SMY chat -- Brady problems, Spikes shines

[Fencer]

Chat with Shalise Manza Young at 12:30 - Extra Points - Boston.com

SMY thinks Brady is unhappy with the team, won't take a big hometown discount on salary, etc. A lot of her evidence seems to be that he's taking a strong, visible union role -- in direct opposition to Kraft -- when QBs are usually more politic than that.

My question on that evidence is -- if not Brady, who? Union reps are typically older, more established guys, and just about all of those except Brady were on shaky ground one way or the other. I don't think any of Vrabel, AD, or Light have had Patriots career issues from being the union rep -- still, if I were a player I'd want my rep (or assistant rep) to be somebody who had enough cred with management that he could occasionally act against them in public without worrying about his own career consequences.

In other news, she's high on Spikes, presumably as a player, certainly as a vocal leader.

 

[patfanken]

You know, I think these reporters create these kinds of stories merely to promote themselves. They make wild speculations using the flimsiest of actual fact. Then in the sh!t storm that follows they find themselves quoted as if they reported a direct quote, getting invited to repeat their specious allegations on talk radio or sports TV.

I am more an more convinced that SELF PROMOTION is the first job of most of these media pukes, They have no real interest in working to find information. The term "reporter" has lost its meaning. A truer title would be "sports speculator".

 

[mcsully]

Honestly I haven't read to much from her in the past and will make a note to read more of her stuff to get a better feel how she judges situations.. But it seems like a real slow time of year to focus on this..


BUT I'm confused over this question and answer


Aren't they waiting to get some sense of what a new CBA will be like before signing Brady? Same with the Colts and Manning? So not getting a deal done before camp doesn't really mean anything right? Am I missing something?

** HER RESPONSE **


Wednesday June 23, 2010 1:06 Dan 1:09 Shalise Manza Young: Dan - Brady and Manning's deals really are two completely different things, mostly because of the 30 percent rule. Because Brady renegotiated his deal in 2007 to make room for Randy Moss (he got salary money converted to a lump bonus), his base salary this year is very, very low for a QB of his stature. Manning's salary for this year is over $15 million.


So her stance in the entire chat is Brady is upset (from her contacts in the Brady camp) with the situation.. Using her own answer, it seems like the Pats are unable to give Brady what he deserves.. Yet the Colts can but nothing is said of this??

One last thing about one of her comments.. Brady not retiring as a Pat.. Maybe there is some truth behind that.. But the Pats will not let him go until they see his skills diminish.. And that is something not around the corner..

 

[MoLewisrocks]

This again was not Shalise's finest hour.

Brady took on the assistant reps role late last season, not this season. Not all teams have an assistant rep. I think this one found itself in need of one given it's rep was in the dog house and had played himself out of a starting role. - but that's apparently something she remains in denial over...

Her explanation of the Brady contract situation is simply totally incorrect. Brady doing a restructure to accommodate Moss' deal in 2007 actually increased his 2009 salary. And since it's salary plus non amortized bonus plus amortized signing bonus that forms the basis for the calculation of the 30% rule, what Brady is making this season is not an impediment to constructing his next contract. Then she pulls out of nowhere the allegation that Kraft would be unable to spread out bonus money he would be forced to pay up front... It's half assed statements like that from mediots who are being paid to report on a subject that really annoys me. Just say I don't know... Bonus has always been paid up front, it can still be paid incrementally over time as long as it is guaranteed up front, and it is still amortized the same way it always was - within the limits of the current CBA which restricts amortization at the moment to 5 years as opposed to the usual 6 year term.

The snag in Brady's contract is due to the team not being comfortable doing it's largest contract with what lies ahead. Same deal in Indy and likely in NO. Coupled with the fact that they realize they don't have to...

 

[Pats726]

You know, I think these reporters create these kinds of stories merely to promote themselves. They make wild speculations using the flimsiest of actual fact. Then in the sh!t storm that follows they find themselves quoted as if they reported a direct quote, getting invited to repeat their specious allegations on talk radio or sports TV.

I am more an more convinced that SELF PROMOTION is the first job of most of these media pukes, They have no real interest in working to find information. The term "reporter" has lost its meaning. A truer title would be "sports speculator".

I agree...nothing like self promotion in the quiet times..not sure if she is hearing anything but self talk...

 

[mcsully]

This again was not Shalise's finest hour.

Brady took on the assistant reps role late last season, not this season. Not all teams have an assistant rep. I think this one found itself in need of one given it's rep was in the dog house and had played himself out of a starting role. - but that's apparently something she remains in denial over...

