Why did the Pats extend Hernandez last year?

[ctpatsfan77]

Please note: I'm not trying to ask this question in either an accusatory way or an exculpatory way.

I'm just trying to understand something: if apparently, as various Twitter comments, ESPN, PFT, etc., there were numerous warning signs that Hernandez was a potential problem child in the making, why did the Pats extend him this past fall?

They certainly didn't need to do it: they could have said "Let's wait until next offseason" (if Hernandez complained why GRONK got an extension and he didn't, they could point to both the stats and the fact that only one of the two has tested positive for drugs).

So why did they feel it was in their best interest to do it back then?

 

[hwc]

They extended him because they could do a long term deal with a very productive player at a lower cost than waiting 'til he hit free agency.

 

[supafly]

They extended him because they could do a long term deal with a very productive player at a lower cost than waiting 'til he hit free agency.

Except he wasn't close to hitting FA.

Otherwise, I get what you're saying.

 

[IllegalContact]

Less than 6m per year was a good number at the time

 

[DocHoliday]

It's also a nicely backloaded deal with options

 

[resdubwhite]

I remember after he got injured in week 1 some people were moaning about the deal.

Those people have hit Def-Con 4 after this week.

 

[supafly]

What's worse is that Rapoport reported today the lack of any clause in the new deal that may have protected them from this. Expect that to change in the future, especially with mega money deals.

They can recover some of the signing bonus though.

 

[resdubwhite]

What's worse is that Rapoport reported today the lack of any clause in the new deal that may have protected them from this. Expect that to change in the future, especially with mega money deals.

They can recover some of the signing bonus though.

looks like theres 2.5 million unrecoverable for this year.

but unless worst comes to worst. I don't see them cutting ties with him this year. Unless, charges are, well. Brought in the first instance or are upgraded to something worse than obstruction.

 

[DarrylS]

A lot of what is alleged to have happened has done so in a relatively short period of time.. so the influx of huge money may have contributed to what seems to be a series of very poor decisions...

When the investment was made, Hernandez seems to have been on the straight and narrow...

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Please note: I'm not trying to ask this question in either an accusatory way or an exculpatory way.

I'm just trying to understand something: if apparently, as various Twitter comments, ESPN, PFT, etc., there were numerous warning signs that Hernandez was a potential problem child in the making, why did the Pats extend him this past fall?

They certainly didn't need to do it: they could have said "Let's wait until next offseason" (if Hernandez complained why GRONK got an extension and he didn't, they could point to both the stats and the fact that only one of the two has tested positive for drugs).

So why did they feel it was in their best interest to do it back then?

Ya might want to ask all the teams in the league that are trying to copy the two TE offense.

 

[Triumph]

looks like theres 2.5 million unrecoverable for this year.

but unless worst comes to worst. I don't see them cutting ties with him this year. Unless, charges are, well. Brought in the first instance or are upgraded to something worse than obstruction.

What??

A shooting in FLA and murder with Hernandezs finger prints all over it and you think that the Pats wont cut this thugturd?

Hernandez will never play in a Pats uniform again and will be gone as soon as possible. The Patriots do not want the baggage that goes along with Hernandez now. How do you think Kraft likes whats going on?

BTW, the Pats have known about the FLA shooting for months.

 

[Rob0729]

What's worse is that Rapoport reported today the lack of any clause in the new deal that may have protected them from this. Expect that to change in the future, especially with mega money deals.

They can recover some of the signing bonus though.

Except Rappaport is probably wrong. Yes, they have no protection if he misses games due to this, but they probably wouldn't use that clause to retrieve the money anyway.

The Pats most certainly have a moral's clause in the contract. I am sure if Hernandez is arrested for a felony, that kicks in. Under the morals clause they would not have pay him his guaranteed money and go after him for money already paid.

The only way what Rappaport reported means anything is if Hernandez is never charged and Goodell suspends him. Otherwise, they are protected.

 

[Rob0729]

looks like theres 2.5 million unrecoverable for this year.

but unless worst comes to worst. I don't see them cutting ties with him this year. Unless, charges are, well. Brought in the first instance or are upgraded to something worse than obstruction.

In fact, the opposite. If Hernandez is arrested for a felony, they can cut him and not pay the $2.5 million and then go after him for the $9 million only paid.

