LB Dane Fletcher Waived per Reiss

How long is the waiver process before we know he cleared?

Not sure why people are panicking about this. Belichick knew what he was risking by waiving him. If another team picks him up, it's not the end of the world. Fletcher was a solid back-up ILB but it's not as if he's irreplaceable.

Love Fletcher's motor, passion, and depth he provides to the Patriots. I accept what Belichick has done, though, and think the overall odds are fair that Dane remains a Patriot in the future.

KontradictioN said:

Not sure why people are panicking about this. Belichick knew what he was risking by waiving him. If another team picks him up, it's not the end of the world. Fletcher was a solid back-up ILB but it's not as if he's irreplaceable.

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I'm still trying to think of ANY reason another team would take responsibility for Fletcher's salary, surgery and rehab, given that he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

The only remote possibility is that it would allow that team to negotiate an extension with him. But as much as I like Fletcher, realistically...who would be so eager for a backup coming off a major knee injury, with all of 23 games played in his 3-year career, that they would take on a significant financial obligation just in case he feels like re-upping with them in advance? Especially knowing that the Patriots likely already told him that whatever happens with the waiver wire, they want him back for next year?

BlueThunder said:

How long is the waiver process before we know he cleared?

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4:00pm today (Tue)

patchick said:

I'm still trying to think of ANY reason another team would take responsibility for Fletcher's salary, surgery and rehab, given that he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

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He becomes an RFA at the end of the season, so a team would probably have one more year of him if they wanted.

Pujo said:

He becomes an RFA at the end of the season, so a team would probably have one more year of him if they wanted.

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Only if they're willing to pay $2 million in guaranteed salary. (Fletcher was undrafted, so the draft-level tender doesn't apply, they'd have to tender him at the 2nd-round level.) No chance, IMO.

patchick said:

Only if they're willing to pay $2 million in guaranteed salary. (Fletcher was undrafted, so the draft-level tender doesn't apply, they'd have to tender him at the 2nd-round level.) No chance, IMO.

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I don't think a second round tender offer is needed to keep Fletcher. An offer of first refusal is probably sufficient as there seems to be a whole lot of collusion or coincidences on the minimal movement of RFAs. A minimum offer +minimum salary is much cheaper than a 2nd round offer.

fester said:

I don't think a second round tender offer is needed to keep Fletcher. An offer of first refusal is probably sufficient as there seems to be a whole lot of collusion or coincidences on the minimal movement of RFAs. A minimum offer +minimum salary is much cheaper than a 2nd round offer.

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ROFR is useless for UDFAs: there's no compensation.

No revenge from the Giants. Fletcher made it to IR.
https://twitter.com/GregABedard/status/235476724165509120

This can be a tough "business". What have you done for me lately!? Fletch has been a great player out there for us when healthy. ACL tear and his season is over....makes sense (cruel as it may sound) to place him on waivers and hope he floats back to us. BB knows what he is doing better than ANYONE! IN BB we trust.......!

So what exactly was the advantage to the Pats of waiving him and putting him on IR after he cleared waivers vs. just putting him directly onto IR? Lower salary cap hit?

rlcarr said:

So what exactly was the advantage to the Pats of waiving him and putting him on IR after he cleared waivers vs. just putting him directly onto IR? Lower salary cap hit?

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Open roster spot.
If they hold him, they 'only' have 89 positions.
If they waive him, they have 90.

They could wait until the cutdown to 75, as I understand it, and get him right to IR. And 75 isn't far from the old offseason roster limit, and they would be releasing 20+ of those players anyway.

rlcarr said:

So what exactly was the advantage to the Pats of waiving him and putting him on IR after he cleared waivers vs. just putting him directly onto IR? Lower salary cap hit?

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He now won't count towards the 90 man roster limit. He would have if he didn't clear waivers first.

he made it through waivers as I expected and will remain under our control..

SOunds like per Reiss he will go to IR now see Dane in camp next year.