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

[mikey m]

Gronk and Hernandez had no leverage either, and they were both extended with top contracts. If they're good enough and the Pats want them, and they think the contract isnt overly detrimental to the rest of the team, they won't play hard ball with players they view as a pillar of the team going forward

Gronk, the greatest TE ever also is only the fifth highest paid in the league now. I believe there is 0 chance the pats make MB a top-10 paid corner (even though his play deserves it) or even top-20 considering that they don't have to right now to keep him on the team, the cap situation is not great as is, and all the players set to become fa in 2017

 

[Gronkowski123]

oh boy...how dare he demand a raise!!!


pay that man!!!

 

[signbabybrady]

That's a good point too. I think I'll amend my guess to 3 years with 7-9M AAV. I also wonder if he's worth a 1st round pick to some team as an RFA.

The real question should be is he worth a 1st round pick and 10 Million+ to someone.
I hope they figure this out this year because I don't want to find out. But I also think next year as a RFA some team will likely do the work for us and we will match.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

I don't blame him it's an insult to a number 1 corner and a Super Bowl hero to still be making UDFA money, they could of easily sweetened his contract a little to give him some more $ in his pocket.

Butler is the main reason the loss of Revis was offset slightly, people can talk about Hightower and Collins too being important which is seems obvious but in the modern NFL if you don't have good secondary play you're going to have problems and Pats fans should know thing cause of how many times it cost us big games from 2006-2013.

Pats also have problems finding good corners in the draft so when you have one that's homegrown you'd prefer to be able to keep him around.

 

[Ivan]

The real question should be is he worth a 1st round pick and 10 Million+ to someone.
I hope they figure this out this year because I don't want to find out. But I also think next year as a RFA some team will likely do the work for us and we will match.

When is the last time a team gave away a first round pick for an RFA?

 

[Ivan]

I don't blame him it's an insult to a number 1 corner and a Super Bowl hero to still be making UDFA money, they could of easily sweetened his contract a little to give him some more $ in his pocket.

Butler is the main reason the loss of Revis was offset slightly, people can talk about Hightower and Collins too being important which is seems obvious but in the modern NFL if you don't have good secondary play you're going to have problems and Pats fans should know thing cause of how many times it cost us big games from 2006-2013.

Pats also have problems finding good corners in the draft so when you have one that's homegrown you'd prefer to be able to keep him around.

How do you know they haven't made offers to him?

 

[Ivan]

To be quite blunt, I don't think it's very relevant to talk about what Butler "deserves" relative to other CBs. Those other players were either on the open market or about to be, while Butler may not see unrestricted free agency until 2019. I think the only way he's getting anywhere near $12 million a year in the next 12 months is if another team offers that when he's an RFA next offseason. That's his best chance at getting what he "deserves," because there's just no business reason for the Pats to offer significantly more than what this year's salary, next year's RFA tender, and 2018's potential franchise tag would pay him.

I agree, that's why I said 4/32/20 guaranteed. If you take what he will make with the RFA tag and a franchise tag it comes in around 3 million plus 15 million, give or take a little, so with this season they are looking at about 20 million total. If they give Butler 20 million guaranteed and 32 for four gets what he would made the next three seasons up front, plus another 12 million at 3 million per season on the roster, and he still gets to free agency while he is in his twenties, it simply delays it one season more than waiting out the tags. If they want to go 5/40 and raise the guaranteed money to 24 to be generous they can but that would mean Butler would hit free agency at 30, and he may not want that.

The Patriots hold all the cards with Butler and holding out will only hurt him. Hightower and Collins have much more leverage because they are UFA at seasons end.

 

[PP2]

I shudder at the tension this must be creating, but at the same time believe that he has the right to do so- his play has more than justified it and he, like all other players, know that it only takes one play to end a career.

 

[Jackson 2]

I often find myself when these situations arise thinking a contract is a contract, you were fine when you signed it, blah, blah, blah... Then I ask myself what I would do if I were in Malcolm's shoes. While I don't necessarily like the answer, it's that I'd very likely do what he seems to be doing.