Rappaport's report is misleading. He is looking at one section of the contract. He is only looking at the language for missed games for suspension. Basically the only way that matters is if Hernandez doesn't violate his morals clause in his contract. If he is arrested for obstruction, he probably does. It will may require the Pats to cut him to trigger it though.

Reports of people who spoke to the Pats say that they are well protected for this incident.

 

[Rob0729]

What??

A shooting in FLA and murder with Hernandezs finger prints all over it and you think that the Pats wont cut this thugturd?

Hernandez will never play in a Pats uniform again and will be gone as soon as possible. The Patriots do not want the baggage that goes along with Hernandez now. How do you think Kraft likes whats going on?

BTW, the Pats have known about the FLA shooting for months.

Go Jet!!! Best offseason for you ever.

And you spin on the FL shooting is cute. A convicted felon and liar sues Hernandez for shooting him and refuses to seek justice in the criminal courts and rather seek a big payday and it is Hernandez is definitely guilty. Yet, the FL police decided to cover the whole thing up and not seek prosecution.

And the Pats knew nothing about this until probably we did. The guy said up until about a week ago that he was shot by two guys he did not know. Hernandez was never linked to this shooting. The Pats never knew it existed.

 

[Rob0729]

As to the original poster's question, it was a good deal for the Pats. That's why they did it. Here are a few things:

• Reports were Hernandez was maturing as a person prior to the contract. After he signed the new deal, he got a sense of entitlement.
• Hernandez spent two years here without a single incident before he signed his new deal. There was no reason to believe he would be involved in a murder in any way.
• On that, how could the Pats believe he would ever be involved in a murder. There are a lot of NFL players who are friends with people as bad or worse than the people Hernandez was involved with and none of them (other the Ray Lewis) have ever been involved in murder.
• The Pats actually had a lot of outs in this contract. If Hernandez did get out of line or decline in production, it would be easy for them to cut him down the line. Again, there was no way to predict he would be involved in a major felony a year after he signed the deal.

 

[PP2]

As to the original poster's question, it was a good deal for the Pats. That's why they did it. Here are a few things:

• Reports were Hernandez was maturing as a person prior to the contract. After he signed the new deal, he got a sense of entitlement.
• Hernandez spent two years here without a single incident before he signed his new deal. There was no reason to believe he would be involved in a murder in any way.
• On that, how could the Pats believe he would ever be involved in a murder. There are a lot of NFL players who are friends with people as bad or worse than the people Hernandez was involved with and none of them (other the Ray Lewis) have ever been involved in murder.
• The Pats actually had a lot of outs in this contract. If Hernandez did get out of line or decline in production, it would be easy for them to cut him down the line. Again, there was no way to predict he would be involved in a major felony a year after he signed the deal.

That about sums it up pretty well. Every single contract with the Patriots has a morals clause (as well as a stipulation to be involved in community activities, e.g., fundraising).

 

[Rob0729]

That about sums it up pretty well. Every single contract with the Patriots has a morals clause (as well as a stipulation to be involved in community activities, e.g., fundraising).

Yeah, that why I don't get Rappaport's report. He is comparing Hernandez to Justin Blackmon who lost guaranteed money for missing games due to a suspension under the drug policy, but the Pats will likely go the route the Falcons did in recouping money against Vick under the morals clause.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Yeah, that why I don't get Rappaport's report. He is comparing Hernandez to Justin Blackmon who lost guaranteed money for missing games due to a suspension under the drug policy, but the Pats will likely go the route the Falcons did in recouping money against Vick under the morals clause.

If I understand this correctly, there are two separate issues here: the morals clause allows teams to waive players they feel are "more trouble than they're worth." But that's not the same thing as having specific bonus forfeiture language built into the contract.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Why? Because he was doing very well here. Very explosive player

 

[Pats0204]

Why did nobody ask this question when the extension happened? I'll tell you why. Because it was seen as a great deal locking up one of the young offensive cornerstones of the team at a "reasonable" salary for the foreseeable future.

Now the lynch mob is questioning everything Hernandez related since he was in high school. "Why did the PATS draft him?" There were obvious warning signs. His draft stock had dropped. "The Patriot Way is no more." Blah blah blah blah. Really, all of this media Patriot bashing gets more and more annoying by the hour.

Edit: This is not a dig at the OP, but rather just my expression of how irresponsible the media has been this week.