yes, he did have a tremendous amount of drops last year, but he still eclipsed Colston’s total.

http://www.nfl.com/player/roddywhite/2506366/profile

If you notice his stats, Marques Colston’s career high in yards is tied for Roddy’s 4th highest number. You also might notice in the past 5 years that Roddy has at least played in every game and missed only 2 starts. Not trying to prove for the enemy, but there is no question Roddy is an elite receiver.

by Travis Dauro on Feb 20, 2012 8:18 AM CST up reply actions

Here’s another consistent player that was forgotten.

Brandon Marshall
http://www.nfl.com/player/brandonmarshall/2495893/profile

by Travis Dauro on Feb 20, 2012 8:26 AM CST up reply actions

my arbitrary list.. by definition, arbitrary..

we could find endless lists with numerous arrays.. was not my point..

some people here say colston does not deserve top 5 receiver money cause he is not a top 5 receiver.. in my estimation he does, cause he is..
time will sort out what the saints’ FO thinks..
i criticized you casual devaluation of colston’s abilities on your article above, cause i thought it was wrong.. colston cannot be easily replaced by the guys you mentioned..
there are maybe 4-5 players on MY list that could replace him.. even outperform him.. most of them are not FAs.. & if they were they would be too costly..
taking a medium hit with a guy that has performed consistently for you is better than having to really go spend on a FA..

by the 9th plague on Feb 20, 2012 10:00 AM CST up reply actions

We keep both

…and let Brees walk. Who needs the guy? Matt Flynn is available, and he’d love to come play for New Orleans. He won a championship in the Dome, and he’s taller and younger. Let Brees take his whiney crybaby act somewhere else, good riddance. And Jimmy John’s sucks.

In reality, Jimmy John’s does suck. (Sorry Drew) I think I agree almost exactly with plague’s scenario on how we keep all three. Even though I would like to see Vincent Jackson and Jimmy Graham giving DCs fits downfield, I’d rather keep the nucleus together…and I bet Drew would too.

Mutatio aestimatur nimis magni.

by MtnExile on Feb 19, 2012 11:12 AM CST reply actions

I saw a Jimmy Johns here in Baton Rouge the other day. Don’t know how long it’s been there.

It’s really crappy?

"Move over Marino, there's a new Brees coming through town!"-Jim Henderson

by BRSaintsFan on Feb 19, 2012 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

Well, it’s better than Subway (so is a used litter box). It’s about as good as Blimpie’s or Jersey Mike’s, I guess. But in the land of po-boys, why bother with Jimmy John’s?

Mutatio aestimatur nimis magni.

by MtnExile on Feb 19, 2012 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

There should be no higher priority ( other than signing Brees )

Than keeping Brees upright and giving him time in the pocket. What good is Colston, or any other receiver for that matter, if your quarterback is laying on the ground under a 325 lb defensive tackle?

by canu2u on Feb 19, 2012 12:57 PM CST reply actions

Nicks

This is almost too easy. Nicks is undoubtedly the best (or at least one of) guards in the league. Colston is MAYBE a top 10/15 wide receiver??

by JellyPhantom on Feb 19, 2012 1:59 PM CST reply actions

We keep both!!!

I’m not dealing with this crap. Mickey Loomis better work some magic and earn his pay and make it work for both to stay! Get Drew contract done. Let him know the numbers to get both to stay. If he doesn’t want to make a way for both to stay then franchise him and get the other two signed. I heard they have until Monday to get the tags out there so something should be imminent.

by BASAINT on Feb 19, 2012 4:00 PM CST reply actions

Cut Loomis

use that money to sign our free agents, and appoint me GM. I’ll work for free.

by Jimbo03 on Feb 19, 2012 4:08 PM CST up reply actions

I’ll work for ~~free.~~ one date with Rita a year

Drew Brees- the REAL MVP.

by Alex Swift on Feb 19, 2012 4:41 PM CST up reply actions

All three should stay.

I say they should either rework Will Smiths contract or cut him. Don’t get me wrong I am thankful for what he has done for us but he has truely under performed the past two years. We need to free up the money for people that have consistantly performed and will hopefully continue to perform.

by dalleoman on Feb 19, 2012 5:36 PM CST reply actions

Drew will get his money, he deserves it. Nicks gets his contract. If we tag him and he holds out until the start of the season, then Drew is gonna be in trouble. Colston gets either a tag or a contract that gives him little money up front but is back loaded with incentive pay. If Colston holds out, we have a handful of others that can take up the slack until he figures out what he is going to do.

by Saintsfan75 on Feb 20, 2012 5:21 AM CST reply actions

Unfortunately...

We may lose Colston because we won’t get in a bidding war for him. If they don’t tag him, which would be more expensive than offering him a reasonable, long term deal, then he will have some suitors who will be willing to overpay him aka Fujita.

Drew Brees....MVS Most Valuable Saint! Who Dat!!!

by cajuncommando58 on Feb 20, 2012 10:09 AM CST up reply actions

I would take Colston in a heartbeat.

We lost Jonathan Goodwin last year, a pro bowl center, and we went 13-3. If Payton has proven anything, it’s that he knows how to “coach up” the offensive line. Plus, Brees gets rid of the ball very quickly in any case. I wouldn’t be worried at all about losing Nicks.

Colston, on the other hand, is our best wideout. He’s tall, fast, has great hands, and can take contact. I think our offense wouldn’t be nearly as effective without Colston.

by SaintsRule2011 on Feb 20, 2012 11:55 AM CST reply actions

colston

As I keep saying, Nicks is great, but is everyone completely ignorant of cap. You can’t pay $150M to your guards. You can only pay one or 2 O-lineman, and you need good grunts for the rest

by JOEY8 on Feb 21, 2012 11:37 AM CST reply actions