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He came from humble beginnings (last round?), worked hard, became a very solid contributor to the Patriots success, bought into the Patriot way. There's a lot to admire there.
him and deion...loved it
I agree (though Deion was a top round pick). These were two guys who didn't have the big name of Owens or the like -- but they played the way the Patriots needed them to play -- and success was in part due to that.
I see Supafly mentioned losing Givens. The same thing also applied to Branch. Off all the players who decided to walk for a better paycheck, Deion might have been the loss with the most impact. I'd be curious (once Deion is out of the game) to hear him speak on the subject of leaving the Patriots. If memory serves me, the difference in the $$$ increase wasn't huge. And he did not appear to enjoy his time in Seattle like he did here. Just curious if he looks back and believes he should have stayed......
I agree (though Deion was a top round pick). These were two guys who didn't have the big name of Owens or the like -- but they played the way the Patriots needed them to play -- and success was in part due to that.
I see Supafly mentioned losing Givens. The same thing also applied to Branch. Off all the players who decided to walk for a better paycheck, Deion might have been the loss with the most impact. I'd be curious (once Deion is out of the game) to hear him speak on the subject of leaving the Patriots. If memory serves me, the difference in the $$$ increase wasn't huge. And he did not appear to enjoy his time in Seattle like he did here. Just curious if he looks back and believes he should have stayed......
Man i really liked the guy when he was here...not a star..but i just loved his style
Go back and watch some tapes. Givens was an awesome clutch third down WR. One of the most under appreciated WRs in Patriots history.
BB was so concerned with overpaying one and losing the other that he ended up losing both. Deion got a lot more in Seattle than they ever offered here. I'm sure he regrets leaving from a playing standpoint. He wasn't the fit Holmgren envisioned for a WC offense. His value was always hightened by his cerebral rather than purely athletic skills.
They were offering him something in the 5/$30M range (and had tried to bring in Mason at 4/$20M as an alternative and leverage but he chose Baltimore instead) but the kicker was he'd have to roll his remaining rookie year into the deal so really more like 6/$31M. And less than $10M in signing bonus was another sticking point. Seattle I believe gave him $13.5 on a 6/$39M deal.
They dragged their feet on offering Givens anything as a result and in the end offered to match the offer he was mulling over from Texas (5/$18M+) only to have Tennessee up the ante a day later to 5/$24M. And we ended up with Reche. Losing just one let alone both probably cost them another ring.
Givens was back in the days before we realized that the plan of the front office was to let the majority of our free agents walk after their rookie contract. That made it hurt a little more. The insane contract that Tennessee gave him did dull it a little though. That was a whacked out contract.