Reiss: Malcolm Butler plans to push for an adjustment to his contract

[Deus Irae]

While he's the most important defensive signing to get done, he doesn't need to get done this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a deal, if it's below market in exchange for security, but I don't know why the Patriots would worry too much about his contract beyond that.

 

[BobDigital]

I would look to sign him long term. I want him as a Patriot for the next 7 years. If he signs something like a 7 year 70M contract I would be very willing to do it. lock up that #1 CB position for long term.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Sign the beast

6/36 is a win win, team friendly, provides security.

He is a cornerstone piece of this D

I dont think there is any way he would sign a 6 year deal that pays him as a nickle corner. Its going to take at least 11 million a year

 

[patsfan13]

If he wants long term security when he has no leverage, he will need to give up something. Trading security for possible loss of max earnings.

This is what Gronk did to hedge his bets over his health. How much will he make I'd he blows out his MCL and ACL?

How bout tearing his Achilles ?

Do you think Robert Edwards wished he had a somewhat below market extension when his knee exploded?


As to the money, it was an example, not an exact value, I am not aware of what the 50th highest CB makes .

 

[PatsBoy12]

I would look to sign him long term. I want him as a Patriot for the next 7 years. If he signs something like a 7 year 70M contract I would be very willing to do it. lock up that #1 CB position for long term.

Respect. But it seems like everyone is assuming Butler would want a deal of more than three or four years. Why would he deny himself a chance at another pay day. Most players playing well at their positions, outside of QB's maybe, usually have only one or two big pay days in their careers.

 

[Ivan]

I would look to sign him long term. I want him as a Patriot for the next 7 years. If he signs something like a 7 year 70M contract I would be very willing to do it. lock up that #1 CB position for long term.

That is crazy talk imo. I like Butler and I think he is a really good CB but he could blow a knee out out get a couple concussions and be done. He could also fall off in terms of play at any time. I'm not saying any will happen but 7 years is much too long a deal.

Butler can't have it both ways, he can't demand a new deal and get top money. He may be able to get the Patriots to do a team friendly deal for 3-4 years but it won't be at ten plus a season. Given how long the Patriots can control him he's going to have to take a significant discount to get something done, and sitting out will get him nowhere, Belichick won't budge on that circumstance.


4 years, 32 million, 20 guaranteed.

While the overall contract is far from the top money getting 20 million guaranteed is significant and I think he's would take it?

 

[Ivan]

I dont think there is any way he would sign a 6 year deal that pays him as a nickle corner. Its going to take at least 11 million a year

Agree on the deal you referenced but disagree on 11 million per year. Belichick will pay early for great young players but the deal is always team friendly and 11 million is going to be too high at this point in his career. If Butler wants that much he will be waiting a few years before seeing it, and sitting out for any extended period will seriously damage his career as Belichick could bury him

 

[RI Patriots fan]

Um....I don't think that some of you guys get the whole "leverage" thing.

Butler has almost zero leverage. According to Miguel (in this thread) he can't hold out because if he does hold out he won't be able to accrue another season that he needs to become an RFA next year.

So what are Butler's options:

1.) hold out.....and the Patriots still control his rights for 2 more years (with RFA year) while he gets another year older

2.) whine and play poorly.....that will only hurt his value as a player.

3.) play under the existing deal....probably not the best option but it beats the first two

4.) try to cut a long term deal.....unlike some of these crazy 4/32 deals mentioned in this thread, the reality is that Butler is ours this year for only $600k and no more than $3.6M next year. So why on earth would the Patriots give him $8M per year?

Butler is going to have suck it up and give up something to get more money upfront but it won't be anywhere near what is being discussed in this thread.

The bottom line...he has very little leverage and without it he has few good options.

