RayClay
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They released a statement on Asante on a Friday and the franchise deadline wasn't until the following Thursday the 22nd.
Nitpick much?
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.They released a statement on Asante on a Friday and the franchise deadline wasn't until the following Thursday the 22nd.
Here is some speculation on the topic from profootballtalk.com:
PATS NOT EXPECTED TO LET DILLON WALK
Amid all of the talk over the past couple of days regarding the looming release of running back Corey Dillon, has anyone else noticed that one key aspect of the relationship has been conspicuously quiet?
The Patriots, to be specific.
So until the team that holds Dillon's rights says that it's going to let him walk away with nothing in return (and potentially sign with the Jets or the Bills, if they move Willis McGahee), we aren't buying any of it.
And several league insiders agree. "Bill Belichick isn't going to let him just leave," said one source on Saturday.
Stay tuned.
I'll bet I'm the biggest Jim Brown fan here, BUT, he only played nine years, with 12 games in four of them and 14 games in the other five. Passing Jim Brown is not exactly like passing Gale Sayers or Sandy Koufax, but Jim didn't play in that many games, so his stats aren't huge any more.Passing Jim Brown no big deal? OK.
Spare me with the holier than thou crap...
What is your point? He is no different than any other player who "risks not being able to think straight". If he said, I have done a lot in my career and want to retire I would be the first to congratulate him and wish him all the best. It sounds like to me he is just trying to weasel out of a contract after year 2 of 5 because there may be more money available in free agency.
The Patriots and Dillion worked out a new deal after the 2004 season, neither side was under any obligation to redo the deal. His contract was not exactly league minimim, and here is the important part "he thought it was good enough to sign in 2005" but now wants out.
Maybe the NFL should just let every player in the league change team each year if they want more "touches" or more money.
The Patriots put him in a great position to succeed but he is putting Corey before the team, just like he did for the Bengals.
I'll bet I'm the biggest Jim Brown fan here, BUT, he only played nine years, with 12 games in four of them and 14 games in the other five. Passing Jim Brown is not exactly like passing Gale Sayers or Sandy Koufax, but Jim didn't play in that many games, so his stats aren't huge any more.
I appreciate Dillon for what he contributed in our last SB winning year, and still think we got our monies worth. What I don't understand, and hope someone can shed some light for me, is what is in it for the Pats to release Dillon given the dead money hits that would be incurred?
He has had a great career but I doubt it has anything at all to do with why the Patriots would release him. He is showing his true colors as a greedy, selfish player. The Patriots saved his career and legacy, without the NE ring he would be a borderline HOF, with 1000 more yards he is now a lock.
The Patriots releasing him will be based purely on value and production not Corey's feelings or nonsense about a media distraction.
His best chance to reach the HOF is to stay with NE. I think he is crazy to want to leave. At his age the Patriots can place him in an ideal situation. If he played here 2 more years he would get about 1300-1600 yards and be neck and neck with Marcus Allen plus he will have 15-25 more TDs and maybe another ring.
Personally, I will miss his nose for the endzone but am tired of seeing him pull himself out after every play (tapping his hand on his helmet or just running off the field). I don't know how he expects to be a feature back when he can't stay on the field for more than two plays without getting gassed.
In some ways he reminds me of Canseco, both put up great numbers but could have done more. With a little more desire, CD could be a top 5 back of all time, one of the best power \ speed ratios I have ever seen (now way he is 225, more like 250 and still decent speed).
I appreciate Dillon for what he contributed in our last SB winning year, and still think we got our monies worth. What I don't understand, and hope someone can shed some light for me, is what is in it for the Pats to release Dillon given the dead money hits that would be incurred?
The Patriots don't have to release him. If that is true, there must be a reason they want to.
They've got a #1 pick who needs to get it in gear. All thry really need is a JAG fullback and short yardage.
Why can't anyone accept the possibility that both sides want this?
Spare me with the holier than thou crap...
What is your point? He is no different than any other player who "risks not being able to think straight". If he said, I have done a lot in my career and want to retire I would be the first to congratulate him and wish him all the best. It sounds like to me he is just trying to weasel out of a contract after year 2 of 5 because there may be more money available in free agency.
