The Silver Lining to the Branch Cloud - New England Patriots Forums

JR4 · 09-07-2006, 08:09 AM

I was just thinking about this Branch thing and how the Patriots management has responded.

PATs Management is Smart

Their decisions were not arbitrary but very calculated to achieve
what they wanted ... to set a precedence on how they would respond to
players who act like Branch in the future.

IMO, here's what their actions say to players:

1. If you want to force a contract extension we may make you a fair offer
but it maybe not as much as if you had waited until we approached you.
2. If we can not come to an agreement we will be ready to let you
hold out all season.
3. You will get charged penalties and loss any salary while on reserve/did not report list.
4. We will find a way to move on without you and still be effective.

I believe the fair offer but firm stand PATs have used will serve them well in the future.

Also players will have to see what has happened to Branch's reputation,
a sad thing for Deion. ( his agent's license should be revoked )

I see a silver lining to the Branch Cloud.

CrazyDave · 09-07-2006, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR4

The Branch thing in on going but the

Dude, are you messin with my head?

Brownfan80 · 09-07-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR4

I see a silver lining to the Branch Cloud.

The Branch thing in on going but the

Say wha? :O

PatsChick87 · 09-07-2006, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR4

The Branch thing in on going but the

Clear evidence that one's spent to much time thinking through the Branch saga!

JR4 · 09-07-2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyDave

Dude, are you messin with my head?

sorry bout that .....

.... it's gone now.

JR4 · 09-07-2006, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsChick87

Clear evidence that one's spent to much time thinking through the Branch saga!

yeah ... but the Silver Lining is still there

ClosingTime · 09-07-2006, 11:22 AM

I have stayed out of this discussion cause I can't really figure out how it got so messy so quick and there must have been something that happened that hasn't been reported.
BUT, if you think this is going to send a good message to the players, or a message you want to send to the players you are high on crack. This has done nothing but foment distrust and antagonism from the players towards management evidenced by the recurring quotes from 'unidentified Pats players' that 'if this is the way they treat Branhc who is said to be their tyope of player how are they going to deal with the rest of us?' So if the Pats want to keep playng hardball they can continue to see their FAs walk, even if the money is the same and there certainly be no more hometown discounts a la BRady and Bruschi. Wasn't Bruschi even quoted last year kicking himself for giving the hometown discount?

Playing hardball all the time may make you look like a tough, assertive negotiator but more often than not doesn't garner what you seek. Remember, you catch more flies with honey thatn vinegar.

JR4 · 09-07-2006, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClosingTime

I have stayed out of this discussion cause I can't really figure out how it got so messy so quick and there must have been something that happened that hasn't been reported.
BUT, if you think this is going to send a good message to the players, or a message you want to send to the players you are high on crack. This has done nothing but foment distrust and antagonism from the players towards management evidenced by the recurring quotes from 'unidentified Pats players' that 'if this is the way they treat Branhc who is said to be their tyope of player how are they going to deal with the rest of us?' So if the Pats want to keep playng hardball they can continue to see their FAs walk, even if the money is the same and there certainly be no more hometown discounts a la BRady and Bruschi. Wasn't Bruschi even quoted last year kicking himself for giving the hometown discount?

Playing hardball all the time may make you look like a tough, assertive negotiator but more often than not doesn't garner what you seek. Remember, you catch more flies with honey thatn vinegar.

I disagree. Your assuption is they just played harball. WRONG!

They made a fair and decent offer to a guy who held out of preseason
activity.
Players will not see that as a hardball .. no give ... policy.

They will see a player who was still under contract ... not living up to that
contract ... but the PATs still giving him a very reasonable offer.
As I said, probably not as much as if he had waited but a very reasonaable
19+M over 3 years.

But after that offer they stood firm even when Branch's agent did not
counter with an alternative offer.

All Players are not dumb they know it was a reasonable thing the PATs did.
Patriots should come out of this thing looking pretty good.

ClosingTime · 09-07-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR4

I disagree. Your assuption is they just played harball. WRONG!

They made a fair and decent offer to a guy who held out of preseason
activity.
Players will not see that as a hardball .. no give ... policy.

They will see a player who was still under contract ... not living up to that
contract ... but the PATs still giving him a very reasonable offer.
As I said, probably not as much as if he had waited but a very reasonaable
19+M over 3 years.

But after that offer they stood firm even when Branch's agent did not
counter with an alternative offer.

All Players are not dumb they know it was a reasonable thing the PATs did.
Patriots should come out of this thing looking pretty good.

Then why all the various quotes from players, named and unnamed? Why are FA's leaving without giving the Pats a chance to make an offer? Why is Bruschi thinking he made a foolish choice in sacrificing for the organization, intimating the organization was not showing the same loyalty to it's players?
I gues that is what it comes down to? A lot of fans expect players (Givens, Vinitiari etc) to show some loyalty to the team when the Pats team has shown absolutely zero loyalty to its players.

Pujo · 09-07-2006, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClosingTime

Then why all the various quotes from players, named and unnamed? Why are FA's leaving without giving the Pats a chance to make an offer? Why is Bruschi thinking he made a foolish choice in sacrificing for the organization, intimating the organization was not showing the same loyalty to it's players?
I gues that is what it comes down to? A lot of fans expect players (Givens, Vinitiari etc) to show some loyalty to the team when the Pats team has shown absolutely zero loyalty to its players.

Bruschi said what now?