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

Not surprised if true.

I think the kid is 4th in line behind High, Freak and Sheard.

Butler has told teammates and friends he plans to push for an adjustment to his contract before the 2016 season, and staying off the field in voluntary workouts would be a decision that limits injury risk and also could be viewed as a statement to the organization that he's unhappy with the status quo and/or the movement/specifics of contract talks.

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Malcolm Butler's contract status part of larger issue facing Patriots

Surprised, didn't think he would be the kind of guy to push for it. But, I don't blame him at all for wanting to get paid now, never know when your career could end, get paid now.

Froob said:

Surprised, didn't think he would be the kind of guy to push for it. But, I don't blame him at all for wanting to get paid now, never know when your career could end, get paid now.

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Just hope he doesn't show up with that tattoed on.

Don't blame him.

Butler doesn't have the same leverage as Hightower and Collins. We have him under contract for the next two years for salaries of $650k and then potentially around $3m with the first round tender.

I'm all for giving him a new long term contract but it has to take into account this reality. If he wants long term security he needs to take a discount. A 5 year $35-40m type deal seems to do that. Gives him a big pay day for a undrafted free agent but also takes into account the cheaper salaries of the next two years.

Also, by giving in to his demands if he stays away, what signal does that send to Hightower and Collins who no doubt want a new contract too?

Pats have a lot of young CBs on their roster. Malcolm deserves to be paid but if what he wants is not what the team is willing to spend....

zimmy said:

Butler doesn't have the same leverage as Hightower and Collins. We have him under contract for the next two years for salaries of $650k and then potentially around $3m with the first round tender.

I'm all for giving him a new long term contract but it has to take into account this reality. If he wants long term security he needs to take a discount. A 5 year $35-40m type deal seems to do that. Gives him a big pay day for a undrafted free agent but also takes into account the cheaper salaries of the next two years.

Also, by giving in to his demands if he stays away, what signal does that send to Hightower and Collins who no doubt want a new contract too?

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In one way, he has more leverage than at least Hightower. He can easily afford to hold out the first ten games of the season since he won't be losing that much. Hightower can't because he will lose millions. Butler will lose a few hundred thousand which he will make up ten fold.

turkeyneck said:

Just hope he doesn't show up with that tattoed on.

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If he does he's good as gone

Anything that gets him extended for many more years as a Patriot is fine by me.

His contract is so low that a big extension might have to have an option bonus at the start of next league year to kick in the extra years to keep his 2016 cap number lower.

I'm not surprised. He's a proven CB1 in this league and has a lot of room to grow still. On top of that, he fits in this defense like a glove. I don't blame him for wanting a raise. He should want one. He signed, sealed, and delivered a Super Bowl win and goes man to man with the opposing WR1. Hopefully the Pats can work out a contract that makes sense for both sides.

Buy low, sell high.....get Cyrus jones and Darryl Roberts up to speed and get a decent draft pick for butler after 2016 season

Collins and Hightower are more important

Always interesting to speculate here. What is the actual status? Are they negotiating and far apart or is MBs agent reaching out and getting hold music?

I think that after OTAs and mini-camps is the best opportunity to get deals done in the month leading up to training camp. Somewhere between mid-June and mid-July.

robertweathers said:

Pats have a lot of young CBs on their roster. Malcolm deserves to be paid but if what he wants is not what the team is willing to spend....

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Then what? We let an iconic player who has not even entered his prime and shown every positive attribute we could hope for leave?
It's not like we have a track record of drafting great corners or have young guys already on the team or ready to step into his place.
Post-Revis, this defense could have unraveled last year. Malcolm may be one of the primary reasons it remained so tough and formidable.

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"

Butler has to show up in order to have 2016 count as an Accrued season to become an RFA after this season.

This will be the most fascinating contract situation to monitor. If NE believes that Butler is truly a Top 5 CB in the NFL, they will pay him accordingly. However, if they feel like he isn't quite that good, and they really like some of the young players behind him, maybe they are willing to move on without him. At the end of the day, I think they love Butler and what he brings to the Patriots and I think they will pay him.

Rob0729 said:

In one way, he has more leverage than at least Hightower. He can easily afford to hold out the first ten games of the season since he won't be losing that much.

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If Butler holds out, then the 2016 season will NOT be an accrued season for him and he will not become an RFA after it.

robertweathers said:

Not surprised if true.

I think the kid is 4th in line behind High, Freak and Sheard.





Malcolm Butler's contract status part of larger issue facing Patriots

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IllegalContact said:

Buy low, sell high.....get Cyrus jones and Darryl Roberts up to speed and get a decent draft pick for butler after 2016 season

Collins and Hightower are more important

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I would put Malcolm ahead of Collins and Hightower. Mainly because I think if we only come away with 2/3 then getting one CB and one of the LBs leaves us in a better place.

And I don't think I'ld put Sheard ahead of any of the 3 because of snap counts which should go up for him this year and we'll see how his production correlates.

I think it's a good opportunity for the Patriots to get a good deal done with him. I would give him 32 for 4 years with 20 guaranteed. The way it stands right now they have him this season for next to nothing, next season on a tag that gets him around 3 million, and then 2018 on a franchise tag that will bring him around 16 million, although that's not set yet. And all of this depends upon him staying among the elite CBs in football and not suffering a major injury. If he signs for the 20 million guarantee that locks up essentially the same money and a four year deal means he only has to wait one year longer for free agency than he would without the guarantee. This is a good deal for both imo, even though he doesn't get too money right now. Butler can gamble for the long term of he wants but he would be smart to take a deal that guaranteed what he can only hope for right now.

I want to see another good season of him before investing bigger money. He was outstanding last year but lets see if that can continue first.