First, if he doesn't like teh franchise tag rule COMPLAIN to the union. they negotiated it, so complain to them. If he doesn't sign the tender, he's stupid..his perogative but IMO dumb. The longer he stays out, the less he will earn THIS year and the gamble that he will become irelevent when he returns. No big dollar contract based upon a short season. "once in a lifetime situation?" you know what, he has ANOTHER lifetime situation coming up this year, if he comes in on time plays hard and has ANOTHER solid year. The Pats could again franchise him, but they could always franchise and trade and get top dollarin a trade. I think teh Pats made the correct move given teh outstanding last part of the season he had, but they are not going to pay top dollar to a player for a half a seson of great play. This way, he has to show consistency before getting that big contract. Nothing wrong with that.Signing or not, it's his prerogative. He's had his fair share of injuries and he's gotten his superbowl ring. In the same situation, I would've held out too. It's not everyday a player gets to lead the league in position defining stats in the year before free agency. It's not a matter of what he's really worth-- it's more an issue of what he could have gotten in free agency in a year when there was a dire need in his position, for which teams were willing to pay a boatload. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and, like it or not, the Pats took that away from him when they used the franchise tag.
But, that said, the rules are the rules. Plus, he is getting a raise for performing well in a system that set him up to succeed in his position.
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