Squabble between Pats, Branch gets messier (1 Viewer)

[TD Ryan]

The franchise tender is a base salary, and the base salary is guaranteed if you're on the 53 man roster Week 1.Those numbers above, I assume you mean 06/07/08 Franchise numbers have a way of changing drastically, and taking this years number and adding an arbitrary million to is pointless.

no we don't know the exact figures but how much will they have to go up to make it a bad situation for NE?"changing drastically"... they'd have to go up an insane amount for it to be a bad deal for NE.the most important part of it all is that there's NO Signing bonus and no committment to that salary beyond the one year Branch would play as a Franchisee.

 

[massraider]

The franchise tender is a base salary, and the base salary is guaranteed if you're on the 53 man roster Week 1.

Those numbers above, I assume you mean 06/07/08

Franchise numbers have a way of changing drastically, and taking this years number and adding an arbitrary million to is pointless.

no we don't know the exact figures but how much will they have to go up to make it a bad situation for NE?"changing drastically"... they'd have to go up an insane amount for it to be a bad deal for NE.

the most important part of it all is that there's NO Signing bonus and no committment to that salary beyond the one year Branch would play as a Franchisee.

I agree with that, and I think that using the franchise tag next year would be good for the Pats, and good for Branch, if he doesn't get hurt.I think Branch could essentially do what Charles Woodson did, got paid big money for one year, then sign the big money deal. It worked out really well for Woodson, as the tender for '05 was over 10 mill, due to some other contracts that just happened to pay a few CB's big money. The franchise tender for CB's actually went down this year, significantly.

And I believe Moss has a huge base next year, due to some restructuring, over 10 mill, I think.

Woodson risked injury last year, it's true, but man, when the franchise number is about half of what you'd get in a signing bouns anyway, it makes it a lot easier to take that risk.

I've been reading people warning Branch that if he doesn't sign with the Pats, they'll just tag him. That doesn't seem like a horrible punishment to me. It's not ideal, as the risk of injury is there, but as far as I can see, the absolute most money Branch could make over the next few years involves him getting franchised.

 

[Ham Wallet]

ESPN just changed the story!

 

[TD Ryan]

I've been reading people warning Branch that if he doesn't sign with the Pats, they'll just tag him. That doesn't seem like a horrible punishment to me. It's not ideal, as the risk of injury is there, but as far as I can see, the absolute most money Branch could make over the next few years involves him getting franchised.

it all comes back to the fact that Branch has only earned 2.5 mil so far in his career.neither he or his family is "set for life" and really this is where Branch has a legit issue with being underpaid.Guys like Woodson and Moss had already earned a decent chunk of change.If he plays this year and suffers a career ending injury... he's up the creek.Even franchising him and giving him say... $7mil? guaranteed isn't enough security for him.Branch want that 10mil+ signing bonus, up front and a 5mil salary to go along with the bonus.Branch is undersized. He's prone to injury. He knows it and that's why he wants the big signing bonus. NE knows it too and that is why they're so reluctant to give him all that up front money and compromise their cap for the future.

 

[massraider]

I've been reading people warning Branch that if he doesn't sign with the Pats, they'll just tag him. That doesn't seem like a horrible punishment to me. It's not ideal, as the risk of injury is there, but as far as I can see, the absolute most money Branch could make over the next few years involves him getting franchised.

it all comes back to the fact that Branch has only earned 2.5 mil so far in his career.neither he or his family is "set for life" and really this is where Branch has a legit issue with being underpaid.Guys like Woodson and Moss had already earned a decent chunk of change.If he plays this year and suffers a career ending injury... he's up the creek.Even franchising him and giving him say... $7mil? guaranteed isn't enough security for him.Branch want that 10mil+ signing bonus, up front and a 5mil salary to go along with the bonus.Branch is undersized. He's prone to injury. He knows it and that's why he wants the big signing bonus. NE knows it too and that is why they're so reluctant to give him all that up front money and compromise their cap for the future.

None of that contradicts anything I said.The potential for him to make the most money, is one year of franchise, and then a big deal. Even moreso than the Pats cutting him loose after this year.What it really depends on, is how much of a risk Branch is willing to take. We can't assume what Branch is prepared to do.

 

[Hammerage]

Didn't know if this has already been posted but saw this today.

FoxSports reported this morning that WR Deion Branch will be traded as early as tomorrow, Monday, avoiding the player's grievances against the Patriots. The most likely candidates are the Vikings, Jets and Seahawks according to PFS New England

Per Profantasysports