Colts sign Deion Branch

[Brady6]

Outside of the defending Hernandez-thing, which is totally a separate subject anyways, this point-of-view is ridiculous. He's a professional athlete, he may either need the money or simply want to play the game he's spent his whole life working at. Quite frankly, in today's business-driven NFL, that's way more important than "loyalty". There is no loyalty, that's just some naive concept for dumb fans to spout of on. Professional athletes don't have the same mindset as fans. Thank Christ for that.

Deion made $50+ million in his NFL career and won 2 Super Bowl he is doing it because he is a selfish egotistical traitor. My point of view is not ridiculous, this move shows that what this organization gave Branch was not enough and he is willing to hurt the franchise who gave him everything else he has achieved in the NFL simply to gain something that he already has. He is going to stand in front of younger more deserving players that he went to war with and spill their practice field secrets for the opportunity to play 1 game and earn at best $25-$30 grand.

It’s not about be a fan it’s about being a human being who doesn’t **** on the people and things that gave you an opportunity for your own selfish and unnecessary reasons.

 

[Bhelmet]

All this whilst we turn out Austin Collie in a Patriots uniform. We're not paying him right now so he has absolutely no obligation towards us.

Collie never played with Luck or the staff they have now.

 

[primetime]

whats the minimum you can pay a player signed for just a playoff game?

Player's contracts have no bearing on playoff pay, so most players take a substantial paycut during the postseason.

Pay scale
Wild-card game (division winners): $23,000
Wild-card game (non-division winners: $21,000
Divisional playoff game: $23,000
Conference championship game: $42,000
Super Bowl winning team: $92,000
Super Bowl losing Team: $46,000

A first round bye means a player essentially works for free that week.

Note that these are cumulative. Branch will make $23,000 if he is on the 53-man roster on Sunday and he could make up to $157,000 if the Colts go on to win the Super Bowl with him on the team. It's possible (likely, in fact) that he received a signing bonus, as well, but it would likely be nominal.

 

[manxman2601]

Collie never played with Luck or the staff they have now.

I never said he did.

 

[Zeus]

The Branch signing is a non-event. He can't play anymore and there's little he can tell the Colts that they don't know already.

No reason to be mad at Branch - football players want to play football. But I'd be surprised if he's active for the game.

 

[manxman2601]

Deion made $50+ million in his NFL career and won 2 Super Bowl he is doing it because he is a selfish egotistical traitor. My point of view is not ridiculous, this move shows that what this organization gave Branch was not enough and he is willing to hurt the franchise who gave him everything else he has achieved in the NFL simply to gain something that he already has. He is going to stand in front of younger more deserving players that he went to war with and spill their practice field secrets for the opportunity to play 1 game and earn at best $25-$30 grand.

It’s not about be a fan it’s about being a human being who doesn’t **** on the people and things that gave you an opportunity for your own selfish and unnecessary reasons.

Sorry, but calling him an idiot and a traitor is a little immature wouldn't you say? Business is business. I can be pretty sure that BB and the Patriots organisation have absolutely no problem with this.

 

[Bhelmet]

I never said he did.

I just meant it in apples-to-apples thing. Branch has played with this group under McD and may or may not have info - Collie was under Manning and offers little on this Colts team. I guess I am not seeing the irony/hypocrisy.

 

[Bhelmet]

What's the worry, he'll force his way out of town before the contract is up

 

[BradyFTW!]

This organization gave Branch an opportunity to initially, allowed him to bank a big payday with Seattle and then gave him the opportunity to revitalize his failing NFL career. His repayment is to stand behind the biggest embarrassment in this team’s history Aaron Hernandez and then sign with the team they’re set to face in the playoffs 6 days before the game… To that you respond good for Branch? Really you’ve got to be kidding me right, you’re telling me that Branch’s need to play football for potentially as little as 1 game this season is more important than remaining loyal to a franchise and a coach that if not for Branch probably would have been out of the NFL about 3-4 years ago.

I kinda agree with this. Branch can go to hell. Between the Hernandez comments and this, who needs him.

 

[Rick Sanford 25]

I never said he did.

Actually he caught a 6 yd pass from Luck vs. Jacksonville last year and tore his knee.

 

[Bhelmet]

Actually he caught a 6 yd pass from Luck vs. Jacksonville last year and tore his knee.

I thought he was out of football last year - well, my bad

 

[TomPatriot]

I see your Branch and raise you a Collie.

More like my Collie sees a Branch and does "you know what" on it.

 

[Brady6]

All this whilst we turn out Austin Collie in a Patriots uniform. We're not paying him right now so he has absolutely no obligation towards us.

1. Austin Collie has been here on and off since 10/3/13.
2. Austin Collie is 28 years old.
3. Austin Collie has never won a Super Bowl
4. Austin Collie has not earned north of $45 million in his NFL career.
5. Austin Collie was not given an opportunity by the Colts to revitalize his failing NFL career after year of underperformance and injuries.