...

Thanks for putting some meat behind your reply.. I felt something missing when I read her chat.. You filled in the blanks.. TX!

 

[Fencer]

You know, I think these reporters create these kinds of stories merely to promote themselves. They make wild speculations using the flimsiest of actual fact. Then in the sh!t storm that follows they find themselves quoted as if they reported a direct quote, getting invited to repeat their specious allegations on talk radio or sports TV.

I am more an more convinced that SELF PROMOTION is the first job of most of these media pukes, They have no real interest in working to find information. The term "reporter" has lost its meaning. A truer title would be "sports speculator".

One's paid much more for opinion than for straight reporting, that's for sure. The facts are commodities.

Combining the two, with elegant writing, still works best -- except that in most cases one's probably paid more for video/audio appearances as a sports journalist/personality than as a writer.

On the one hand, that's a pity. On the other, Ron Borges is old-school in that he can flat-out write, and he's justifiably hated even so.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

So, yet another thread that adds not a single fact but instead is another sports journalist's speculative opinion. That's one thing but what's worse, SMY does not demonstrate a strong understanding of the cap facts. Brady upset about curremt 'salary' because in 2007 when he restructured he got his money GUARANTEED and possibly earlier? I think he's smarter than that.

I'm not slaming Fencer for posting the thread, just pointing out that the 'reporters' have nothing new to report other than personal speculation based on a shall we say less than rigorus understanding of the financial situation.

 

[TheComeback]

This again was not Shalise's finest hour.

Brady took on the assistant reps role late last season, not this season. Not all teams have an assistant rep. I think this one found itself in need of one given it's rep was in the dog house and had played himself out of a starting role. - but that's apparently something she remains in denial over...

Her explanation of the Brady contract situation is simply totally incorrect. Brady doing a restructure to accommodate Moss' deal in 2007 actually increased his 2009 salary. And since it's salary plus non amortized bonus plus amortized signing bonus that forms the basis for the calculation of the 30% rule, what Brady is making this season is not an impediment to constructing his next contract. Then she pulls out of nowhere the allegation that Kraft would be unable to spread out bonus money he would be forced to pay up front... It's half assed statements like that from mediots who are being paid to report on a subject that really annoys me. Just say I don't know... Bonus has always been paid up front, it can still be paid incrementally over time as long as it is guaranteed up front, and it is still amortized the same way it always was - within the limits of the current CBA which restricts amortization at the moment to 5 years as opposed to the usual 6 year term.

The snag in Brady's contract is due to the team not being comfortable doing it's largest contract with what lies ahead. Same deal in Indy and likely in NO. Coupled with the fact that they realize they don't have to...

Great post. Just another reporter who is upset the Pats don't treat her like a princess.

It'd be nice if we could get some well-informed reporters who actually are Pats fans.

 

[Triumph]

So, Mannings salary is 15 mil + this season? Assuming the Colts reup his contract this year, wouldnt they want to lower that salary number just a million or three?

Isnt customary to load big contracts like his with exorbitant salary numbers in the waning years with the understanding that there will be a restructure?

Also, Does Brady have LTBE incentives that would boost his 2010 cap number?

 

[DEVIOUS 1]

This may be more a testament to my own insecurities, but...........

Not a fan of her tone in that chat.

She strikes me as a journalist that doesn't respect fans opinion.

"Shalise Manza Young: adam -- wow - a fan willing to say the Pats might miss the playoffs?!? A rare thing indeed!"

May have been tongue in cheek, but when I read it, it put me off a little. She sounded like some of the smug contrarians on this board who feel that because they refuse to look at things from the glass half full perspective, that somehow makes them smarter and more insightful then you.

The other thing that bothers me about her is she seems to handle the players with kid gloves, and save her best shots for the organization. (Adalius Thomas anyone?)

Just my opinion.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Wow. This has become the Rorschach test of the Pats' offseason. Everybody's looking at the same blob of indistinct facts, rumours and expectations and drawing their own conclusions.

My read of the blob is that it say the US will get a victory over Ghana this afternoon...as far as I can see, that's as legitimate as any other. :singing:

 

[upstater1]

One's paid much more for opinion than for straight reporting, that's for sure. The facts are commodities.

Combining the two, with elegant writing, still works best -- except that in most cases one's probably paid more for video/audio appearances as a sports journalist/personality than as a writer.

On the one hand, that's a pity. On the other, Ron Borges is old-school in that he can flat-out write, and he's justifiably hated even so.

