We now have uncovered another piece to the puzzle we're putting together (and that JASON HAS WRITTEN ABOUT - CLICK HERE) about the future of Chris "Tusk!" Ivory and the New Orleans Saints.

Larry Holder knows a guy who says that the team has tendered our dear old restricted free agent Tusk! at the $2.023 million dollar second-round level, according to a story LH posted on the nola.com tonight.

Holder thinks this means Tusk! will stay a Saint:

This means if a team would want Ivory to sign a contract and the Saints wouldn't match the offer, the Saints would receive a second-round pick from that team. The price tag is likely too high for any team to try to pluck Ivory away.

Free Agency's here, bitches!!! Things are going to get a heckuva lot more interesting, starting NOW!!

And the new "tampering window" hasn't even opened yet - who knows WHAT'S coming next?

Regardless, let's discuss this in the comment thread. Roster geeks - tell us what it means for the crowded backfield. Salary cap gurus, run the numbers for us...who CAN'T they afford if Tusk! counts for this $2 mil this year. I need to know this stuff right away.