Butler's agent in search for 1st rounder + big contract

[XLIX]

This is what Ben Trollin says in response... and I doubt very mucb it's as simple as he describes

"But Butler doesn’t have any offseason workout bonuses, and if he wanted to show his displeasure with the Patriots, he could skip spring practices, sign by June 15, and still collect his $3.91 million."​

I'm no expert on holdouts, but I doubt very much Butler can simply sign a contract and collect a paycheck. Teams can fine players for failing to appear for workouts, training camp, and games, and I doubt very much Butler wants to take this that far, and risk losing what little he stands to earn

You can't fine a player not under contract. So Butler could indeed wait until the last minute to sign the RFA tender with no consequence.

 

[NashuaPats]

If the Pats had lost that game after that catch it was Harmon who would have had to answer questions. I couldn't believe that he jumped over Kearse instead of knocking the ball away.

That was a bizarre catch. Kearse was on his back when the ball bounced off his foot. If the ball just fell to the ground and Harmon dove into the player laying on the ground, he would have drawn an unsportsmanlike penalty.

 

[Kdo5]

If the Pats had lost that game after that catch it was Harmon who would have had to answer questions. I couldn't believe that he jumped over Kearse instead of knocking the ball away.

Neither player deserves blame. Absolutely not Butler who had borderline unbelievable coverage on the play.

And as for Harmon, it's easy to suggest he screwed up when watching slowed down replays. It would have been an outstanding play if he managed to kick it away while running over at full speed.

 

[XLIX]

I'm not surprised that he wants out. We are a ruthless organisation, that's what makes us the very best, only we could give up Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins and become the best rated defense in the league. But from an individual perspective it's hard to accept how insignificant you really are, unless you are Tom Brady.

This this this this this.

The Patriots are indeed a ruthless organization, and we fans praise them for it. Oftentimes we support their moves by saying "it's a business." But when a player plays the same game the Patriots play, fans in here criticize that player and, in this case, criticize his agent.

Rob Gronkowski signed a very club-friendly deal so, according to people in here, his agent is a genius (even though Gronk is ridiculously underpaid). Butler refuses to sign a club friendly deal, so his agent is a moron.

I want Butler to stay, but right now there is zero evidence that he (or his agent) have made any unwise or foolish moves. If I was Butler (assuming money was my ultimate goal) I wouldn't accept anything less than Gilmore money. If I can't get Gilmore money, I sign the tender in June, take my $4 million, then become a UFA next year and probably do better than Gilmore money.

 

[Ivan]

That was a bizarre catch. Kearse was on his back when the ball bounced off his foot. If the ball just fell to the ground and Harmon dove into the player laying on the ground, he would have drawn an unsportsmanlike penalty.

I agree, I don't think Harmon could have done anything without risking a big big penalty.

 

[1960Pats]

That was a bizarre catch. Kearse was on his back when the ball bounced off his foot. If the ball just fell to the ground and Harmon dove into the player laying on the ground, he would have drawn an unsportsmanlike penalty.

Neither player deserves blame. Absolutely not Butler who had borderline unbelievable coverage on the play.

And as for Harmon, it's easy to suggest he screwed up when watching slowed down replays. It would have been an outstanding play if he managed to kick it away while running over at full speed.

I think Harmon gave up on the play too soon. He could have slowed down and stayed with the ball a little. I suppose I could be remembering the timing wrong though. I'll have to check the replay out again. Watching plays from winning SBs is fun, even the bad ones.

 

[SalemPats]

the media knows nothing, so far in FA they have shown that they know nothing

 

[XLIX]

Can I ask where everyone is getting these numbers from? I keep seeing (conflicting) references to long-term contracts that Butler supposedly turned down at various points, but if there's a reliable source for that info I've missed it. Do we even know for certain that the Pats made any long-term offer at all? Link please?

The numbers are being completely made up out of thin air to paint Butler (and his agent) as a bad guy and/or incompetent.

We have no idea what the Patriots offered. We heard that Butler "asked for the moon" but that is a completely meaningless phrase.

I'm also a little puzzled that the idea of Butler's agent shopping around for a suitor is considered a big deal. Surely that's his job? It's pretty routine for RFAs to seek a market-value deal with another team -- just ask Chris Hogan and Wes Welker. Obviously the 1st-round tender makes it a hard sell, but you have to at least try.

Exactly. But Butler's agent is not kissing Belichick's arse, so that makes him an incompetent buffoon.

 

[stealthdog]

Butler hired a personal injury attorney to be his agent, a guy with zero experience negotiating or managing a professional athlete's contract or career. So, yes, in a way it very well may make him incompetent in this specific scenario.

I wonder how much of this is Butler or how much of this is a litigator convincing Butler and trying to get a payday for himself (given he has no other clients to get a cut from).

Either way - comparing Butler to Gilmore is a waste of time. Gilmore put his time in the league and earned his free agent status and the right to negotiate a large contract. Butler hasn't yet - he has one more year.

 

[Joey007]

This is damn upsetting if all true. Butler was the last guy you thought would get on BB's bad side.

