Butler For Cooks Deal Being Hashed Out Between NE-NO

[patfanken]

More melodrama, whining, and outright trolling by the mediots to make something out of nothing. This is REALLY simple folks. Malcolm Butler is NOT an UFA. Yet his agent and the mediots (for their own agenda) want the Pats to pay him as if he were one.

The Pats likely made an attempt to play the underpaid Butler something more than the $4MM he's due this season, BUT something less than the UFA market, much like they did with Gronk. The agent and/or Malcolm didn't buy it. That's OK. It's their right. JUST like it's the Pats right to keep him at $4MM if no one else offers him a contract the Pats choose not to match.

Those are the facts. What is odd is the media uproar over what's happened. It's like somehow they forgot how to count to 4, and some how think that suddenly 3 equals 4. Someone should explain to them that it takes 4 years to reach unrestricted free agency, and Malcom has only been in the league 3 years.

As the bard has written: "much ado about nothing."

BTW- Every day that Butler isn't traded is a good one. I REALLY, really, want to see this defense with Butler and Gilmore at the corners.

BTW -2 - Based on the comments I've seen from Butler, HE'S the only one acting like a mature adult in this. It would seem he understands the situation and will "do his job" here until otherwise imformed.

 

[patfanken]

Which is why they signed Gilmore and are ready to move on from Butler.

That may be so, but NOT this year. (I hope )

 

[sambam94]

keep Butler at $4m, sign Hightower...trade Jimmy for at least a #1 this year. Team is better than last year..if Brady stays healthy.

 

[jefmblrd]

I hope they retain Butler for the long haul--teaming him with Gilmore, Rowe, McCourtey, Chung and Harmon is a strong secondary.

 

[luuked]

That may be so, but NOT this year. (I hope )

Honestly, I think the only way Butler stays is if no one wants to trade for him or he signs an extremely team friendly deal.

I don't think BB will risk another Jamie Collins situation where you only get minimal compensation back for a disgruntled player that needs to be shipped in midseason.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Honestly, I think the only way Butler stays is if no one wants to trade for him or he signs an extremely team friendly deal.

I don't think BB will risk another Jamie Collins situation where you only get minimal compensation back for a disgruntled player that needs to be shipped in midseason.

I think this basically requires the follow-up question of what could the Pats have got for Jamie Collins if they'd traded him last offseason rather than waiting for midseason? I'd guess somewhere in the ballpark of what they got for Chandler Jones, probably a little less due to the lesser premium placed on his position. So let's say they could've got a 2016 2nd instead of a 2017/2018 3rd/4th. The difference is significant, but I dunno if it's worth preemptively dealing a legit CB1 over, at least before you've utterly exhausted any possibility of extending him long-term.

 

[borg]

What is odd is the media uproar over what's happened.

I get the speculation created based on the Gilmore signing.....but.....from my lofty vantage point in the cheap seats....the best I can tell...........nothing has happened to Butler that wasn't going to happen to Butler...ie.....RFA designation.
The mediot uproar is just fluff and empty filler.

PS....speaking of fluff and empty filler......I broke my self imposed boycott and watched both ESPN and NFLN the past few mornings to see where free agency was headed.
Yikes..........who are all the no names, why are they so full of vim and vigor, and why do they know nothing. Occasionally, these networks would bring someone in with actual info....but then back to 50 minutes of witty banter void of substance.
On Sirius XM....equally pointless sports/moron talk. Just a bunch of giggling snowflakes playing broadcaster.
Serenity now.

 

[luuked]

I think this basically requires the follow-up question of what could the Pats have got for Jamie Collins if they'd traded him last offseason rather than waiting for midseason? I'd guess somewhere in the ballpark of what they got for Chandler Jones, probably a little less due to the lesser premium placed on his position. So let's say they could've got a 2016 2nd instead of a 2017/2018 3rd/4th. The difference is significant, but I dunno if it's worth preemptively dealing a legit CB1 over, at least before you've utterly exhausted any possibility of extending him long-term.

With Collins something must have changed with him at some point between OTA, camp and the season start. They clearly wanted him around and thought they would get a deal done otherwise he would have been gone together with Jones. At some point he became a diva to the point where having him on the field was actually a detriment to the overall team performance.

The question now is, if you "force" Butler to play out his contract on that 3,9m if he also becomes a liability. Will he still give 100% at every tackle ? Or will he start making business decisions ? I am not implying that I think Butler would be the same ***** about it as Collins was but that's a risk you have to at least think about.

Now if you can trade him to another team and get an asset that you are apparently high on for at least 2 years instead of Butler for one.. is it really not worth doing it ? Just from a value perspective ?

All I know is that there is no way we will extend him next year. It's now or most probably never.

 

[Tuck]

Another reason Pats might be miffed/impatient with Butler.

NE will need to keep upwards of 20M or so unspent against the cap just in case someone makes an offer for Butler and they have to match salary or guaranteed monies.

So obviously they want a quick deal or a quick agreement to sign the RFA offer sheet. ASAP.

It has more to do with cost certainty and unspent capital than anything else. In fact this might be the only leverage Butler and agent have.

Maybe they are using it?

Although NE can always deem it's no big deal, and roll the savings into next season. Still, they can't be happy having their hands tied on the matter.

