NFL Notes: Arbitrator rules in Brees' favor

An arbitrator in Philadelphia has ruled in Drew Brees' favor in a dispute over how much the Saints would have to pay him if they applied the franchise tag to the star quarterback again in 2013.

The ruling adds leverage to Brees, who has so far skipped the Saints' offseason practices while holding out for a new long-term contract with New Orleans.

The Saints have already used the tag on Brees for 2012, meaning he can't negotiate with another team and could be forced to settle for a one-year, $16.3 million deal if he cannot reach a new long-term deal by a July 16 deadline specified in the league's collective bargaining agreement.

Arbitrator Stephen Burbank's ruling Tuesday said if New Orleans tries to tag Brees a second year in a row, he would be entitled to a 44 percent raise to more than $23 million because it would be his third-career franchise tag. The NFL had argued Brees would be due a 20 percent raise because it would have been only his second franchise tag with one team (The Associated Press, see full story).

Raiders make donations to local schools
ALAMEDA -- The Raiders will give the Oakland school system a check for more than $50,000 as part of a season-ticket drive designed to benefit Oakland schools.

The Raiders donated 10 percent of the gross proceeds of new season tickets purchased and paid for from May 1 to June 30 to the Oakland Unified School District. The team says the total amount raised from the program was $54,323.

Oakland schools have endured teacher layoffs and some closures in recent years as officials get back on financial track.

The state took over the district in 2003 after officials ran up a deficit of roughly $82 million. The district regained control in 2009, but is still making annual debt payments of about $6 million (The Associated Press).

Redskins want Davis long term?
According to Rich Tandler of CSN Washington, the possibility of the Redskins' signing TE Fred Davis to a long-term deal is “extremely unlikely.” Davis is currently under the one-year franchise tender.

However, a source tells ProFootballTalk.com that the Redskins have reached out to Davis regarding a long-term contract. That said, the source said nothing is imminent.

Davis in 12 games last season had 59 catches for 796 yards and three touchdowns. He was suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.