That’s the top 5 reasons that Collie is incomparable to Branch and the suggestion that he is a desperate reach. The move Branch made here is selfish, unappreciative and traitorous, nobody not even the Colts players will respect it and no fan of the New England Patriots should be OK with it.

I generally agree with you and respect your opinion even when I don’t agree with it but in this case I cannot align with your position at all Manx. Branch is being used by the Colts and is to freaking stupid to even realize it.

 

[manxman2601]

1. Austin Collie has been here on and off since 10/3/13.
2. Austin Collie is 28 years old.
3. Austin Collie has never won a Super Bowl
4. Austin Collie has not earned north of $45 million in his NFL career.
5. Austin Collie was not given an opportunity by the Colts to revitalize his failing NFL career after year of underperformance and injuries.

That’s the top 5 reasons that Collie is incomparable to Branch and the suggestion that he is a desperate reach. The move Branch made here is selfish, unappreciative and traitorous, nobody not even the Colts players will respect it and no fan of the New England Patriots should be OK with it.

I generally agree with you and respect your opinion even when I don’t agree with it but in this case I cannot align with your position at all Manx. Branch is being used by the Colts and is to freaking stupid to even realize it.

How is Branch a traitor when he isn't even on our team? He's a free agent, which by definition means free to do whatever he wants. Branch's obligations to us ended when we no longer wanted his services.

If your airline sacked you tomorrow, would you be traitorous by getting a job with a different airline?

 

[captain insano]

what kind of bull sh-t is this? lol you have to be kidding me lol.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Outside of the defending Hernandez-thing, which is totally a separate subject anyways, this point-of-view is ridiculous. He's a professional athlete, he may either need the money or simply want to play the game he's spent his whole life working at. Quite frankly, in today's business-driven NFL, that's way more important than "loyalty". There is no loyalty, that's just some naive concept for dumb fans to spout of on. Professional athletes don't have the same mindset as fans. Thank Christ for that.

Fine, if it'll all about Deion he shouldn't be offended of any picture of him is removed from the facilities, he's never invited to another Patriots function again, and never mentioned by the organization again.

 

[Kdo5]

What the hell

Traitor

Because he is getting paid to play for a team when our team would not? And I am not arguing to have Branch he is near finished. But what a silly post.

 

[Wrath Mania]

Deion made $50+ million in his NFL career and won 2 Super Bowl he is doing it because he is a selfish egotistical traitor. My point of view is not ridiculous, this move shows that what this organization gave Branch was not enough and he is willing to hurt the franchise who gave him everything else he has achieved in the NFL simply to gain something that he already has. He is going to stand in front of younger more deserving players that he went to war with and spill their practice field secrets for the opportunity to play 1 game and earn at best $25-$30 grand.

It’s not about be a fan it’s about being a human being who doesn’t **** on the people and things that gave you an opportunity for your own selfish and unnecessary reasons.

"Traitor" is caveman talk for fans who have no clue what the NFL is like. Belichick coldly cuts players, even players he likes, for the good of the team. Conversely, a player like Branch can sign with any team he wants, for the good of his career. Maybe you're not aware of this, but that's how it works in the NFL, and I think a lot of the more mature players and coaches (like Branch or BB) understand that's how it is and don't take offense. This isn't Mangini stealing the office furniture on his way to the Jets. This is just a player trying to find work. There's no way anyone lucid and involved with the Patriots views this as "HIM TRYING TO BETRAY US OMGGGGGG". Why do so many fans assume the NFL works like high school football rivalries (other than because that was their only access to the game, so they assume that their experiences most be equivalent)?

"Selfish egotistical traitor." "Younger more deserving players." LOL Please. I want to assume you're not so stupid that you think this is how pro sports works- though maybe most fans really are this dumb, I don't know? But here's the deal: the reason why you're really so butthurt about this is because you're terrified he's going to somehow give the Colts the secret codes to beat the Patriots. Which frankly isn't tremendously likely. Relax.

 

[Wrath Mania]

Fine, if it'll all about Deion he shouldn't be offended of any picture of him is removed from the facilities, he's never invited to another Patriots function again, and never mentioned by the organization again.

Yep, because that's how the Patriots will react. Right now, Belichick has out his screwdriver and is frantically removing all evidence of Deon's career as a Patriot. I am -certain- he is as offended by this as you lot are.

 

[Deus Irae]

Fine, if it'll all about Deion he shouldn't be offended of any picture of him is removed from the facilities, he's never invited to another Patriots function again, and never mentioned by the organization again.

Where was the Patriots loyalty when they didn't bring him back? Where was the loyalty towards Brandon Lloyd? When they force players to take pay cuts, how's that loyalty?