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At least he picks on other teams (and meathead QB's). But like his senior peers he seems to have to portray the Branch standoff as another cheap Pats dig. Smart, but cheap. Then he seems to also contend that the Pats in fact believe Deion has not outplayed his rookie contract. Sources Jerome, or just something you think you know?
"Part of Branch's problem is he signed a five-year contract as a second-round pick in 2002. It is something the Patriots insisted on so they would hold leverage on Branch if he turned out to be a top player. Smart move.
That type of forced leverage even led to a change in the collective bargaining agreement (the ``Patriots Clause" as some agents refer to it), limiting contracts to four years for second-round picks, and five years for players taken in the bottom half of the first round. That came too late to help Branch.
Had Branch done like Antwaan Randle El, he would be a rich man today. (And, as is the case with the Steelers and Randle El, the Patriots would be missing him.)
The Patriots don't believe Branch has outplayed his contract. They say he has performed up to what they expected. Because of his play, he has hit escalator clauses in his contract that basically double his base pay for this season to a little more than $1 million, an amount the Patriots gladly will fork over.
But Branch believes it is time for the team to drop the fork and grab a shovel to dig for real money.
For Branch, the player, timing is everything. For Branch, the league's most underpaid receiver, the timing might not be right for him to pick up the money he deserves."
http://www.boston.com/sports/footba...06/07/16/branch_not_catching_a_break_on_pact/
"Part of Branch's problem is he signed a five-year contract as a second-round pick in 2002. It is something the Patriots insisted on so they would hold leverage on Branch if he turned out to be a top player. Smart move.
That type of forced leverage even led to a change in the collective bargaining agreement (the ``Patriots Clause" as some agents refer to it), limiting contracts to four years for second-round picks, and five years for players taken in the bottom half of the first round. That came too late to help Branch.
Had Branch done like Antwaan Randle El, he would be a rich man today. (And, as is the case with the Steelers and Randle El, the Patriots would be missing him.)
The Patriots don't believe Branch has outplayed his contract. They say he has performed up to what they expected. Because of his play, he has hit escalator clauses in his contract that basically double his base pay for this season to a little more than $1 million, an amount the Patriots gladly will fork over.
But Branch believes it is time for the team to drop the fork and grab a shovel to dig for real money.
For Branch, the player, timing is everything. For Branch, the league's most underpaid receiver, the timing might not be right for him to pick up the money he deserves."
http://www.boston.com/sports/footba...06/07/16/branch_not_catching_a_break_on_pact/
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