Free agent OG Carl Nicks finally received a contract offer from the Saints on Monday, deeming it "respectable." Nicks believes the Saints didn't make an offer before Monday because they understood they couldn't meet his demands and didn't want to insult him with a low-ball offer. Eager to become the highest-paid guard in the NFL, Nicks will sleep on the Saints' offer before the start of free agency on Tuesday.

Free agent OG Carl Nicks reiterated in an interview with WWL in New Orleans that he wants to be the NFL's highest paid guard. "I plan to be the highest paid guard in the NFL," he said. "You can take that whatever kinda way but that's my goal. So more than Logan Mankins got I guess." Mankins received a six-year, $51 million contract with $30 million guaranteed last August. "I don't wanna sound cocky or anything but I busted my butt for four years, I made a couple Pro Bowls," Nicks added. "For my first three years I was the lowest paid guard of all the starting guard in the NFL."

Free agent LG Carl Nicks confirmed to WWL-TV in New Orleans that he does not expect to be back with the Saints. "In my mind, I pretty much am gone, to be honest," said Nicks, the top offensive guard on the market. The Saints still haven't so much as made a contract offer, and appear to have washed their hands of the two-time Pro Bowler and 2011 first-team All Pro. Nicks should have no shortage of suitors in free agency. At the very least, Nicks should expect bidding from Chicago and Dallas.

Although he is "relieved" to longer be a candidate for the franchise tag, free agent LG Carl Nicks insists he's still hoping to re-sign with the Saints. "Now I kinda know how free agency will go," Nicks said. "Anxiety's still there but I'm a little calmer." Nicks may still be "hoping" to end up back in New Orleans, but the money simply won't be there for a team that committed $56.7 million to RG Jahri Evans two years ago. Nicks has gone on the record as hoping to beat Evans' deal in free agency.

Profootballtalk.com reports that the Saints have not even made a contract offer to free agent LG Carl Nicks. The Saints' hands are tied in the Drew Brees stalemate, and life is only getting tougher on GM Mickey Loomis with the "bounty scandal" hitting newsreels. The club is absolutely in danger of losing Nicks and Marques Colston to free agency.

Free agent LG Carl Nicks wrote on Twitter Wednesday that he does not want the Saints to franchise tag him. "I don't want to be franchised!!!" he wrote. While no details were tweeted, it begs the question of whether a standout might ensue should the Saints tag Nicks. Nicks has gone on record saying he wants to be the NFL's highest paid guard.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune considers free agent LG Carl Nicks a more likely candidate for the franchise tag than free agent Marques Colston if the Saints are able to avoid using it on Drew Brees.

The Tampa Tribune expects the Bucs to show interest in LG Carl Nicks if he hits the open market. With roughly $60 million salary cap space available, Bucs GM Mark Dominik expects to be active in free agency. The Saints will have a hard time keeping Nicks unless Drew Brees agrees to a long-term deal, freeing up the franchise tag.

Free agent LG Carl Nicks told SiriusXM NFL Radio Tuesday that he's seeking a deal worth more than RG Jahri Evans' seven-year, $56.7 million contract. It sounds like Nicks is adamant about the asking price, too. While GM Mickey Loomis has a history of working the salary cap to keep homegrown talent, it would be unprecedented to commit more than $100 million long-term to a pair of guards. Nicks revealed Tuesday that he's yet to have any discussions with the Saints about a new contract.

Owner/GM Jerry Jones has made it clear that the Cowboys will be active in free agency this offseason. The Cowboys have $12.6 million in salary cap space, and can increase that number by releasing Terence Newman and restructuring a few more contracts. "And we will use [the cap space]," emphasized Jones. Needing a boost on the interior and at cornerback, the Cowboys are often mentioned as a potential landing spot for free agent LG Carl Nicks.