Greg Elis turned down Pats offer to sign with Oakland for more money

[NE39]

Per the Dallas Morning News:

He signed a three-year, $10 million deal with Oakland, the NFL's worst franchise. He's guaranteed to earn $5 million in the first two years.

He was scheduled to earn $5.6 in bonuses and salary this year. Just so you know, the Patriots offered him a one-year deal for $1.5.

That's the same Patriots who are perennial championship contenders every year, and have three titles this decade.

LINK

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

He cares more for money than championships!! Thats fine with me. Have fun going 4-12 than playing with the Patriots and winning superbowls!!

 

[reflexblue]

I guess that makes greg elis a perennial LOSER.

 

[Rob0729]

As much as I want to bash the guy, $3.5 million guaranteed is a lot of money especially when you really don't like playing in the 3-4. The good news for him is that the Raiders might cut him midseason and he can get another deal somewhere else before the season ends.

 

[tombonneau]

Can't fault the guy for taking pretty much triple in guarantees. Just glad to see the Pats made an offer. Still wish they could have landed the guy.

 

[dhamz]

When 2 companies offer you the same job and one offers 333% more than the other that is the definition of a no brainer.

 

[letekro]

He's making three times as much as he would with the Pats. What kind of idiot turns that down??? It's not like that one year deal in NE guarantees a championship....we're 0 for our last 4 last time i checked.

 

[tombonneau]

Meanwhile, this pretty much guarantees the Raiders are trading Burgess, right?

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

When 2 companies offer you the same job and one offers 333% more than the other that is the definition of a no brainer.

but wait the best benifit of the lower paying one you have a chance of working an extra 25% longer for almost no additional pay.

 

[ScottieC]

When 2 companies offer you the same job and one offers 333% more than the other that is the definition of a no brainer.

And that is of course that's the obvious answer and one that's difficult to argue.

However, these guys are professional athlete's that are supposed to be (or at least we as fans hope) driven to win and winning is THE most important thing. So if you have a chance to reach the pinnacle of your sport - would that not trump some fast cash that will be there next year? (barring an injury - which is the best defense to that argument and is again, difficult to argue against)

I'm just saying - I don't think we need Ellis to be successful or to win another title - But it would have been nice.

 

[Patriots Nation NY]

Wow .. Like how far our favorite team has come .. Remember players would be laughed at if the thought of coming to the Pats crossed their mind..

 

[amazinPats]

One thing it does indicate is that the Pats seem to be somewhat concerned about their OLB depth as it currently stands. They might not be in full panic mode as are many of the posters on this forum, but their offer to Ellis does indicate some concern on their part.

 

[mgteich]

If Greg Ellis accepted our offer, he would likely be too stupid to learn the defense.

 

[aurakilla]

One thing it does indicate is that the Pats seem to be somewhat concerned about their OLB depth as it currently stands. They might not be in full panic mode as are many of the posters on this forum, but their offer to Ellis does indicate some concern on their part.

they could have just wanted a veteran at the position. if they were worried about it im sure they would have offered him a lil more

 

[spacecrime]

When 2 companies offer you the same job and one offers 333% more than the other that is the definition of a no brainer.

Sure, if your only goal in life is to amass as many dollars as possible.

Your rationale makes sense for the guy who has a mortgage and kids ready for college, etc etc. That 333% is a big deal because it is the difference between struggling and being reasonably comfortable.

But after a guy makes millions upon millions in his life, it is time to stop shoveling dollars into the vault and do what he wants. Not speaking to Ellis specifically, but in general, what good is making multi-millions if you still must go to the highest bidder.

For some people, money is the end-all, and if they leave a nickel on the table, they feel they've lost. Others use the money they already have as leverage to do what they want.

If Ellis wants to play in a superbowl, and he took the Raider job because it was more money, that is sad. If his goal is life is to earn as much money as he can, then he made the right choice, but it is still sad to me.

 

[patchick]

One thing it does indicate is that the Pats seem to be somewhat concerned about their OLB depth as it currently stands. They might not be in full panic mode as are many of the posters on this forum, but their offer to Ellis does indicate some concern on their part.

I don't know about "concerned," but can this at least convince everybody that it's NOT ridiculous to discuss the Pats taking a look at players who are cut? Ellis wasn't the first offseason cut the Pats have taken a stab at, and he won't be the last.

 

[Deus Irae]

When 2 companies offer you the same job and one offers 333% more than the other that is the definition of a no brainer.

When one company is at the top of its field and the other is at the bottom, smart people don't consider such a decision to be a "no brainer".

 

[Jackson 2]

Per the Dallas Morning News:



LINK

Taking less to go to a contender is easy to suggest and/or recommend, until it's you making the decision for you. It doesn't seem like this one was close. Good for him for getting the deal he got.

 

[condon84]

Can't fault the guy. Ultimately, this is their job. As a fan, we'll look at it and say, "Damn, the guy's a loser for choosing to play with the Raiders," but ultimately, if you have a chance to choose between two jobs and one job is offering 333% more than the other, you gotta do what's right for your family. $3.5 million is a lot of money to leave on the table and you can do a lot with that money to help your family's future.

 

[tombonneau]

If Greg Ellis accepted our offer, he would likely be too stupid to learn the defense.

Haha. Well put.