 

[Ivan]

I shudder at the tension this must be creating, but at the same time believe that he has the right to do so- his play has more than justified it and he, like all other players, know that it only takes one play to end a career.

Which is why you make a good offer to him, if he wants to get top money he can play it out but it he wants guaranteed money there's a trade off.

 

[Deus Irae]

Taxes, bank notes,operating expenses, payroll, etc. Depending on their stadium situations it varies from team to team.

Barring a full economic collapse, there is no financial risk for owners in Football.

 

[mgteich]

When does Butler have to show up in order to be credited with a year for 2016?

 

[borg]

A 10 year drought in trophies, with Manning chewing up NE's mediocre secondary for many of those years, demonstrated CB talent is a requirement to hoist trophies, but difficult to secure.
I LOVE BUTLER's CHANCES. In an industry with such small windows of opportunity, the iron has never been hotter….STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE.
Extend now but don't rewrite this year's $$$$$………Each side gives something with Butler getting big $$$ upfront to compensate for lower average thanks to minimal 2016 #. Win Win= WINs ==> trophy

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

I don't blame him it's an insult to a number 1 corner and a Super Bowl hero to still be making UDFA money, they could of easily sweetened his contract a little to give him some more $ in his pocket.

Butler is the main reason the loss of Revis was offset slightly, people can talk about Hightower and Collins too being important which is seems obvious but in the modern NFL if you don't have good secondary play you're going to have problems and Pats fans should know thing cause of how many times it cost us big games from 2006-2013.

Pats also have problems finding good corners in the draft so when you have one that's homegrown you'd prefer to be able to keep him around.

Maybe a better F7 helped more then Butler alone... He is a great corner but this goes both ways.. Patriots did give him an oportunity he has 2 more years playing for almost nothing, if he is willing to give a HUGE discount they will extend him IMO... Gronk deal was pretty big but he was the best TE at the time and he was younger; Butler is amazing but he is one of the top 15 not the best in the league...

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

I agree, that's why I said 4/32/20 guaranteed. If you take what he will make with the RFA tag and a franchise tag it comes in around 3 million plus 15 million, give or take a little, so with this season they are looking at about 20 million total. If they give Butler 20 million guaranteed and 32 for four gets what he would made the next three seasons up front, plus another 12 million at 3 million per season on the roster, and he still gets to free agency while he is in his twenties, it simply delays it one season more than waiting out the tags. If they want to go 5/40 and raise the guaranteed money to 24 to be generous they can but that would mean Butler would hit free agency at 30, and he may not want that.

The Patriots hold all the cards with Butler and holding out will only hurt him. Hightower and Collins have much more leverage because they are UFA at seasons end.

So they will give him 12m extra in 2019 ( 2016 2 2017 3 2018 15) ???

They have all the leverage, so why give him 12m in 2019 plus all the possible money they will have to give him if they dont reach a deal... That sounds a perfect deal for him, and garbage for the team

He is 26 now they can tag him 2 times now 3m 2017 ( 27) 15m 2018 (28) = 6m per

So he will be a UFA in 2019 / 29 years ...

Patriots have all leverage they should offer him a 6 year deal ( He will be 32 if he is playing well he will manage to find another small contract) and 8.5m per = 51 with 24 gtd ... He will get a raise next year + financial stability with a reasonable contract.

2016 -- same cap 26 years
2017 - 6m full gtd 27 years
2018 - 6m full gtd 28 years
2019 - 8m full gtd 29 years
2020 - 9m / 4m gtd 30 years
2021 - 9m 31 years
2022 - 13m 32 years

 

[Miguel]

When does Butler have to show up in order to be credited with a year for 2016?

Already answered in thread.


From the CBA
"A player shall not receive an Accrued Season for any League Year in which the player is under contract to a Club and in which he failed to report to such Club at least thirty days prior to the first regular season game of that season"

 

[BTTA]

I shudder at the tension this must be creating

I agree, if there's tension, it could be a negative, although the coaching staff and players have certainly worked through more difficult contract situations.

