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The only knock I see in Branch is that he has some durability questions.And he can say what few WRs will ever get the chance to say. Super Bowl MVP. Does he deserve Wayne money? Yes, actually I do think so.
Deion Branch has played 219 games??
While I agree this is an option, I can't imagine them doing this. Would they really be willing to pay Branch an average of the top 5 WR salaries next year? What would that be? Several million for one season, I assume. That might be worse than giving him a big signing bonus for a multiyear contract, although it does preserve future cap space.
I think it's definetly an option....a lot would depend on these scenarios:A) Jackson develops slowly and Caldwell doesn't show much. It gives the Pats one more year to plan for Branch's departure. Add in the fact that Troy Brown is 75 years old and it makes more sense.
If Branch really, really, REALLY does not want to be in New England and every year holds out and is a major distraction, do you think the Pats would want to keep someone like that for millions and millions for a single season? If they felt he was a Top 5 WR wouldn't they want to pay him as such?
Good counterpoint. I guess I'd say that in your scenario A above, I could see them letting Branch walk and signing a free agent who is closer to being worth the money they could sign him for than paying Branch top 5 money. Or going ahead and working out a deal with Branch if they think he's worth it.I don't think Vinatieri is a great example. I admit I don't know how much he got paid under the franchise tag, but wasn't it significantly less than what a franchised WR has to be paid? So overpaying him didn't hurt the cap as much as overpaying Branch would.
*The Pats dealt with Ty Law for one year. Nothing will ever be that bad. He was calling out BB's family and it was a media frenzy. He can piss and moan all he wants but BB will do what's right for the Pats just like Holmgren did with Alexander and Cowher did with Ward. *There's a huge difference between a one year deal with no bonus (i.e. franchise tag) and a long term deal. It would allow them to transition for a year if a worst case scenario plays out with Jackson and Caldwell. Again, it's not the optimal situation but I do think it's a very viable option should circumstances dictate it.
Last year he was the highest paid kicker by a large margin. Although IMO the fact they did not sign him this year shows they are more willing to do a big one year deal as opposed to a deal that has a signing bonus in it. At the end of the day it's the bonus money that made AV (and Givens) ex-Patriots although I do agree that the dollar figures are much different between K and WR.
I think Branch wants to be able to experience his career at a higher payscale. He's a player. In his mind, he's wasting away. So much talent, so few looks. Oh, and then there's the "Wayne money". I don't think so. One more solid year to get that money, not with the current coach. Purse strings loosening in NE... doubtful.
There is no way the Pats can do this. It would set a horrible precedent and ensure future troubles with other players. They can get away with giving Seymour a one year bump because he's irreplacable even though I'm sure Branch thinks he deserves the same treatment. Yet, if you do it with Branch than you'll have to do it with guys like Wilfork, Warren, Watson and Mankins when they're in similar situations.
No you don't.
Are you agreeing or disagreeing? If you're disagreeing I can guarantee you it will set a precedent. My best friend is an agent in another pro sport and I have worked on contracts with him. Everything is based on comparables and precedent. If the Pats do this for Branch every agent that deals with the Pats will point to this as a negotiating tactic and put the Pats back on their heels. The worst thing they can do is get a short term fix that provides long term pain. They need Branch back but they can't do a stopgap measure that provides future negotiating problems.
I'm disagreeing. Not every agent will use this as a negotiating tactic, and it doesn't matter much anyway. If someone NE doesn't want to sign uses this, it's not a big deal. If someone wants a long-term contract with NE -- unlike Branch but like most people -- then this won't be a big deal either.I'm not sure what NE's options are here, but I think not having Branch on the Patriots would ruin their season. New England won't win many games with Reche Caldwell and Chad Jackson as their top 2 WRs.What do you see as the alternative here?
By no means am I disagreeing that not having Branch hurts. It definetly does. Yet, it would hurt far more organizationally if they do something shortsighted to simply get him into camp. It would absolutely kill the Pats when dealing with players like Wilfork and Warren who are more important to the Pats success and will be in Branch's shoes within a few years. As my buddy says this is an "eyes contract" meaning all eyes are on it and how this comes out will definetly have an effect (good or bad) on doing business with the Pats in the future.As for Branch you are overestimating his value. Actually it's more that you're overestimating the worth of a WR to the Pats. The Pats won a title with Patten and Troy Brown and literally nothing else at WR. It is not a position that will make a break this team like the front 7 or O line. Now, I'm not trying to sugarcoat things because losing Branch would be a big blow and put more pressure on other members of the offense. It's a very definite negative. Their depth at WR is very iffy. Yet, this is nothing close to the pain that would be caused by losing a Seymour, Wilfork, Vrabel or Bruschi. As long as the D is stout, the O line is healthy and Brady is under center the Pats will contend.As for the Pats alternatives I think this deal can get done if the Pats give Branch more upfront money and Branch realizes he's not a free agent. There should be a middle ground here. If that doesn't happen than BB and the Pats will do what they always do. Put this situation in the rearview mirror and expect other players to pick up the slack. Whether those players can pick up the slack remains to be seen but that's how business is conducted in Foxboro.
