Branch...1 year now...you be the judge...

[mgteich]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Could it be that the FO's misassessment of the situation cost the team a Super Bowl? The team had opportunity to act to bring in help before the season started.

I agree that the FO did understand the seriousness of the wide receiver of the situation, and added a new set of receivers.

Also, I would note that they did not repeat their actions with samuel. This time they gave in, and Samuel will play.

In the end the entire situation cost the Pats a superbowl IMO and I believe BB knows it deep down which is why he stacked the team.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

There is a world of difference in what Seymour did and what Branch did.
Seymour negotiated in good faith and got paid very well and gave a hometown discount. Only a greedy selfish Moron thinks it is OK to be dishonorable. Just my opinion.
Myself I am a Tedy Bruschi type. I do very well financially. I don't need to be filthy rich to be happy. Loyalty and Cooperation are keys to sucess in life.

I feel sorry for your kids. Seriously. If you'd put your boss ahead of them, no wonder you're doing well financially.

 

[TheSeymonsta]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

If someone put it to you in those terms, what would be your decision. Would you play for the Patriots for $9 mill or the Seahawks for $14 mill?

Gimmee the 9 and the chance for more between endorsements and more Superbowls thank you....

 

[TheSeymonsta]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

I feel sorry for your kids. Seriously. If you'd put your boss ahead of them, no wonder you're doing well financially.

He never said that.

Honor should count for something in this world but obviously only to some.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Gimmee the 9 and the chance for more between endorsements and more Superbowls thank you....

I'd take the 14. That's 50% more.

And I do call BS on all of you that would take 33% less to play for the Patriots. If that money was real, and someone put it on the table, you'd slap an ugly silver beaked bird on your head and go sling fish on the pier in Seattle.

 

[TheSeymonsta]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

If that money was real, and someone put it on the table, you'd slap an ugly silver beaked bird on your head and go sling fish on the pier in Seattle.

Nope, Honor and committment mean more to me than money....I guess thats why I served my country.......Twice.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

He never said that.

Honor should count for something in this world but obviously only to some.

You guys talk about honor and then you completely ignore the fact that the OWNERS allowed players to holdout and still vest a year. Holdouts are legalized as part of the CBA by virtue of the fact that you are actually rewarded and credited a year for doing it, if you come back in time. The CBA is the very thing that allows things like franchising players. You can use a BS word like honor in this context, but then some other lamebrain can say, use of the franchise tag is dishonorable. Which is just as ridiculous a position. Owners created an incentive for players to hold out, and this option is legalized in the collective bargaining agreement.

Here's the way to stop holdouts: prevent a player from vesting. Why don't the owners do it? Go ask them.

You guys would actually honor a contract rather than securing your ill son's future how sick is that?

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Could it be that the FO's misassessment of the situation cost the team a Super Bowl? The team had opportunity to act to bring in help before the season started.

I agree that the FO did understand the seriousness of the wide receiver of the situation, and added a new set of receivers.

Also, I would note that they did not repeat their actions with samuel. This time they gave in, and Samuel will play.

I agree but who would they bring in as "help"? Were there any legit wr's out there they could or would have signed?

This year I believe they learned with the Asante situation by drafting a defensive back, albeit not a corner. They also brought in a ton of wr's.

I still think they got shafted by the CBA agreement where basically McGinest was out the door as well as Givens before they knew the cap was going up. Had the cap been in good shape I feel the Pats would have been in better position as a superbowl contender because some of these other teams would not have all the extra cash to offer these ex-Pats. I may be wrong but that's my feeling on it especially with the Colts as they would have been forced to release some players making them thinner.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Nope, Honor and committment mean more to me than money....I guess thats why I served my country.......Twice.

