Patriots allow Brandon Browner to explore value around the NFL

Marinlik said:

I think Browner is incredibly overrated here. He's a pretty limited CB that needs a great supporting cast to be good. He's kind of like Arrington but they are good at the opposite thing. Arrington is very good against quick guys, but sucks against big guys. Browner sucks against quick guys, but is good against big guys. Both of them are chess pieces that really needs a very good supporting cast around them that can take over the things they suck at, and let them only do the things they are good at. None of them is a guy you can have as your best corner as they both would be very exposed when they can't just be locked down to do the task that they are very good at.

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The reason why he isn't limited in our defense is that he has the supporting cast. He's allowed to be the chess piece. We locked him up on Calvin Johnson for most of that game, we locked him up on tight ends, if he wasnt there to put on Matthews in the SB, that kid, at the rate he was going, would have probably had 200 yards because he was 7 inches taller than our average DB.

He's perfect for us. We have everything around him to use him in a perfect situation.

dales804 said:

Which is exactly why most people want Browner to stay. Remember the SB? Some guy who never caught a pass in his career was killing Arrington and then Browner shut him down.

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And for that I like him. As I said, I think both are very good chess pieces that you can use like that. It works because we have a very good supporting cast, especially with a great FS that can cover up for him. But I was talking about the people on here that talk about Browner as if he was a #1 corner. As if he was a corner that can do a bit of everything. That's not what he is, and I don't think he would be worth the $9 or so million that some here seems to be worth.

Unless I'm missing something here, the idea of the Pats CUTTING Browner is absurd. We're watching average CBs getting twice his $$$ on the market.

Guys like Percy Harvin and Vince Wilfork become cap casualties and get cut because they're being paid more than their market value at the time of the cut. You can't trade a Wilfork at 8 million, when other teams don't want that kind of a hit for him and they know you're going to just cut him anyway.

But a guy like Browner, even if he might become a cap casualty in New England, is worth more in a trade to the team that gets him than fighting for him on the open market. You wouldn't throw a mid-rounder at the Pats to get 2 years of a Browner at half his market value?

I would be absolutely shocked if they outright release him. This is either a courtesy before a restructure/hold or they're sniffing around for a trade.

Releasing that kind of value at that kind of money just would not make sense.

Bill knows.

Let's wait, I think BB definitely wants Browner back and we don't even know what's inside his head, perhaps he has Browner as priority over other moves, we just don't know. It's tough to have a CB like Browner.

I wouldn't say he's incredibly overrated.........he's got his good points and bad points. I'd rather have him here for 3.4M than 4.9M

I would also prefer to have Wilfork over Browner on the team

50-yard-line said:

Unless I'm missing something here, the idea of the Pats CUTTING Browner is absurd. We're watching average CBs getting twice his $$$ on the market.

Guys like Percy Harvin and Vince Wilfork become cap casualties and get cut because they're being paid more than their market value at the time of the cut. You can't trade a Wilfork at 8 million, when other teams don't want that kind of a hit for him and they know you're going to just cut him anyway.

But a guy like Browner, even if he might become a cap casualty in New England, is worth more in a trade to the team that gets him than fighting for him on the open market. You wouldn't throw a mid-rounder at the Pats to get 2 years of a Browner at half his market value?

I would be absolutely shocked if they outright release him. This is either a courtesy before a restructure/hold or they're sniffing around for a trade.

Releasing that kind of value at that kind of money just would not make sense.

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which is why letting browner go makes no sense.

Gronkowski123 said:

which is why letting browner go makes no sense.

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Exactly, and that's why I think that's not what's going on.

They probably went to Browner and wanted to convert his 9.6/2-year salary to ?/3-year with guarantees to spread the cap hit. Browner's agent then asks to let him go see the market for Browner or no deal.

So the Pats agree.

OR:

They're looking to trade him. but I find that less likely, because I doubt Browner would want that and he'd probably be tweeting about it.

Rob0729 said:

If letting Browner goes means keeping Revis, I am all for it.