You're exactly right. Butler is in the drivers seat now because he is a free agent. He can leave the patriots at any time if he convinces another team to part with a first. Belichick's move for Gilmore is just protection in case Butler and his agent are successful in finding a deal. It's the patriots who are now at a disadvantage because they have to keep their powder dry or else another AFC contender could sign him to a below market deal that the Pats would not be willing or able to match. Yes the Pats would get a low first for their trouble but You could end up going against Butler in the AFC Championship game if a rival signs him.

 

[IllegalContact]

You're exactly right. Butler is in the drivers seat now because he is a free agent. He can leave the patriots at any time if he convinces another team to part with a first. Belichick's move for Gilmore is just protection in case Butler and his agent are successful in finding a deal. It's the patriots who are now at a disadvantage because they have to keep their powder dry or else another AFC contender could sign him to a below market deal now.

Butler is in no drivers seat.......in fact, the Gilmore signing even covers the Pats if Butler decides to hold out

the Pats hold every card now....they either have Butler or a 1st round pick or whateer they decide to get in a trade for him

 

[Tuck]

Butler is in no drivers seat.......in fact, the Gilmore signing even covers the Pats if Butler decides to hold out

the Pats hold every card now....they either have Butler or a 1st round pick or whateer they decide to get in a trade for him

I disagree. Butler is a free agent. He is free to negotiate with other teams and if he finds a suitor, willing to give up a first, there is nothing the Patriots can do to stop him from leaving. That's what I mean when I say he's in the drivers seat. He controls the deal right now, not the Patriots.

 

[IllegalContact]

I disagree. Butler is a free agent. He is free to negotiate with other teams and if he finds a suitor, willing to give up a first, there is nothing the Patriots can do to stop him from leaving. He is in control of the deal which puts him in the drivers seat.

except for matching the deal

the Pats own the situation.....it is their decision whether he stays or goes

 

[Double TE]

I disagree. Butler is a free agent. He is free to negotiate with other teams and if he finds a suitor, willing to give up a first, there is nothing the Patriots can do to stop him from leaving. He is in control of the deal which puts him in the drivers seat.

NE can match and offer he receives or let him go for a 1st rounder. He is not a true FA because FREE means FREE doesn't mean it costs me a 1st rounder to sign you. If so, I'll wait til next year and sign you then and not give up a 1st round pick.

 

[strngplyr]

Can't believe Bill didn't get canned during those pitiful seasons

Crazy that any season without a SB win means he's a moron, guess it must be easy for him.

 

[Tuck]

except for matching the deal

the Pats own the situation.....it is their decision whether he stays or goes

Understood. There are several possible outcomes but Butler and Butler alone can force the deal to move forward or not at this stage. Therefore he is in control of the deal which gives him some degree of leverage.

I'm not saying he is in control of staying or not staying or the compensation you seem to be confusing that with my point.

 

[Rdforty2]

You're exactly right. Butler is in the drivers seat now because he is a free agent. He can leave the patriots at any time if he convinces another team to part with a first. Belichick's move for Gilmore is just protection in case Butler and his agent are successful in finding a deal. It's the patriots who are now at a disadvantage because they have to keep their powder dry or else another AFC contender could sign him to a below market deal that the Pats would not be willing or able to match. Yes the Pats would get a low first for their trouble but You could end up going against Butler in the AFC Championship game if a rival signs him.

Butler is in no drivers seat.

He's along for whatever ride the Patriots want him to be on.

He can hold out and delay free agency longer. No harm to NE.

He can hold out and suit up Week 10. He plays his butt off and we get a boost for the prorated amount of his tender. Then still have the potential option of franchising him. That allows us to keep him, or more likely, work out a trade. No harm to NE period.

He can sign with a limited number of teams that have the cap space and willingness to give up their first rounder. We get a second first round pick. No harm there.

With Gilmore in the fold, none of these options are bad for the Patriots. They can play as much hardball as they want. If the Patriots want to, it's either suit up for the Patriots or no one in 2017.

His best move is taking the tender and playing the season out. With the possibility of having to franchise Garoppolo, they may not have it at their disposal for Butler. He becomes a UFA and cashes in. We get the leagues best secondary for a year then a likely comp pick in 2019.

 

[luuked]

Crazy that any season without a SB win means he's a moron, guess it must be easy for him.

What do you mean a season without a SB ? He gets called a moron even when we win one..

 

[IllegalContact]

Understood. There are several possible outcomes but Butler and Butler alone can force the deal to move forward or not at this stage. Therefore he is in control of the deal which gives him some degree of leverage.

I'm not saying he is in control of staying or not staying or the compensation you seem to be confusing that with my point.

which means that the pats decide whether he plays here or somewhere else.....

 

[Snooky97]

Lets give him to the Jets... i know it sounds crazy and stupid but, thoughts on Lattimore as a replacement?

 

[willard]

I think after this year it is very unlikely we pay Butler what he is worth, and certainly the home town discount will be used up. Just no way we tie up that kind of money in 4 DB.

I am sure mentioned along the way in this thread is that the addition of Gilmore puts a potential strain on Butler playing his contract year. Bill will do what he can to get his best players on the field. With Butler, Gilmore and Rowe playing Butler is most likely to cover the slot. Going from being the #1 corner who performed as one of the best to being a slot corner is the no respect thing players hate. It also could lessen his value for his likely 1 big contract if he spends a lot of the year playing the slot.