The Vince Wilfork situation (merged) - Page 18 - New England Patriots Forums

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 02-13-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deus Irae

Have you never seen a baseball game, or watched players like Oliver Miller in the NBA?

You people need to get a handle on this stuff. You all complained when Seymour held out because his contract wasn't good enough, and you held it against him for the rest of his Patriots tenure. You complained when Branch wanted to get his final year voided so that he could make more money to help secure his son's future. You complained when Samuel negotiated a "no franchise" clause into his deal. Now you're complaining when Wilfork does nothing more than note the unacceptable nature of the franchise tag in his mind.

Perhaps instead of pissing and moaning because Vince wants money, and insulting the man for his weight, you might realize that teams WANT these players big, and that the type of beating a 3-4 NT takes means that such players earn their money the hard way.

Vince figures that he put in the full 6 years of his contract, something that the players considered so onerous that they got it changed, and he figures the team owes him the kind of money he feels he's worth. There's nothing at all wrong with the position he's taking.

Um, I recall Branch spent a fair chunk of his money at around $1M/bedroom with a view of Lake Washington - I'm sure he wants the best for his son, but he really didn't convince me that was his primary reason. For the rest, I concur.

RayClay · 02-13-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks

Um, I recall Branch spent a fair chunk of his money at around $1M/bedroom with a view of Lake Washington - I'm sure he wants the best for his son, but he really didn't convince me that was his primary reason. For the rest, I concur.

Agreed. As Sesame Street would say, one of those things is not like the other. Nothing wrong with negotiating[/Costanza].

The other three used leverage and persuasion. The franchise tag is unfair anyway, anything to leverage your position, OK by me.

Branch was under contract and intentionally screwed his team late into the off season as leverage. It was dishonorable. Yeah, his son had to have a million dollar house. Please.

Ty Law's kids are starving too.

slash83 · 02-13-2010, 02:39 PM

I think the Pats will reach a long term contract extension with Vince, BB knows how important a dominant NT is to the type of defense he prefers to run and isnt letting Vince go. If all else fails VW will get franchised and the two sides will continue to hammer out a deal, no way BB loses an elite DL who is the most important player to his defense, especially now since his name will be all over the defense and how it performs.

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 02-13-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayClay

Agreed. As Sesame Street would say, one of those things is not like the other. Nothing wrong with negotiating[/Costanza].

The other three used leverage and persuasion. The franchise tag is unfair anyway, anything to leverage your position, OK by me.

Branch was under contract and intentionally screwed his team late into the off season as leverage. It was dishonorable. Yeah, his son had to have a million dollar house. Please.

Ty Law's kids are starving too.

Well, his son is in a hospital in Kentucky, whether Meion needs to pay for it or the kid's a ward of the State is anyone's guess. The home Meion bought was fancy and expensive, he could afford it and afford an annuity for his kid if needed, but he certainly didn't behave as if the kid was the primary motivation for seeking the bigger paycheck.

***Wolfpack*** · 02-13-2010, 09:28 PM

Wilfork is unfortunate in a lot of things involving his timing and the timing of the CBA and the team he plays for (meaning a team not afraid to take a more hard-line stance) - not to mention playing in a sport with the weakest players' union.

But I just can't muster any sympathy for a guy who will be upset making more money next year than 99% of the population makes in their lives. I expect they will franchise him and let the chips fall where they may.

JMarr · 02-13-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

Wilfork is unfortunate in a lot of things involving his timing and the timing of the CBA and the team he plays for (meaning a team not afraid to take a more hard-line stance) - not to mention playing in a sport with the weakest players' union.

But I just can't muster any sympathy for a guy who will be upset making more money next year than 99% of the population makes in their lives. I expect they will franchise him and let the chips fall where they may.

I totally hear ya, but the more I hear about concussions, the long-term health damage that playing in the NFL often causes, and that the average mortality rate of an NFL player is something like 58 years, the more sympathy I have for these guys' contract demands. I can't begrudge them for really trying to maximize their income as a player while they can.

Even though the salary cap, non-guaranteed contracts, and a comparatively weak player's union are part of the reason why the NFL is a superior product to other pro sports, I also think those things make the least sense in a game like football.