METAIRIE, La. -- Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt and Drew Brees have spoken about preparations for training camp, and Vitt said he expects the star quarterback to be back with the team by then.

When asked why he's confident Brees will be back from his contract holdout, Vitt cracked, "What else is he going to do? He can't sing or dance."

New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis has said his top priority is to come up with a contract that satisfies Brees, but that the club has to be careful to avoid rushing into a deal that will affect the team significantly for years to come.

The Saints have placed a one-year franchise tag on Brees, which prevents him from negotiating with other clubs. However, Brees, whose last six-year deal expired after last season, is holding out for a new multiyear contract that will make him among the NFL's highest-paid players.

So far, the 33-year-old quarterback has skipped several weeks of voluntary workouts, as well as the first six offseason practices held this week and last. It looks as though Brees may also miss minicamp next week and the last set of offseason practices later in June.

The Saints have until July 16 to sign Brees to a new long-term deal. Otherwise, he can play under the one-year franchise tag for about $16.3 million -- or sit out the season and get nothing.

The NFL Players Association, however, asked an arbitrator Tuesday to determine whether Brees has been hit with the franchise tag for a second time, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

Besides the franchise tag Brees received from the Saints this offseason, the quarterback also had the tag placed on him by the San Diego Chargers in 2005 after his rookie contract expired.