Very well put, on both the matter of setting precedent and the importance of WRs in the Patriots' system.
The Pats strategy worked when they were winning championships. Players are willing to earn less if they are on a team that will get them a ring. But, the Pats aren't as dominant now and they have some major competition in the conference. Once the novelty wears off, then guys start thinking about their future and eventually they need to get paid. A football career is too short.They should pay Branch market value or trade him to somebody that will. He's earned that from the organization. We're not talking about some unproven rookie here. Besides, Branch has talent and it isn't his problem if the offense tends to spread the ball around. Put Branch on the Colts or a similar squad and he would be posting Reggie Wayne type numbers. He might do that this year now that Givens is out of the picture. The Pats are thinner at the position than they have been in years.
Who said the Pats are done winning championships? The competition is no stiffer now than it has been in years past. I think players around the league realize that as long as Belichick is the coach and Brady is the QB, the Pats have as good a shot at the Super Bowl as any team in the league.
Why should they pay Branch market value or trade him to somebody that will? He's not on the market, so why should he get market value? It's not necessarily in the best interests of the team, and the team is priority #1. Let's not pretend that Branch has done the team some kind of huge favor by playing for them - Branch has benefitted quite a bit from his experience in New England, and he remains under contract.
The issue is market value and it's a legit sticking point. Due to the style of play the Pats play Branch's market value is probably bigger on a team like the Colts. On the Pats WR is not a key cog in the machine. That's not a knock on Branch but simply how BB builds his team. Therefore in a sense both sides have a legit point. For the Pats if they pay too much for a WR it hurts how they like to build their squad. It will take away from another area they deem more important. On the flipside Branch believes he deserves big money and probably does on the OPEN MARKET. IMO that's the single biggest sticking point here. Branch wants to be paid like a Wayme, EL or Givens. Yet, those guys all completed their deals and were in a position to accept offers from other teams. Branch is not in that position and theefore needs to understand he needs to give a little to get a deal done. He's trying to have his cake and eat it too. By the way I do agree that players need to look at their future. That's why I have zero issues with a guy like Givens. He would have been foolish not to go for the cash the Titans threw at him...but again, that's a situation where he played out his deal and had competing offers which allowed his price to be driven up. If Branch comes back he will have that exact same opportunity next offseason. Also, one area that I don't think many non-Patriot fans saw last year was the ability of defenses to completely shutdown Branch. Due to his size he was pretty easily taken out of a few games last year. He has a very tough time fighting through double teams. I do think BB/Pioli saw this and understand that while Branch is extremely talented he's somewhat of a unique talent. Especially as far as #1 WRs are concerned. Therefore they may not feel he's worth the investment another team may feel he is.In the end I really hope this gets done. Branch is an excellent WR and comes up large in the big games. The Pats are better off with him. Right now I think the Pats should increase the upfront money if the numbers I see are legit. Yet, if his demands are too much than the Pats are better off letting him walk. In the end the combination of the Patriot's style and Branch's size mean he's not the guy to overpay for. It's just not a wise move in a salary cap league where the dollars are not infinite.The Pats strategy worked when they were winning championships. Players are willing to earn less if they are on a team that will get them a ring. But, the Pats aren't as dominant now and they have some major competition in the conference. Once the novelty wears off, then guys start thinking about their future and eventually they need to get paid. A football career is too short.They should pay Branch market value or trade him to somebody that will. He's earned that from the organization. We're not talking about some unproven rookie here. Besides, Branch has talent and it isn't his problem if the offense tends to spread the ball around. Put Branch on the Colts or a similar squad and he would be posting Reggie Wayne type numbers. He might do that this year now that Givens is out of the picture. The Pats are thinner at the position than they have been in years.
That team has always found a way to replace it's parts.Super Bowl MVP or not Branch is out of his mind thinking he will get a"Wayne " type of deal.The Pats will never do that and I think this hold out is joke. He has one year left on his deal.Let him hold out. The Pats will move on and use other players and focus more on the run anyway this season. Branch is an average WR in this league and has a lot of nerve thinking with those numbers he is anything more. He should get his ### into camp and work on a deal while he practices and works with his team for the up coming season.He is under contract.
Wow talk about needing to not post before morning coffee. Still, the corrected numbers aren't good either: 3.95 catches, 52.5 yards, 0.25 TDs. (I thought those numbers seemed too low... again: 
