What if Branch waited a year?

[borg]

For argument's sake, let's assume that Branch never had contract issues with the Patriots and played out his rookie contract. Furthermore, let's assume that Branch's stats would have improved because of the absence of Givens. Finally, let's also assume that Assante Samuel ended the 2006 with the exact same stats.
Which player would the Pats franchise? and
Could Branch have earned more coin as a Free Agent this off season? (Branch's Seattle contract: 6 years, $39 mill, $13 mill signing bonus)

 

[solman]

For argument's sake, let's assume that Branch never had contract issues with the Patriots and played out his rookie contract. Furthermore, let's assume that Branch's stats would have improved because of the absence of Givens. Finally, let's also assume that Assante Samuel ended the 2006 with the exact same stats.
Which player would the Pats franchise? and
Could Branch have earned more coin as a Free Agent this off season? (Branch's Seattle contract: 6 years, $39 mill, $13 mill signing bonus)

Asante, no question.

CBs are much harder to find in free agency this year, and more expensive in general.

Asante had a pro bowl year last year, and while I have my doubts about his ability to remain at that level, its at least a possibility.

I liked Branch, but he was never an elite receiver.

 

[Gopats!!!]

Yeah, Branch screwed himself more than anyone else.

I wonder if he even realizes it. For someone who apparently thinks money is God, he can't be too happy. Maybe he will hold out this year for a new contract

I'd pay to see that!!!

 

[borg]

Asante, no question.

CBs are much harder to find in free agency this year, and more expensive in general.

Asante had a pro bowl year last year, and while I have my doubts about his ability to remain at that level, its at least a possibility.

I liked Branch, but he was never an elite receiver.

I agree on your franchise choice. I also feel that Branch could easily have parlayed a much larger signing bonus this year, given how GMs are doling it out massive bonuses to many of the journeymen. Whether a new contract would make up for his extra year with the Pats at $1.5 mill is very debatable, though.

 

[satz]

If i can redo something i will get the winning number on mass lottery and screw this site .

 

[Fixit]

From now on, I'm going to need a BEETLEJUICE PHOTOS AHEAD warning.

 

[fgssand]

WOW - Deion would be a much richer man.

We would not have Caldwell or Stallworth.

We would not have 2 #1's in the draft.

I would still have eaten too much during the year.

 

[jbb9s]

WOW - Deion would be a much richer man.

We would not have Caldwell or Stallworth.

We would not have 2 #1's in the draft.

I would still have eaten too much during the year.

Oh ya - and the most important part - we would be super bowl champions.

 

[Commander Shears]

If Branch got a relatively cheap contract because he didn't wait a year, it isn't much of a jump to say that the Patriots could have had Branch at a contract that would have been relatively cheap within a year. It cuts both ways.

 

[spacecrime]

If Branch got a relatively cheap contract because he didn't wait a year, it isn't much of a jump to say that the Patriots could have had Branch at a contract that would have been relatively cheap within a year.

Does this make sense to ANYONE?

 

[Commander Shears]

Does this make sense to ANYONE?

Some people are claiming that Branch signed a year too early and cost himself money. If that is the case, doesn't it follow that the team who signed him to that deal has a relative bargain (minus draft compensation) just a year later? If Branch miscalculated the 2007 market, then didn't the Patriots make the same mistake?

Say someone offers you a dime for your nickel. Not only is he a fool - but so are you if you don't sell it to him.

 

[bresna]

Some people are claiming that Branch signed a year too early and cost himself money. If that is the case, doesn't it follow that the team who signed him to that deal has a relative bargain (minus draft compensation) just a year later? If Branch miscalculated the 2007 market, then didn't the Patriots make the same mistake?

Which means that sometime in the next few years, as the salary gap widens, Branch will hold out on the Seahawks too.

Branch may be a "deal" in today's market, but he wasn't a deal last year for the Seahawaks. Didn't they pay him almost $8 million last year? What did it get them?

 

[Gopats!!!]

Some people are claiming that Branch signed a year too early and cost himself money. If that is the case, doesn't it follow that the team who signed him to that deal has a relative bargain (minus draft compensation) just a year later? If Branch miscalculated the 2007 market, then didn't the Patriots make the same mistake?

Say someone offers you a dime for your nickel. Not only is he a fool - but so are you if you don't sell it to him.

I don't think the Patriots made a mistake in the market. For one, you can't take the #1 pick out of the equation. So between the pick and the $$$ I think even by this offseason's standards they overpaid for him.

The Patriots gained a #1 and have been able to use the money they were going to spend on branch to significantly improve the team (at least on paper). While I believe not having branch last year hurt the Patriots, in the long term I believe the Patriots are much better, especially if the #1 pick we got for him lands us someone decent.

 

[Steve1iron]

If Branch had performed under his existing and valid contract and not acted like a miscreant he would have been the beneficiary of the money that has been floating around this year in free agency. There is no doubt in my mind. But Branch had to resort to the much too familiar bad behavior to try to force a teams hand. He ended up with the money, but maybe not as much as he would have had if he had been a man about his contract. And, instead of being on the receiving end of Tom Brady passes, he'll be on the receiving end of Matt Hasselback/Seneca Wallace passes and will be a forgotten man.

 

[Triumph]

For argument's sake, let's assume that Branch never had contract issues with the Patriots and played out his rookie contract. Furthermore, let's assume that Branch's stats would have improved because of the absence of Givens. Finally, let's also assume that Assante Samuel ended the 2006 with the exact same stats.
Which player would the Pats franchise? and
Could Branch have earned more coin as a Free Agent this off season? (Branch's Seattle contract: 6 years, $39 mill, $13 mill signing bonus)

The salary cap went up 17 Mil in 2006.

He hit the market just right, but likely screwed himself on the numbers of teams that could compete for his services. Especially since the deal was consummated in the 11th hour.

 

[edzo44]

I am not a big fan of "What If" threads because it is all relatively useless speculation on something that didn't happen and for which there is no possible, proveable answer but if they are what floats your boat that's fine and a fairly harmless way to pass the offseason if that's what some people like. So consider the following "What If" scenarios:

"What if Mo Lewis never nails Bledsoe in that 2001 Jets game?" . . . or

"What if the ref didn't invoke the tuck rule and left it a fumble?" . . . or

"What if Vinatieri had missed the last second fieldgoal in SB 36. Do they win in overtime?"

Where do you think the Pats would be standing at this time . . . How many Superbowls (if any)?

 

[JoeSixPat]

Part of what Branch was risking by playing last year was getting injured and getting $0 going into free agency - so in the NFL's version of of "Deal or No Deal" he made the smart call by refusing to risk a big payday - maybe not the biggest - by risking injury under a underpaid contract.

(Samuel's situation isn't the same).

The only "fault" one might find is in Branch's offer to play if the Patriots agreed not to Franchise him.

However, once that demand was made public it put the Patriots in a difficult situation of setting a precedent by giving into Branch's demand.

Unforatunately, if that deal for Branch to play and not be franchised could have been done quietly I have no doubt we'd be celebrating another Super Bowl... but at the point Branch went public with that and seemed intent on holding out, the only possible move was to trade him for value.

 

[frankiesfly]

Who really Cares?