You're just fooling yourself (I'm not talking about military service) if you think a pro contract in a professional football league is based on honor. It's really based on the collective bargaining agreement. That's the only thing that must be honored. It's just as ridiculous to bring up the word honor when the Patriots demand a player reduce his salary or be cut. Is that dishonorable? Heck no. It is in line with the terms of the CBA. You're mixing your arguments and the context here. In my business, we sign contracts and no one blinks an eye before we move on to another position before our contract is over. In my business, contracts are there to protect the worker from the whims of the employer, and these same employers try to steal workers from other organizations in the field. That's how it works. no one says you're doing something dishonorable when you break your contract because we all know the rules of the business when we start, and we abide by those rules. In this case, the only context for discussing NFL contracts is the CBA, and not some sacrosanct phony belief in the inviolability of contracts, which never existed in the NFL in the first place, as the owner's trashed the very idea from the start, nor does it exist in a great many American businesses.

 

[thechris]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Deion had every right and motivation to go for AS MUCH MONEY as possible, not matter the team that paid him.

Look, he has insurance for his family now. That's well and good. But he's a busted knee away from having no insurance at all for them. No one is going to pick up the tab for this kid's pre-existing condition. That's on Deion. And in a country with our health care uninsured mess, where million dollar retirements are depleted overnight from medical expenses, you can't blame him.

How much do you think a solid 24 hour a day home care environment costs in this day and age. If it's only about changing diapers, we're talking $50k. If it's specialists and doctors providing care, we're talking quadruple that.

Ten characters.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Kraft was in a better position than any other owner to anticpate and deal with effects of the cap.

Were there better receivers that could have been signed or traded for the entire offseason than were available after the season started? What do you believe?

I agree but who would they bring in as "help"? Were there any legit wr's out there they could or would have signed?

This year I believe they learned with the Asante situation by drafting a defensive back, albeit not a corner. They also brought in a ton of wr's.

I still think they got shafted by the CBA agreement where basically McGinest was out the door as well as Givens before they knew the cap was going up. Had the cap been in good shape I feel the Pats would have been in better position as a superbowl contender because some of these other teams would not have all the extra cash to offer these ex-Pats. I may be wrong but that's my feeling on it especially with the Colts as they would have been forced to release some players making them thinner.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003865967_branch03.html


I just can't make him out to be the bad guy...he did what he had to do....

The Seahawks are old and finished-they made their big Super Bowl run due to beating the crap out of crummy teams(coming from a weak div) and getting ALOT of luck to beat the better teams.

With their div improving, they're not going to be very good this yr.

 

[TheSeymonsta]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

You guys would actually honor a contract rather than securing your ill son's future how sick is that?

He could have secured his sons future just as much right here in New England by HONORING his contract. Was that 4 million dollar house all for his son? How about those sports cars he bought were those for his son too?

Yeah he did it all for his son. :bricks:

Its a moot point anyway. I am not changing my opinion. If I saw Branch on the street I would not even recognize him.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

What BS!

The difference is that Seymour is Seymour and got away with his threatened holdout. Sure you view his negotiations as being in "good faith". He got what he wanted from the patriots, and he is still on the team. What you don't seem to understand is that Seymour would have held out, and gotten traded before the season the same as Branch. The difference was that the FO caved to Seymour, but not to Branch (and rightly so).

Seymour was a good enough player so that the team gave it to his demands. And since Seymour is still here, his contract is a "hometown discount", his strategy honorable, and his tactics laudable. What utter crap!

How much guaranteed cash did Seymour receive BEFORE the end of his original contract?

There is a world of difference in what Seymour did and what Branch did.
Seymour negotiated in good faith and got paid very well and gave a hometown discount. Only a greedy selfish Moron thinks it is OK to be dishonorable. Just my opinion.
Myself I am a Tedy Bruschi type. I do very well financially. I don't need to be filthy rich to be happy. Loyalty and Cooperation are keys to sucess in life.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

He could have secured his sons future just as much right here in New England by HONORING his contract. Was that 4 million dollar house all for his son? How about those sports cars he bought were those for his son too?

Yeah he did it all for his son. :bricks:

Its a moot point anyway. I am not changing my opinion. If I saw Branch on the street I would not even recognize him.

I laid out the numbers. It's there for all to see. A $4 million dollar house can be sold. I'm sure it's pretty tough these days buying a house in the tonier burbs of Seattle for less than $1.5m anyway.

