Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..
My 2 cents:
1. I get tired hearng about how the NFL "screws" player because the contracts aren't guaranteed. That's simply not true. The only players who get "screwed" are the ones that AREN'T EARNING the money. When are we going to start hearing about the players who "screwed" the owners when they never played up to the money they received. That list would be a very long list, starting with Mike Vick, and including guys like Woody, McGinest, Givens, Patten, and our good friend Deon Branch.
2. I will NEVER root for Branch again, quite the opposite. It isn't all about the fact he didn't honor the contract. That was part of it. But what got me was that he didn't negotiate in good faith. He said one thing then did another. He wasn't a team guy. If he was, he'd be ALMOST as rich, and in a much better situation.
3. I thought when Deon signed his contract it made him the 3rd highest paid WR, not the 7th as I read here. Well whichever is true, he is very much overpaid, despite the fact no one disagrees that he's a damned good WR, just no that good.
4. If one thing comes out of this mess we learned 2 things about the importance of the WR position. First we learned that we could still compete for a supebowl (and really should have won one) without great WRs - its truly the most overrated position in football. Secondly - we proved that its a position is the LEAST rare and most easy to obtain talent. Within a year of being one minute away from a superbowl, our best WR from that team isn't good enough make THIS team. Its just not that hard. WRs are a dime a dozen, and next year there will be a dozen more quality guys available.
5. That leads me to my final point. It was a stroke of good fortune that Branch didn't take the Pats final offer. In the long run that money will be better put to use paying guys like Warren, Wilfolk and Thomas. Thanks MEION, we've upgraded the position and signed core guys, guys to play clost to the ball, who will keep ups competitive for years to come, while you will just be another decent WR in a league that is FULL OF THEM.
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