Rationale for trade vs. RFA to get Welker

[braveht]

Like everyone (here and fin heaven) I was puzzled by the trade which included a 7th, but I may an idea to our FO rationale:

3 or 4 or 5 years from now Welker may be a good WR who we want to extend and retain. If we put a poison pill in , say $10M in yr 6 and 7, the players union may not allow us to renogotiate those phony numbers down to a reasonable value (hopefully $10M isn't the norm by then). We'd have to cut him. By trading we buy an insurance policy for the premium of a 7th rd pick.

This is my conjecture. Apologies to anyone who may have previously posted the same idea.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Like everyone (here and fin heaven) I was puzzled by the trade which included a 7th, but I may an idea to our FO rationale:

3 or 4 or 5 years from now Welker may be a good WR who we want to extend and retain. If we put a poison pill in , say $10M in yr 6 and 7, the players union may not allow us to renogotiate those phony numbers down to a reasonable value (hopefully $10M isn't the norm by then). We'd have to cut him. By trading we buy an insurance policy for the premium of a 7th rd pick.

This is my conjecture. Apologies to anyone who may have previously posted the same idea.

I believe money was a factor, but if you minus the poison pill I would guess the contracts probably compared equally.

The MAIN reason I think they wanted it settled is because they want to move onto the next free agent acquisition.

 

[dhamz]

This isn't baseball where contracts are guarenteed and the union won't approve deals that involve the player's pay being reduced. The players association in the NFL is powerless to stop the team and the player from renogiating. It happens all the time.

 

[Ring 6]

Wouldn't a logical answer be that Miami threatened to match, so we gave them a 7th to ensure they wouldn't?

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Wouldn't a logical answer be that Miami threatened to match, so we gave them a 7th to ensure they wouldn't?

we'll never know unless we knew the pats were going to use the poison pill. it sounded like NE never did an offer sheet.

 

[stinkypete]

Like everyone (here and fin heaven) I was puzzled by the trade which included a 7th, but I may an idea to our FO rationale:

3 or 4 or 5 years from now Welker may be a good WR who we want to extend and retain. If we put a poison pill in , say $10M in yr 6 and 7, the players union may not allow us to renogotiate those phony numbers down to a reasonable value (hopefully $10M isn't the norm by then). We'd have to cut him. By trading we buy an insurance policy for the premium of a 7th rd pick.

This is my conjecture. Apologies to anyone who may have previously posted the same idea.

Good point, given that owners were trying to abolish the poison pill after last offseason, I would not be surprised for it to be eventually done. I can totally picture Polian trying to push for such action with the intent of screwing the Pats, forcing them to pay off a couple of $10 million years.

 

[PatsWorldChamps]

Wouldn't a logical answer be that Miami threatened to match, so we gave them a 7th to ensure they wouldn't?

in the case of a true poison pill, they could not match...
take whatever deal welker just signed, add $100M for one more year... then guarantee it all if he plays 5 games in miami in a year.

 

[redsoxfan]

The 7th we gave up is pretty darn close to worthless anyway. There's only a few picks after that one, probably followed by some supplemental picks. Chances are pretty good that anyone we take there we could still sign as an undrafted free agent anyway.

This allows us to resolve things quickly so our cap situation and roster aren't in limbo for a week. More importantly it allows the team to avoid using the poison pill that the league office has already spoken out against. It keeps the Krafts in good graces in the league office.

 

[Return of the Nizz]

Wouldn't a logical answer be that Miami threatened to match, so we gave them a 7th to ensure they wouldn't?

Not much of a threat if there was going to be a so-called poison pill. Listen, Bob Kraft is a leader in this league and it's obvious that he cares about its well-being. There is no reason to go through the drama and negativity of using the poison pill if you don't have to. They threw in a nothing pick to let the Dolphins save face and saved a lot of acrimony and negative publicity.

I see a lot of morons on other boards talking about Colston as a reason the Pats were dumb to do this. For every Marques Colston there are a thousand guys who never get a sniff. Anybody the Pats want at 219 will be there as a udfa.

 

[borg]

Maybe the trade allowed the Pats to factor in the $1.3 mill salary he would have received in 2007 verses starting with a new contract beginning on day 1 with the Pats. Basically, the sign and trade makes Welker honor the numbers that Miami would have paid him for this year, giving the Pats $2+mill of leverage in the negotiation.