It's clear that WW was wise not to accept the 2yr/8m per/$16 guaranteed deal as the market has dictated such. We sill don't know what exactly WW asked for or how high the Pats will go. What we do know is the Pats, like every organization are openly cautious about paying/having a substantial cap hit IF WW can't produce 100+ catches at 34 years old. With the exception of Jerry Rice, almost every WR's production at 34 is not worth a $9m cap hit. WW is an against the odds, over-achieving athlete no question. But history is not on his side. All the restructuring, converting likely to be earned $$ into a bonus, salary, etc. does not change his contract unless WW accepts a pay cut to stay which the team has shown it will move players at the bat of an eye (see Vrable, Willie Mac, etc.)
If Wes can't prodduce 100+ catches at 34 years old you cut him with a $4-5M dead cap hit you can spread over 2 years if you want to under a cap that will be in the $140M range by then.
Brady never needed to squeeze the org because he never needed to. He knows that his situation here is great and going to another team is a risky proposition. He would never want to be known as the Qb who left a 3 time SB champion for money. The only time things seemed to get dicey was in 2006 when the up-front cash needed to be divided into separate installments. No question he was PO'ed with the Branch debacle (which turned out to be the right decision) but TB has matured and understands that it's a business.
Branch wanted more than he was worth at the time based on his measurables. However based on his intangibles it's likely we threepeat had they found a way to retain him. They chose instead to invest big money short term in Seymour and roll the dice on Reche Caldwell as Tom's new favorite target...
Meh. There is a long line of players that have been taken care of by this organization financially. Players know that things get dicey when they hit 31 or 32 years old and they have a big salary. WW knows this which is why he wants the up-front cash now.
Clearly the Pats aren't quite sure as you are. I think we'd agree that if WW hadn't blown out his knee in 2009, he'd likely be entering year 3 of a 4 year deal that would have paid him $9m annually. He got hurt and its 3 seasons later....
