I have always had a great deal of faith in our management and ownership, at least since BB and Kraft teamed up. I rarely if ever questions moves and decisions, so complete has been my faith in how the team conducts its business.
But, this situation with Vince has had me perplexed for some time and I don't think that team has handled it well. He should have been extended last year.
Now he's entering the 6th year of a deal in system that no longer exists (6 year deals for 1st round picks) and you have the owner stating in public that the team is reluctant to offer extensions due to the uncertainty with 2010. Then we find out the team has been actually been working to get Kazur locked up with a contract extension????
I don't like this "double speak" and find it surprising coming from Kraft, who is usually a lot smarter that that.
By all accounts, Big Vince is a far better player at his position than Kazur is at his, and that a quality NG in a 3-4 defence is a lot harder to find that an OK right tackle.
Vince has been a class act since day one. No arrests for large amounts of painkillers, no off the field trouble whatsoever!
And now it looks more and more like he will not be extended. And then what? We franchise him next year? Does he hold out at that point?
I keep hearing people on this board say that Vince is looking to break the bank but the only one who has emphatically said that he is not looking to break the bank with a record contract, is Big Vince himself.
I want quality people on this team. People like Vince! It seems like the team has determined that Vince is not worth the money that a new contract will demand. Or, he would have had one by now. And I guess I disagree with that. He is worth the money!
It sucks that a quality guy like Vince is going to have to leave to get paid. And I can tell you right now that he will be leaving. If no deal has been done by now, I find it very hard to envision a situation where a deal does get done. (just my opinion I know)
Vince is an exceptional talent and a quality person. These are the guys I want on this team
and I just can't believe that the Pats didn't find a way to get this done before it got to this point.
It should never have to to this point!