But all we have here is this, from what I can tell:
1. Butler is not at OTA's, with no one outside of the team having any knowledge as to why, including Reiss.
2. Reiss has it third hand that Butler has told friends and family that he'd like a better contract situation for 2016. So he might or might not have said this, and there is no way to gauge how significant it is to him, if he said it at all.
3. Reiss wrote an article speculating on what #1 and #2 might mean, but said nothing that we haven't been saying on this Board for months: it probably makes sense for Butler to get some extra coin going forward.

So why would we be worried that this is a serious problem? 98% of these things are either way overblown by the echo chamber that is the off season, and/or in the process of being resolved in the background while we all sit around worrying about it.

 

[varjao]

It all depends on how the press presents the issue, you see, a pro like Mike Reiss puts it in a different perspective, I'm glad he broke the news, otherwise would be nonsense noise like "Butler to hold out if not paid top CB money".

I agree with the general sentiment, he outplayed his current contract and is worth a raise. Hold out is a problem though, it doesn't solve a problem, just creates another one. But this is one of those cases that a extension may be better for both sides, including eliminating the risk of the player playing soft not to get hurt in order to not hurt his chances in the future market. The interception play was one of the best plays of all time, but there is no input in contract discussions, it was a hail mary, they don't count. His general play at the SB though did show he was special. And he didn't asked anything after that. He played a full season as a top CB in the game and established himself. Even though most of us want to see a little more, in the players perspective another full season is an eternity when it comes to this kind of negotiation.

He needs to get some security because things change fast in the NFL. At the same time, he should be grateful that he is in this position right now. He was this close to not even be a NFL player right now entering the league as an UDFA. He lucked out that (among his potential of course) he landed in a spot to learn and be evaluated by the wisest man in football, he got the opportunity and seized. It's not so rare for undrafted players or late round picks to be successful in the league, but every one of them must realize that once the opportunity to cash out some guaranteed money is there, they have to take it instead of gambling again, because they already won a ticket. Even though we say that draft position doesn't count, a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick even if they fail tend to stay a little more in the league, and that equals to money in the bank. That's not the reality for UDFA's and late rounders. Butler absolutely needs to give a hometown discount. Also, as pointed out, he is very good, but let's pump the breaks a little bit in the top 5 conversation.

Here's a few issues that I see in terms of contract years.

He is already 26 (I don't know if he's more closer to 27 or just celebrated another birthday, anyways..) so a 4 year contract would put him in the market around the age of 30, which is a cruel mark. 2 year deal makes no sense, as the Pats have him on the cheap for this time. So I think a 3 year contract makes the most sense so he would still get a chance for another payday which I think is what he wants, at the same time I don't see a lot of advantages for the Pats financially as they control the situation here, probably solves an immediate issue and rewards a good player but Belichick is a business man not a charity institution.

So if he was 24 a 3 or 4 year deal very reasonable contract would be something easy to get the parts in agreement. Then for his 2nd contract would be a free world, no one owes nothing to anyone. But at 26 it's a little more complicated. If there is time for a 4 year contract and hitting the market at 29 that would be his best scenario IMO, he would make his fair share of money right now and then bet in himself to get another big payday or at least a decent contract (remember, he may have not been in this position if picked by any other team in the NFL) so a decent contract in the NFL, although not top of the market, is still something he should not take it for granted. But again what do the Pats win here?

I don't know, maybe he gets a little bump right now and after another season if they feel he is the real deal, maybe a long term extension should be the discussion and Butler may have to realize that one big pay day is what he will get and he should not take this for granted. Also players still make money at 32/33 so he's not going to starve in life unless he pulls a Cromartie or Holyfield.

 

[jah]

When is the last time a team gave away a first round pick for an RFA?

Good players are rarely RFAs because they would have played out their rookie contract and hit unrestricted free agency. Few UDFAs pan out as well and as quickly as Butler.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Barring a full economic collapse, there is no financial risk for owners in Football.

They are responsible for operation costs and to run the franchise. That is business risk. I'm not arguing the degree of the risk.