WHAT SHOULD BRANCH DO?
New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch continues to hold out of training camp while seeking a new contract. He and agent Jason Chayut are basically at an impasse with the Patriots, who have offered to add three years and $18 million to Branch's remaining one year at $1 million for basically a four-year, $19 million deal.
Branch has refused the offer and has said he won't report until the Patriots agree not to put the franchise tag on him at the end of the year. In so doing, Branch can be fined $14,000 per day for holding out while under contract.
What's wrong with the Patriots' offer? In essence, they are trying to retain their best receiver for less than what the Indianapolis Colts are paying No. 2 receiver Reggie Wayne. Over the offseason, Wayne signed a six-year, $40 million contract that includes $23 million over the first three years, which is the critical part of the deal.
In essence, Branch would make $4 million less over four seasons than Wayne will make in three. That doesn't even account for inflation and the expanded salary cap in 2007. That makes the Patriots' offer extremely substandard.
But the bigger problem with what New England is doing is a two-fold issue.
First, the Patriots are jeopardizing continuity for quarterback Tom Brady, who already has lost wide receiver David Givens. Brady's game is contingent on timing and communication with receivers.
Second, they are putting Brady in an awkward position. Last week, a supposedly emotional Brady was quoted in Sports Illustrated as saying that Branch is one of the best in the game. Brady later had to back off those comments when management (coach Bill Belichick, that is) got upset about the issue.
Thus, the Patriots are messing with their most important player, and that is unhealthy. Moreover, they are looking mighty cheap after winning three titles, which helped propel them to becoming the No. 2 team in the league last year in terms of generating revenue and profit.