This idea of honoring an NFL contract is completely out of context anyway. the only contract that counts is the CBA. The Patriots just cut Reche Caldwell. Did they honor him? Well, the CBA allowed them to rescind his non-guarantee contract, the same way it allowed Branch to holdout and still vest a year toward free agency. This idea that contracts should be honored in the face of owners breaking them constantly and in the context of the CBA is naive and childish really.

I'm not trying to convert anyone about Deion. Go look at last year's thread where I was ripping him good for foolish thinking. Two things changed that. The realization that I too would maximize if I had a son with uninsurable problems, and the fact that Seattle not only gave up a #1, but they paid him what he was demanding. I never even thought it would be possible. Since then, Deion's actions make complete sense.

More: Seattle real estate. People with money live in places like Mercer. Here's the real estate there: no house for less than 1,599,000. http://seattlelistings.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=results&startrow=41

 

[Pats726]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

ISince then, Deion's actions make complete sense.

Worshipping the Green is done by many...who cares about character..

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Kraft was in a better position than any other owner to anticpate and deal with effects of the cap.

Were there better receivers that could have been signed or traded for the entire offseason than were available after the season started? What do you believe?

I believe there weren't too many good wr's out there. Can you name some?

 

[jct]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

What BS!

The difference is that Seymour is Seymour and got away with his threatened holdout. Sure you view his negotiations as being in "good faith". He got what he wanted from the patriots, and he is still on the team. What you don't seem to understand is that Seymour would have held out, and gotten traded before the season the same as Branch. The difference was that the FO caved to Seymour, but not to Branch (and rightly so).

Seymour was a good enough player so that the team gave it to his demands. And since Seymour is still here, his contract is a "hometown discount", his strategy honorable, and his tactics laudable. What utter crap!

How much guaranteed cash did Seymour receive BEFORE the end of his original contract?

It pains me to disagree with you as I typically like your posts.
However The FO offered the clown many many millions and his rejection of that offer is indefensible.
How can you ignor that fact and side with a selfish jerk who most probably cost us a Superbowl???

 

[jct]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

I feel sorry for your kids. Seriously. If you'd put your boss ahead of them, no wonder you're doing well financially.

How is it bad for children if their dad is honorable and he brings home millions?
Is your honor for sale?
Yes I guess it is...

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

I don't begrudge anyone with money the right to spend their money and buy the comforts and extravagance they can afford. I am doing as much with my income. What I do question is the notion that Deion did all this for his "family."

My bad earlier, Deion's new home was "4" bedrooms at $1.7 million vice the higher figure: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070107/ai_n17111100 So his home choices in the region make more sense economically given the area and we can assume Kirkland is more fun to live in then Mass...right?

Deion's son is living in a Charity Hospital - he's not living in Kirkland, WA.
http://www.homeoftheinnocents.org/History2.aspx

A link commenting about Deion's marriage and honeymoon with his wife Shola.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/319369_hawk12.html

The OP's original link where it talks about the child's mother: Danyle Lynch.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/319369_hawk12.html

A house may or may not be an "investment." Houses can also be blackholes for bank accounts. I'll trust that Deion has provided for the mother of his children and the long term health care of his child with insurance and annuities, etc. He could have done as much in New England, with the Pats' offer - it should still give people pause that no one has refuted the story that Deion's team made no counter offers all summer.

Having a Deion Branch might have been the difference between going on the road in the off-season and playing at the Razor, and he could have had another shot at Super Bowl glory and more endorsements. Perhaps the higher offer he received from NYJ and SEA was the better way for him to go financially, but I'm not convinced his negotiating tactics were solely focused on the immediate or long term welfare of his children and they certainly did nothing for the team I root for.

He has the right to pursue what the market will bear, but as a fan of New England, I don't need to be impressed with his arms length care of a handicapped child or grant him exemption from scorn for turning his back on "my" team. I'm thankful his child has good care and is progressing. I'm thankful Deion's charity is starting to develop and will hopefully be a force for better health care to other children in need.

He's a Seahawk, may they only beat SF this season.