 

[mikey m]

Miguel, I like the analysis, but I would think the Pats can have him at that amount for 4 years, not 3. I like Butler a lot, but he seems like a player that has to play balls to the wall every single play to get the results he's getting. that's hard to do year in and year out. He has a huge injury risk over the next 2 seasons with a max overall salary of under 4K if the Pats tag him with a first round tender. A 5 million bonus today would be worth more than his expected salary over the next 2 years assuming he plays well and has no significant injuries.Add in a base salary of 1 million this year and a 5 million per year average for the following three seasons (21 million total over 4 years) and I don't see how he passes that up.

I always thought that too. But as long as it doesn't make him injury prone in the short term and he holds up then its not an issue. But I think the second he loses a step later in his career he will not be able to stick the more athletic wr1s. Nothing to be ashamed about for an udfa and maybe he'll make up for it with some vet savvy

 

[mihap]

after one full season and he is push for addjustment and not taking OTA trying to squezze a deal.
I think he is gone after 2016.

 

[AtomicDawg]

The article did make a valid point. Butler signed the contract as an undrafted free agent before saving a SB as well as becoming a Pro Bowl CB. He definitely does deserve a raise, I just hope he keeps it reasonable.

There IS a salary cap, however. Hightower and Collins have deserved raises too but had to wait until their contract ran its course. That is the system. Pay your dues and get the cash.

But honestly, the owners took home $226M as their take just from the NFL; I think every player deserves a big ass raise. Players trying to get as much money as possible aren't the problem. Greedy Owners along with the salary cap are.
If the NFL had a soft cap with a luxury tax you'd see teams giving better deals, and we'd be able to see which owners are willing to go over it and which ones aren't.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The article did make a valid point. Butler signed the contract as an undrafted free agent before saving a SB as well as becoming a Pro Bowl CB. He definitely does deserve a raise, I just hope he keeps it reasonable.

There IS a salary cap, however. Hightower and Collins have deserved raises too but had to wait until their contract ran its course. That is the system. Pay your dues and get the cash.

But honestly, the owners took home $226M as their take just from the NFL; I think every player deserves a big ass raise. Players trying to get as much money as possible aren't the problem. Greedy Owners along with the salary cap are.
If the NFL had a soft cap with a luxury tax you'd see teams giving better deals, and we'd be able to see which owners are willing to go over it and which ones aren't.

Why don't the owners deserve the money? Aren't they assuming all the financial and capital risk? Players are already making millions..

 

[skinnydog]

I would hope every player on my team is playing this way.

They should, but in Butler I see a player who gives absolutely everything he's got every play. I don't see that with every player on the Pats or any team really. I love Butler for his tenacity, but he seems like a player who if he loses a half a step will lose more than that in terms of performance. I'm hoping they can work out a deal where the kid gets a decent bonus. As far as I am concerned the Super Bowl play alone is worth every penny he gets.

 

[AtomicDawg]

Why don't the owners deserve the money? Aren't they assuming all the financial and capital risk? Players are already making millions..

Because they're always asking for public financing for new stadiums. Taxpayers shouldn't be funding them. But that's another story.
We're supposed to believe it would have cost too much to implement Belichick's plan to install more cameras for better replay. That's why I say players should take all advantage when it comes to these things.

 

[rsd]

Why don't the owners deserve the money? Aren't they assuming all the financial and capital risk? Players are already making millions..

Because the only concussion Kraft is getting is from shoving his head up Gooddell's backside.

 

[The Boston Patriot]

Malcolm is not more valuable than High and Collins. Period.

Maybe not more but just as valuable IMHO.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Because the only concussion Kraft is getting is from shoving his head up Gooddell's backside.

Because they're always asking for public financing for new stadiums. Taxpayers shouldn't be funding them. But that's another story.
We're supposed to believe it would have cost too much to implement Belichick's plan to install more cameras for better replay. That's why I say players should take all advantage when it comes to these things.

You both make great points but they have nothing to do with the argument for why do the players should be paid more.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Maybe not more but just as valuable IMHO.

In the context of priorities, all cannot be the same.

 

[saspack]

Cut this guy. Don't like his attitude

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

He's a #1 CB in this league on a lot of teams. He deserves to get paid. Has a lot of room for growth as well.