I go to news sources still that are good at reporting. There should be absolutely no reason why an American living in NY State should read Reuters and the Financial Times instead of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. It's like this the world over. People go to FT and Reuters for facts.

I don't think facts are commodities. I think facts are rarer than opinions.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I think SMY is correctly assessing the vibe that she's getting from Brady... especially with him taking more of a leadership role with the Union - but because of that she's not going to be able to offer "proof" that people seem to want or need.

Brady, I think, considers himself more than a football player long-term and would consider a role as an elected representative of the people. As a union rep he's a representative of the players and he takes that seriously. Taking another hometown discount is NOT viewed favorably within the union - even if Brady himself wanted to.

The truth is that the last contract Brady signed was going to be the high water mark and he already accepted a "discount" with that. Now both he and Peyton Manning have likely passed the peak of their perfomance and they and the organization will likely expect the contract to reflect that - hence a further discount would not be in order, nor would a market value contract to Brady (or Manning) at this stage of their career preclude the team from competing for a Super Bowl.

Of course behind all of this is the lack of a CBA. If there were a CBA I'm sure a deal could get done relatively easilly - without it, it's going to be very difficult.

 

[Miguel]

So, Mannings salary is 15 mil + this season? Assuming the Colts reup his contract this year, wouldnt they want to lower that salary number just a million or three?

No they might as well frontload any extension into 2010 so as to help future cap years.

Isnt customary to load big contracts like his with exorbitant salary numbers in the waning years with the understanding that there will be a restructure?

Yes.

Also, Does Brady have LTBE incentives that would boost his 2010 cap number?

No.

 

[swheeler23]

Prediction: No new contract for Brady in 2010.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

Chat with Shalise Manza Young at 12:30 - Extra Points - Boston.com

SMY thinks Brady is unhappy with the team, won't take a big hometown discount on salary, etc. A lot of her evidence seems to be that he's taking a strong, visible union role -- in direct opposition to Kraft -- when QBs are usually more politic than that.

My question on that evidence is -- if not Brady, who? Union reps are typically older, more established guys, and just about all of those except Brady were on shaky ground one way or the other. I don't think any of Vrabel, AD, or Light have had Patriots career issues from being the union rep -- still, if I were a player I'd want my rep (or assistant rep) to be somebody who had enough cred with management that he could occasionally act against them in public without worrying about his own career consequences.

In other news, she's high on Spikes, presumably as a player, certainly as a vocal leader.

The media can make up any story they want and they are totally unaccountable for what they say and we still pretend what they say matters.

Brady has always made it a point to be his own man and not automatically side with management and the players appreciate that. I imagine Brady wants his long term contract and being frustrated with the process seems to be the nature of the beast these days.

 

[Deus Irae]

Shalise Manza Young:
I've heard Brady isn't really happy with the team right now. Also, I don't think the fact that he was quoted on the NFLPA website about the 18-game season can be overlooked at all -- that was a big deal. First, that a marquee quarterback would be so vocal on a union matter (traditionally franchise QBs don't get involved in the union like that) and second, that Brady opted to talk about the 18-game season -- something which Robert Kraft is very much in favor of. I don't think all is hunky-dory.

Chat with Shalise Manza Young at 12:30 - Extra Points - Boston.com

In answering a question during a chat session, she notes that she's heard that Brady's not happy, and that she doesn't think everything is all hunky-dory. How is this problematic for anyone? We've all heard that Brady's not happy, after all (see Silver thread and "disconnect").

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Since we're all into speculation based on very few facts. Do I think Brady's 'happy' with his contract situation? No, I do not. Why should he be? He'd much prefer knowing the details of a specific offer so that he could resolve his career planing decisions and simply focus on preparing to play football this season. The fact that there's no CBA agreement going forward and the huge financial uncertainty as a result makes things uniquely difficult this season, q.v. the backtracking by the Colts org on Manning's new deal. And yes, I do believe that in the end Tom Freakin Brady will want top tier money, not below the top 3.

 

[patfanken]

I'd like to make clear 2 points that often obscured by the media puke.

1. If Tom Brady took a hometown discount, it wasn't much of one. He has been the Pats top paid player in every year since he signed his last contract. The only reason he isn't the top paid player THIS year is that the Pats front load his contract

2, As much as I am a fan of Brady, all this sh!t about how he helps the team sign players by redoing his contract is bull. The fact is that when player "redo" their contract so the team can sign players, they ARE NOT losing a dime, and generally all they are doing is getting money up front, or deferring money that becomes guaranteed, which usually benefits the player.

Sometimes I wonder whether I am reading a journalist's report, or a player agent's press release.