Would you use the Franchise Tag?

[carolinatony]

Samuel or Graham?
What helps us more in the long run? Would either be happy and resign with us? Should we pay what they want? Does either want to stay with the Pats?
I don't know what the answer is.
thoughts...

 

[BelichickFan]

Samuel.

My guess is that Graham will go to Seattle, they wanted him over Stevens when we drafted him. Samuel, OTOH, has possible suitors of The Jest and Denver. So for controlling one of the other I'd prefer to control Samuel.

Aditionally, although re-signing Graham once he hits UFA may be less than 50-50 but it's more likely than re-signing Samuel once he gets to UFA status.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Samuel without a doubt. He is the hot hand right now with the most trade value.

I do feel like Bellifan that Graham may go to Seattle. Holmgren can do alot with his blocking skills for Alexander and the run game. He's never hid the fact that he wanted Daniel and the rumors flying around confirm that. In the end I don't think it will all come down to the money. It will bottom down to them making DG feel wanted and they will shower him with praise. As they and we should.

 

[JustWinBrady]

I'm hoping the pats can sign graham to a long term deal before 2/22 and then franchise samuel. By BB naming graham as one of the team captains by the end of the year hopfully shows the intent of how much he means to the team.

 

[The Gr8est]

Another news article on Nate Clements said that he signed the franchise tag with the agreement that he not be franchised again next year.

If Samuels doesn't want to sign a long term deal I'd go for a similar agreement not to tag next year. We either trade him or get 1, salary-seeking motivated year out of him while we find or groom a replacement.

We could really use one year of Samuels to help the transition.

 

[Brady to Brown]

I would tag Samuel and try and work out a 4 year deal with him.

If he balked I would trade his rights to another team (not in the AFCE) for the best deal I could get. Letting him walk and sign with the Jets, is a bad Business move IMO.

 

[denverpatsfan]

The team MUST use the tag on Samuel if he will not agree to a contract. He has been one of the top corners in the league the past 2-seasons. If he goes he will be signed by the JETS and that would not be a good thing.

If the team had won the SB then with 4/6 I would be more willing to let him go.

The team has 25 tight ends and I don't see another team breaking the bank for ours.

My 2-cents.

 

[everlong]

I think you have to franchise Samuel for several reasons.

1. You can always trade him for a first rounder.
2. Top CBs have more value than top TEs
3. At TE you have much better depth to deal with the loss than CB.

Denver has also been rumored to have serious interest in Graham and don't forget he went to Colorado. Graham was the leading receiving TE his senior year at Colorado and while he takes pride in his blocking it's been rumored he would like to be more involved in the passing game. I think both Denver and Seattle would give him that opportunity.

If the Pats want him it's going to take a fair market offer and there's nothing saying one of these teams won't offer him a 5/25 deal that the Pats won't match.

 

[Deus Irae]

This team drafts 47 tight ends each season. That should tell you that they covet that position highly. Add to that the simple reality that Graham is used to help the o-line a great deal of the time, and you've got a situation where the tight end is probably the more valuable player to this team. This team has survived with Hank Poteat at the corner, for goodness' sakes.

 

[mgteich]

I would not use the tag unless it was to buy a few more weeks to complete negotiations.

 

[BelichickFan]

I would not use the tag unless it was to buy a few more weeks to complete negotiations.

So you would prefer to let Samuel go to whichever team he wants and get a 2008 #4 as a comp pick vs. partially controlling where he goes and getting at least a 2008 #2 for him ?

 

[Digger44]

I would not use the tag unless it was to buy a few more weeks to complete negotiations.

Could you please explain why? What is the harm in doing it? What would we lose?

Do you realise we have much more to gain?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

This team drafts 47 tight ends each season. That should tell you that they covet that position highly. Add to that the simple reality that Graham is used to help the o-line a great deal of the time, and you've got a situation where the tight end is probably the more valuable player to this team. This team has survived with Hank Poteat at the corner, for goodness' sakes.

I agree, which is why I would tag Asante and trade him for what would likely be some very nice draft compensation (buy low, sell high and he may never be more highly valued), and make Graham your last best offer now preemptively. If they can't get Graham signed given how much we perceive they value him as a blocking TE, I guess it will tell us they didn't value him ($$$) quite as highly as we tend to think which would make tagging him to retain him moot as we don't overpay simply because their market value in a heated market may outstrip their value to this team (see Givens, David et al).

Pioli is on record saying you cannot have top 5 or top ten contract players at every position. In fact, you can only have a very select few in this system that often grinds on it's starters and therefore lives or dies on the performance quality of it's depth. As fans the problem is we see every years FA's as irreplaceable around this time and become consumed with retaining them. Belioli knows they aren't, and as a practical matter we likely can't retain the majority of them. We retain those who are willing to work with us and move on from those for whom the compensation we are willing to provide is simply not enough.

 

[mgteich]

Yes.

The season-long diversion isn't worth it. I think it is better to negotiate with him and move on if we can't come to terms.

So you would prefer to let Samuel go to whichever team he wants and get a 2008 #4 as a comp pick vs. partially controlling where he goes and getting at least a 2008 #2 for him ?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Yes.

The season-long diversion isn't worth it. I think it is better to negotiate with him and move on if we can't come to terms.

Where is the season long diversion in a tag and trade? I see no way they tag him to play him at almost $8M - more than they offered him in a signing bonus on a long term deal. He isn't a top 5 talent, and absent the system he likely isn't a top 10 either as we saw when the system was malfunctioning in 2005. But in 2007 he has a buzz which is the basis of his value, and to ignore that and just let him walk would be foolish. They didn't with Tebucky.

 

[BelichickFan]

The season-long diversion isn't worth it. I think it is better to negotiate with him and move on if we can't come to terms.

There is no season long diversion.

You franchise him and try to sign him long term. If you can't you try to trade him to a team that can sign him long term. If you can't you can always withdraw the tag - unless he's signed it but if he's not happy with the $8M for one year he won't have signed it.

You're running scared, it'll be OK.