NE39

From Foxsports: LINK

A lot has been written in the Boston newspapers about how badly the Patriots are treating their top receiver Deion Branch — making it seem as if Scott Pioli, the club's vice-president of player personnel, is being cheap with Branch with a three-year extension of $18 million.

However, Branch signed a fair deal when he was drafted in the second round in 2002. There were reasonable incentives in his contract that would have boosted his '06 salary. The trouble was that Branch reached only the first escalator in his contract, which paid him $500,000 extra if he had 900 receiving yards in a single season. He did it last season, and that bonus was added to his base pay of $545,000 this season.

The maximum Branch could have received this season was $3.545 million if he had reached 1,100 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons. He would have gotten a $1 million bonus for simply doing it once. Last season, 15 receivers had 1,100 yards or more. Branch had 998 and five touchdowns. In two other seasons, Branch failed to reach 500 receiving yards.

Several teams have told me that Branch might be the third receiver on their roster. Branch was MVP of Super Bowl XXXVIIII, and he's a valuable player to the Patriots; but the club is being reasonable based on his overall career production.

After reading this, it makes me wonder if Deion's mystery offer will even materialize, or whether it is a fantasy created by his agent.

mgcolby

Great info, it just goes to show how much of an @ss he is. Even in the 11th hour of this situation even more info comes out that makes him look bad. I don't understand how someone can be so irrational. Its mind boggling.

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PatsWickedPissah

Actually, this info had been posted here earlier. Branch himself failed to reach the incentives, mostly because of injuries.

PatsSox363804

Good article and it really does lay it all out and show that this whole thing is being caused by Deion thinking he's worth more than he is and not honoring a contract that he signed. Only one problem, Superbowl "XXXVIIII?" nice editing job Fox.

SeanBruschi54

Great find NE93.

This situation will be resolved in some capacity at 4pm today. We'll just have to wait and see.

Box_O_Rocks

My goodness, actual reporting from Czarnecki! It is indeed a day of wonders! I am now eagerly awaiting the resolution to the Pats' contretemps with Deion's camp, while a Mary Poppins' medley entertains my memory.

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Oswlek

In fairness to Branch, he hasn't reached some of those figures because of health.

However, a case could be made that his injury history is a concern and his new contract should reflect that.

Oh, and besides Indy, Arizona and maybe Denver, I can't think of many other teams that Branch wouldn't be one of the top 2 guys. I suppose someone might say Carolina, but they would be wrong; Branch is much better than Keyshawn.

dryheat44

If it would get him in camp, I would give him the extra two yards from last year and give him his bonus for reaching 1000 yards.

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BelichickFan

The stunning part is that we evidently offered a 3 & 5 year contract each at a little over $6M per year. Unless there was almost no bonus and lots of unguaranteed salaries at the end (unlikely as we would want to keep him not cut him), I just don't see the problem. Reasonably structured, $6M a year is overpaying him IMO.

BelichickFan

Is there a bonus for 1,000 or 1,100 ?

If you remember in the Miami game we put him in to get his 1,000 yards but he dropped the pass.