Jason Cole article: Brees - 3rd Franchise Tag? CBA Wording
Here's the article - <a href="http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&drKey=1141&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fsaintsreport.com%2Fforums%2Ff2%2Fssf-slacking-230908%2F&v=1&libid=1337970813836&out=http%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fnfl--saints-qb-drew-brees--contract-efforts-could-be-aided-by-language-in-cba.html%3B_ylt%3DAkvUQDY8UPiI69I0tOetphFDubYF&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fsaintsreport.com%2Fforums%2Ff2%2F&title=SSF%20Slacking%3F%20-%20SaintsReport%20Community%20Forums&txt=here%20it%20is&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13379710498463">Link</a>
Brees/Condon are arguing that the franchise tag next year would be a THIRD tender, worth 23.5 million. Basically there's your three million divide, and it's not going anywhere until someone rules on this dispute.
Here's the CBA, Op by SaintsW1n, <a href="http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&drKey=1141&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fsaintsreport.com%2Fforums%2Ff2%2Fssf-slacking-230908%2F&v=1&libid=1337970813836&out=http%3A%2F%2Fnfllabor.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fcollective-bargaining-agreement-2011-2020.pdf&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fsaintsreport.com%2Fforums%2Ff2%2F&title=SSF%20Slacking%3F%20-%20SaintsReport%20Community%20Forums&txt=here&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13379711433564">Link</a>
See page 44. Very vague wording:
Any Club that designates a player as a Franchise Player for the third time shall, on the date the third such designation is made, be deemed to have tendered the player a one-year NFL Player Contract for the greater of