Patriots allow Brandon Browner to explore value around the NFL

livinginthe past said:

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.

Click to expand...

No way. The Pats took an out-of--work Browner and gave him a good deal at the time. Changes around the league don't change that. If he wants out, they'll trade him, but given his history with the league, he did okay.

DarrylS said:

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

Click to expand...

Deadline is tomorrow.

I can't see the patriots cutting Browner. If the patriots don't think he's worth $4.8M, I suspect that other teams will be happy to give us a draft choice for the privilege.

the only way I see this being true is if Browner wants more money and is asking to be cut, its just Crazy to cut or trade a starting CB to save 5 million when the price for any starting CB starts at 8 million,

as good as Revis was and is the true upgrade at DB came from Browner the guy held Calvin Johnson to less yards then revis held Tate to. he is a very good #2 CB and his Price makes him even better so like I said unless he wants more money this is a bad move by the pats

One will have thought they will rather ask Arrington for a pay cut. What the hell has Arrington got on the front office? 4mil for Arrington?

I think we can safely rule out the cut option.

Browner is going to discuss his value with teams contingent on a certain trade value.

Once again Pats fans over react to rumor and unfounded speculation. It's what we do. .

Here's what I think about this situation.

1. I'm of the opinion that Browner came to us as a limited CB, but someone who is VERY effective at what he does well. He is a strong physical presence in the secondary, and when given the proper support, he has a skill set unlike any other on the team. Within the context of the total defense, Browner plays an important, yet limited role.

2. Why Browner has been given the opportunity to test the market is unknown to us. It could be that he wants more money like his compatriots, or it could be that the Pats want to shave some money off his cap and want him to see that what they want to do, isn't out of line with the market

3 Either way,. I choose to look at this as a courtesy by the Pats to Browner, and he should look at it as an opportunity given to him from a class organization. Face it, he's not going to get any faster or quicker now that he's on the wrong side of 30.

4. Once he completes his marketing study its likely that he will rework his deal so that he gives the team some cap relief, but still keeps the same money. He gives the team some cap relief and exchanges guaranteed money for incentives. Or he gives the team some cap relief with a straight salary cut. Any of those outcomes are likely to happen.

5. What is unlikely to happen is that he's cut. The only way I see that as a possibility is that it turns into something personnel between the player and BB, and thus far there has been no indication that anything remotely like that has been happening.

patfanken said:

5. What is unlikely to happen is that he's cut. The only way I see that as a possibility is that it turns into something personnel between the player and BB, and thus far there has been no indication that anything remotely like that has been happening.

Click to expand...

Even if there is a personal issue, the team would simply trade him.

Also, I've found that lots of "personal" issues workers have often go away when the worker finds out what the market is for his services.

We need to have him back. His presence in the backfield was nasty good. I d hate to lose both starting corners off a SB winning team.

First off the patriots gambled on Browner cause of his suspension so they got him for less than market value and they clearly won that gamble. That being said Browners contract is an asset. First because he is cheap will out play his salary and second he could very easily traded for young talent because any team would want him with those numbers. So the only two reasons the pats would be letting him test the market is because they might trade him or they want him to restructure his 4.8 to a very low number this year and reward him with say 6-7 mil a year moving forward. Maybe freeing up just enough room this year to sign revis? There is no way they cut him. No team cuts a guy who is outplaying his contract because there will be dozens of teams that would want a guy like that on their roster.

patfanken said:

Once again Pats fans over react to rumor and unfounded speculation. It's what we do. .

Here's what I think about this situation....

1. I'm of the opinion that Browner came to us as a limited CB, but someone who is VERY effective at what he does well. He is a strong physical presence in the secondary, and when given the proper support, he has a skill set unlike any other on the team. Within the context of the total defense, Browner plays an important, yet limited role.

Click to expand...

Browner phone call on contract negotiations...

mgteich said:

Even if there is a personal issue, the team would simply trade him.

Also, I've found that lots of "personal" issues workers have often go away when the worker finds out what the market is for his services.

Click to expand...

Absolutely. What could have happened was that Browner saw these CB deals flying around, went to the team and asked for a bump in pay, they said no and here we are.

mgteich said:

Also, I've found that lots of "personal" issues workers have often go away when the worker finds out what the market is for his services.

Click to expand...

...... and that's why I think the Pats were very comfortable with letting him see what's out there. They are basically trying to show that whatever they plan on asking him to do is fair.

mgteich said:

I can't see the patriots cutting Browner. If the patriots don't think he's worth $4.8M, I suspect that other teams will be happy to give us a draft choice for the privilege.

Click to expand...

Starting CB not worth this amt? So, Arringtons' 4m+ this year is worth more then Browner? No way.

You need Browner AND Revis. If you need to cut someone, cut a non starter... Sigh, I would NOT want to see Ryan taking Browners' spot as CB, as an example.


"Browner was an unsung hero of Super Bowl XLIX, keeping Seahawks receiverJermaine Kearse from getting to defensive back Malcolm Butler and applying a pick on the fateful final offensive snap for Seattle. Butler looped around untouched and beat Ricardo Lockette to the ball, giving Browner his second straight Super Bowl ring."

Browner's value took a huge hit the minute the league started to emphasize illegal contact and defensive holding. Unfortunately, it was after we signed him to a deal, and I can see BB wanting to correct for that now.

convertedpatsfan said:

Browner's value took a huge hit the minute the league started to emphasize illegal contact and defensive holding. Unfortunately, it was after we signed him to a deal, and I can see BB wanting to correct for that now.

Click to expand...

Except, as shown year after year, penalties are not called nearly as often in the playoffs. And that's where Browner is most valuable.

I'm seven pages late to the thread so some may have already made this point, but with the Pats it's not about CB #1, #2, #3 etc. it's more about what role they play. With Browner he is great because of his body type and style of play. I hope Butler turns into the next great CB, but he doesn't fit the role that Browner had. Even though it came with flags it was nice to have some attitude in the secondary.

VectorPrime said:

Except, as shown year after year, penalties are not called nearly as often in the playoffs. And that's where Browner is most valuable.

Click to expand...

That's true, although I don't think this is the year to really emphasize that.

Browner was called for 15 penalties in 9 regular season games, and only 3 in 3 play-off games.

However, the Patriots were flagged 92 times in 16 regular season games (5.75) and 17 times in 3 play-off games (5.66).

But Browner was better in the play-offs.

zipster9 said:

Starting CB not worth this amt? So, Arringtons' 4m+ this year is worth more then Browner? No way.

You need Browner AND Revis. If you need to cut someone, cut a non starter... Sigh, I would NOT want to see Ryan taking Browners' spot as CB, as an example.


"Browner was an unsung hero of Super Bowl XLIX, keeping Seahawks receiverJermaine Kearse from getting to defensive back Malcolm Butler and applying a pick on the fateful final offensive snap for Seattle. Butler looped around untouched and beat Ricardo Lockette to the ball, giving Browner his second straight Super Bowl ring."

Click to expand...

I agree with this completely. There are few corners available with his size. He allows us to match up with anyone. We will definitely need him. I just want my elite secondary to have one more year together. Is that too much to ask?

It could also be that Browner's camp wanted to rump up his deal and not the Pats necessarily wanting to stiff him.