Browner was great last year, but he is replaceable.

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I dissagree Browner brought attitude and he was the Biggest hitter in our Secondary...couldn't they do that with Danny Armendola instead?? Browner is not as replaceable as you think.

Froob said:

Browner is a huge bargain. He's making like 1/2 of what he would on the open market. This would really suck.

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THIS is indeed the issue. Browner is playing at a discount and has a bonus due. The patriots would like Browner to restructure and/or extend. Browner probably balked at the idea of signing an extension if he is worth lots more on the open market.

The solution, AS IT WAS FOR MCCOURTY, is for Browner to find out what he's worth and THEN negotiate with the patriots.

The patriots can "save" $1.9M with a restructure and $4.8M with a cut. The best solution is an extension, which isn't possible without Browner knowing what he's worth to other teams.

Personally, I think that the patriots will keep Browner, even under his present deal.

I will say this just once.

IMHO, Browner is NOT taking a reduction is compensation from the patriots. He may or may not restructure or extend his contract.

PatsFan2 said:

I dissagree Browner brought attitude and he was the Biggest hitter in our Secondary...couldn't they do that with Danny Armendola instead?? Browner is not as replaceable as you think.

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Who said Amendola isn't getting cut or forced to take pay cut too?

Also, although I think Browner had a very good year, people tend to overrate it. Sometimes he was awesome while other times he did get burnt.

I hope he comes back to Seattle - the original LOB, back together! And it would be great if he got his third Super Bowl ring in a row with the Seahawks. Sort of like the anti-Welker.

My guess would be that this whole thing is coming from Browners end.

He is going to watch two of his DB teammates get paid this offseason and probably wants a raise in line with his perception of his own value.

Browner has probably made it clear that he will be a disgruntled Patriot if he doesn't get to at least see what the market is for his services.

Once that is established the Patriots would probably enter in negotiations regarding an extension that is acceptable to both parties.

I find it hard to believe that Bill doesnt understand how important Browner has been in giving this secondary some much needed attitude.

Ed2310 said:

I hope he comes back to Seattle - the original LOB, back together! And it would be great if he got his third Super Bowl ring in a row with the Seahawks. Sort of like the anti-Welker.

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you made this account just to post that?

seattle won't go back to the SB. SB losers never return.

MrNathanDrake said:

Damnnit. Browner is almost as important as Revis.

The attitude and leadership he brings is huge for our team.

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No he isn't.

Rob0729 said:

Who said Amendola isn't getting cut or forced to take pay cut too?

Also, although I think Browner had a very good year, people tend to overrate it. Sometimes he was awesome while other times he did get burnt.

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Rob didn't we say our Defensive backfield need a Rodney type enforcer back there? As soon as we sign a player like Browner we won a SB go figure. I really like what Brower brings to this Defense especially in the red zone his press ability in tight quarters is unmatched!

FourierSeries said:

I love McCourty and am glad he will be back. But Browner is more important to the team. We don't win that SB without Browner.

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Can't agree with this at all. I like Browner, but an elite FS is worth more than a CB2.

PatsFan2 said:

Rob didn't we say our Defensive backfield need a Rodney type enforcer back there? As soon as we sign a player like Browner we won a SB go figure. I really like what Brower brings to this Defense especially in the red zone his press ability in tight quarters is unmatched!

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Then if that is the case, give Browner the extension and let Revis walk. Let's not go overboard. Browner was not the missing piece to the Pats' Super Bowl puzzle. He was a piece to the puzzle, but not close to the biggest piece.

There are plenty of reasons of why the Pats went from falling short of winning the Super Bowl and winning it and I wouldn't put Browner near the top. Number one and two in no particular order were Revis and a healthy Gronk. Browner was a contributor.

This is a strange development, IMO.

I agree with posters saying that an intimidating hitter in the backfield is a luxury NE should relish. However - I also agree with those who stated Revis and McCourty are far more important than Browner is.

Let's see how it plays out. This is not a situation for the panick button.

It is now 4:21, no word, does that mean he is gonna be a Pat??