The Patriots and Dillion worked out a new deal after the 2004 season, neither side was under any obligation to redo the deal. His contract was not exactly league minimim, and here is the important part "he thought it was good enough to sign in 2005" but now wants out.
Maybe the NFL should just let every player in the league change team each year if they want more "touches" or more money.
The Patriots put him in a great position to succeed but he is putting Corey before the team, just like he did for the Bengals.
Of course the key statement is "IF THAT IS TRUE". We have no confirmation at all that the Patriots want to release him.
this is the same reason that no one is accepting that both sides want this, because they havent said so.
To add to the confusion Dillon was very clear that he was retiring for all the right reasons. Then his agent gave a different story. ENTER THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DREADED CONSPIRACY THEORY, and now everyone thinks they know the real truth that no one really can know.
I dont think that anyone is convinced the Pats aren't in agreement that Dillon should move on evenif he wants to keep playing. But since we really dont know if he wants to keep playing, and have NO CLUE what the Pats feelings on this subject are, it is very difficult to be convinced that any possible explanation has any certainty to it.
You may be right, you may be wrong, but there simply isn't enough information yet to know for sure which it is.
OK I'll give it one more try. He is due a $3M option bonus on top of his $2.5M salary. He was due to receive that option bonus last year but he played ball with the FO coming off an injury riddled season and deferred it at their behest until 2007. He also let them convert his 2006 salary of $3M to bonus, which put that money in his hand no matter what, though it increased his dead cap hits going forward. Then they drafted Maroney.
What is in it for the Pat's is not paying Corey Dillon $5.5M to be a goal line back behind their young first rounder and who should emerge in year 2 as their feature back. His dead cap next year would be increased as well after picking up that option, so they are saving money all around by cutting him now. The great part is Corey isn't biatching, just the fan base is because they can't understand that his agent is just doing his mercenary due diligence by spinning this cut as an opportunity to make more money for Corey IF HE CHOOSES TO CONTINUE PLAYING.
I know what you're saying, and maybe passing all those guys could turn the tide for Dillon. I also agree that his running style is somewhat like Jim Brown's. Nothing more exciting in football than a big strong fast guy that can run over or around and away from defenders.I'm not saying it makes him better than Jim Brown, no one is.
I'm just anticipating the media frenzy when Dillon passes 5 guys in a year, (possibly), topped by Jim Brown.
I agree with many than Jim Brown's the greatest football player ever.
Corey's running style and power are reminiscent of Brown and I can see the media going crazy over passing an NFL great per week ending with Brown.
Unless Britney shaves her head again, that is.
From the original article
Asked if he would suit up for another team, Dillon said he was "going to leave the window open, but it's very slim.
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/02/23/patriots_dillon_to_call_it_quits/
My opinion is he won't play for more money. another chance to win etc., but he sees the HOF available with one good years production and can't resist it.
See what I just posted.
If Dillon truly wants to play again, but not for the Pats, there is motivation to 'pretend' he is retiring.
Why does he need to be released in order to retire? He doesnt butis aksing for a release.
Naturally if you release him you cannot go after the signing bonus.
If he retires he cannot go to another team.
If he says he wants to play elsewehere, why would the Pats just release him for nothing? And as i said before part of the comp could be payback of some of the signing bonus.
These questions allude to Dillon having an ulterior motive.
If could on the other be that he just really does plan to retire, and is concerned about having to pay back the signing bonus (i would be too). I think that once you file retirement papers there is some kind of rule about what you have to do if you 'unretire' so he may just be trying to avoid that on the small chance he changes his mind.
Again, to many questions, not enough answers.
Andy, Miguel has documentation on his site regarding the option bonus from both AdamJT13 and Borges writing about how it had been deferred.
The reason the terminology "asked for his release" is used is to help the agent spin it as something other than a cut for cap/value/performance reasons. They may well have had an agreement dating back to last year when they deferred what was a bonus with a guaranteed non exercise clause (it doubled his salary) that if they didn't pick it up in 2007 they would release him at the start of FA on his terms. It could be the option isn't due until mid month or April, and this is just BB letting a vet go at the earliest possible date to do whatever he decides to do. Like we did with Willie. We could have held on to Willie into camp knowing we weren't going to absorb his cap hit or pay him a nickle - but we chose to release him and let him go chase a few more bucks. It is what it is, as he says.