Deal 'Mostly in Place' for New Orleans Saints, Malcolm Butler
Looks like talks between the New Orleans Saints and restricted free agent Malcolm Butler are quite productive.
According to CSNNE's Mike Giardi, the parameters for a deal between the team and the cornerback are mostly in place already. He said the two sides are still "quibbling" over the guaranteed money in the contract. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport also reported that they are "not far apart" in negotiations, so it looks like things are progressing nicely.
However, the New England Patriots hold all the cards in this situation and Rapoport said they will not negotiate with the Saints until Butler signs his restricted free agency tender. The two teams have not yet discussed the compensation for a trade, but Giardi has stated that the two teams "know what it will take to get deal done."
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Giardi also said that he believes the Patriots and the Saints are playing "a game of high stakes chicken on compensation front," but the Saints want to acquire Butler and they will continue to pursue him.
Right now, the Saints can sign Butler to an offer sheet. If the Patriots decline to match it, the Saints will have to send their 11th overall pick to New England. That's a very steep price. If the Saints want to acquire Butler through a trade, he will have to sign the tender first. Of course, the Patriots may also decide to keep him for the rest of the season if he does that.
Citing a source, ESPN's Mike Triplett said a deal between the two teams can go either way.
"A Saints-Patriots deal for CB Malcolm Butler is still very much in play, but a source described it as a process that could still go either way. The first factor is Butler and the Saints agreeing on a long-term contract. Nothing else can happen if they're not on the same page there, but last week's visit was a good sign of their mutual interest," Triplett stated.
