New Orleans Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod acknowledges that the lockout is standing in the way of a long-term contract, which may not be coming from the team he's started 30 games for the last two seasons.
"I love playing in New Orleans," Bushrod tells Taft Coghill of the Free Lance-Star. "We have a great locker room, a great quarterback, a great organization and overall a great city. So if we can get something done, that'll be great. If not, I'll have to weigh my options."
Chosen in the fourth round (125th overall) out of Towson University in 2007, Bushrod (6-5, 315) replaced injured left tackle Jammal Brown in 2009, protecting Drew Brees' blindside as the Saints won its first Super Bowl title in franchise history.
A restricted free agent in 2010, Bushrod played under a "Second Round" tender, which included a non-guaranteed $1.684 million base salary. Including the playoffs, Bushrod started all 17 games in 2010.
In February, the Saints placed another "Second Round" tender on Bushrod, which under the expired collective bargaining agreement, would carry a non-guaranteed $1.91 million base salary in 2011, should Bushrod be denied entry to the unrestricted free agent market.
New Orleans used a 2010 second-round pick on former USC offensive tackle Charles Brown, who could be the team's left tackle of the future. With Jonathan Stinchcomb turning 32 in August, the Saints could view Bushrod (27 in August) and Brown (24 on Sunday) as bookend tackles on the offensive line for the next few seasons.
source: Mac's Football Blog
Posted by Brian McIntyre
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