rlcarr

Bedard was on WEEI this morning and was asked about Waters. He said:

• Waters and Pats had an agreement to actually give Waters a raise, but with the condition that the pay be week-to-week and not guaranteed for the year, and let him skip training camp. It was all set to be signed when he reported.
• However, sometime after the agreement had been reached, Waters had second thoughts about playing away from home. According to Bedard, Waters "was miserable" living away from his family last year. Also, Bedard thinks there may be some personal issues going on, perhaps with one of Waters's kids.
• Waters still wants to play football, so there's some internal tension there. It's not like he wants to retire. He just wants to play near home.
• Waters asked for more money above and beyond the raise that had already been negotiated. The Patriots drew the line and basically said "look, we have an agreement, are willing to give you a raise, and let you skip training camp. We're not going to give you a further raise on top of that."
• So it all comes down to how Waters decides to balance getting to play football vs. living with his family.

patchick

That account makes a ton of sense and fits ALL of the available evidence.

Can't be true.

RelocatedPatFan

I'm not sure how more money would make the situation at home any better. At this point, it would seem to be his last season (maybe 1 more if he could play near home). So, a family issue sounds plausible.

Because, if you can't get geared up to play for a contender like the Patriots, then do you really want to play. So, it definitely has to be something else at play.

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patsfan13

THis sounds like the real story. I can respect Waters for not wanting to leave home, and the Pats for not wanting to redo a deal they had agreed to redo, and for not letting him play for a team that could prevent them from getting to the SB (Texans).

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BradyManny

All makes sense. I respect both parties involved and their stances except for two little sticking points for me:

- Waters signed a two year contract, so his options are either play for us or not. If he thinks the team should let him free so he can go sign with the Texans, he's nuts. There's no indication he does think this, but I just have to throw that out there.

- I get that he doesn't want to uproot his family now, but he had plenty of time in the offseason to make plans that would accommodate his family being in Mass. for the season.

PatsSox363804

If that account is true I would be shocked if he doesn't show up sometime around week 9 unless his issues at home are so serious that he feels he CAN'T leave at all or he pisses the Pats off so much they tell him to pound sand, which is unlikely. No way he gets traded to Houston though, he can forget that.

KontradictioN

I wonder how much more he wanted.

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Gwedd

Agreed. I think that, for me at least, the main issue has to be something family-related to keep him out of football like this.

I hope that whatever it is, it's resolved for the best for everyone.

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Big-T

The second he asked for a raise on top of the already agreed upon raise the Patriots should have started fining him.

I'm past caring if he comes back or not, he's shown what he's all about now and I'd rather have players who want to play for the team out there as opposed to someone going back on something they'd already agreed on.

If it's a family issue, fine let him get it sorted but asking for more money after agreeing to a raise is down right selfish.

patchick

That sounds like the surest way to tip his balance toward retirement. The fact that they didn't do it says to me that they really want him back.