 

[PatsDeb]

When did Malcolm or his agent even intimate anything about a holdout?

He has never said one word in public about being ticked off at the incredible discount he played at last year or the year before - after the SB 49 interception. He merely worked his butt off and became better and better.

He now is an RFA - - he has every right to do what he and his agent are doing right now. He is quietly playing within the rules. He's no Logan Mankins, that's for sure.

Malcolm Butler has been nothing but a good soldier. Please don't project anything upon him. He doesn't deserve that.

.

I was responding to a comment someone else made. I wasn't projecting anything; just speculating like everyone else on here.

 

[mariomega]

Do you want a new home, Michael? Just sign your tender, play the season, become an UFA next year and you can sign wherever you want.

 

[fnordcircle]

You know I was already going to be bummed if the hero of SB49 left for more money, but an acrimonious end is pretty much the worst possible outcome.

 

[IllegalContact]

This this this this this.

The Patriots are indeed a ruthless organization, and we fans praise them for it. Oftentimes we support their moves by saying "it's a business." But when a player plays the same game the Patriots play, fans in here criticize that player and, in this case, criticize his agent.

Rob Gronkowski signed a very club-friendly deal so, according to people in here, his agent is a genius (even though Gronk is ridiculously underpaid). Butler refuses to sign a club friendly deal, so his agent is a moron.

I want Butler to stay, but right now there is zero evidence that he (or his agent) have made any unwise or foolish moves. If I was Butler (assuming money was my ultimate goal) I wouldn't accept anything less than Gilmore money. If I can't get Gilmore money, I sign the tender in June, take my $4 million, then become a UFA next year and probably do better than Gilmore money.

ruthless??

I'd say ruthlessly practical

 

[Kdo5]

This this this this this.

The Patriots are indeed a ruthless organization, and we fans praise them for it. Oftentimes we support their moves by saying "it's a business." But when a player plays the same game the Patriots play, fans in here criticize that player and, in this case, criticize his agent.

Rob Gronkowski signed a very club-friendly deal so, according to people in here, his agent is a genius (even though Gronk is ridiculously underpaid). Butler refuses to sign a club friendly deal, so his agent is a moron.

I want Butler to stay, but right now there is zero evidence that he (or his agent) have made any unwise or foolish moves. If I was Butler (assuming money was my ultimate goal) I wouldn't accept anything less than Gilmore money. If I can't get Gilmore money, I sign the tender in June, take my $4 million, then become a UFA next year and probably do better than Gilmore money.

Unfortunately I agree with this post. The immediate reaction here is to trash Butler's agent and (from some) to subtly blame Malcolm himself which is unfair since none of us know the precise details.

The comfortable default is to assume the Patriots are right, the negotiating player and agent is in the wrong. I'm not so sure that is the case here.

Regardless Butler is gone this season or next. I think the Gilmore signing killed off hope of a future here for Malcolm.

 

[Froob]

You know I was already going to be bummed if the hero of SB49 left for more money, but an acrimonious end is pretty much the worst possible outcome.

He was trash anyways, that pick was eazy. Plus I hear he eats babies and killed Kennedy. Let's salt this snail outta town.




Supa cereal btw.

 

[slam]

The agent is an incompetent buffoon if he expects unrestricted free agent numbers when the team is under no obligation to give it to him. If the offer from the Pats is $6mil/year then I blame the Pats for not yielding enough to retain a talented player. If the offer from the Pats is $8-9mil/year from the Pats then I blame the Butler camp. He's better than a $8-9 million player, but the CBA doesn't give him the leverage for better than $8-9 million this year and Bill's not doing anything out of the kindness of his heart when the league gives him the tools for making Butler play for $4 mil this year and either franchise or goodbye next year.

 

[XLIX]

Butler hired a personal injury attorney to be his agent, a guy with zero experience negotiating or managing a professional athlete's contract or career. So, yes, in a way it very well may make him incompetent in this specific scenario.

I wonder how much of this is Butler or how much of this is a litigator convincing Butler and trying to get a payday for himself (given he has no other clients to get a cut from).

Either way - comparing Butler to Gilmore is a waste of time. Gilmore put his time in the league and earned his free agent status and the right to negotiate a large contract. Butler hasn't yet - he has one more year.

I respectfully disagree. When Gilmore got what he got, 5/65, Butler saw that as his own value on the open market. And Butler is right.

Now, as has been pointed out, Butler is not on the open market this year. So that should be factored in negotiations. But he is not going to take 5/45 when he knows that if he waits a year that number goes up by $20M.

 

[TommyD4207]

I respectfully disagree. When Gilmore got what he got, 5/65, Butler saw that as his own value on the open market. And Butler is right.

Now, as has been pointed out, Butler is not on the open market this year. So that should be factored in negotiations. But he is not going to take 5/45 when he knows that if he waits a year that number goes up by $20M.

Is he? I don't see teams lining up to give him that kind of offer.

 

[XLIX]

Is he? I don't see teams lining up to give him that kind of offer.

We don't have the first clue what teams are offering, but I think Butler easily gets Gilmore money next year if he is a UFA and plays in 2017 in line with 2015 and 2016.