All quiet on Hightower front or Dont'a-do-it FA tour

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

It's clear HT isn't fond of coming back.

I agree with this. Not trying to be pessimistic, but it sure seems like Hightower wants to explore every possible alternative to join a different team. I am skeptical he is traveling around on a circus tour in order to get another 200k out of an offer from the Patriots...he must know at this point that if they are budging, it's going to be very little if anything at all. His actions speak louder than his pro-Patriots sentiments from unnamed sources, which may very well just be his agent pumping up his Patriots loyalty to either drive up the price from a less disciplined front office or hedge his bets so that he doesn't alienate the fan base if he does end up back here. If he does come back, this would be one of the most extended free agent adventures I have seen for a player who supposedly really wanted to remain with his present/past team, when the team is certainly competitive, if not the highest bidder for his services. Sure, it's only been 3-4 days since the start of free agency, but I'm sure he has been thinking about it plenty in the last year or even longer and known the likely market. I think if he wanted to play for the Patriots, he would have signed by now. Hope I am wrong. Have been wrong many times before.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

It's clear HT isn't fond of coming back.

Based on him visiting teams during FA to get a sense of what he is worth?

 

[long distance]

Hightower deserved the waiting.
He sets the ILB market.
BB can wait.

 

[50-yard-line]

I agree with this. Not trying to be pessimistic, but it sure seems like Hightower wants to explore every possible alternative to join a different team. I am skeptical he is traveling around on a circus tour in order to get another 200k out of an offer from the Patriots...he must know at this point that if they are budging, it's going to be very little if anything at all. His actions speak louder than his pro-Patriots sentiments from unnamed sources, which may very well just be his agent pumping up his Patriots loyalty to either drive up the price from a less disciplined front office or hedge his bets so that he doesn't alienate the fan base if he does end up back here. If he does come back, this would be one of the most extended free agent adventures I have seen for a player who supposedly really wanted to remain with his present/past team. Sure, it's only been 3-4 days since the start of free agency, but I'm sure he has been thinking about it plenty in the last year or even longer and known the likely market. I think if he wanted to play for the Patriots, he would have signed by now. Hope I am wrong. Have been wrong many times before.

His actions show no such thing.

He's enjoying this time and good for him.

 

[supafly]

What a pathetic franchise and attempt lol

he said he just wants to feel loved so there ya have it...

Watch it work, somehow. Kudos to the Rats for going the extra distance.

 

[BobDigital]

And seems no deal was made or they would have announced that. Just sign somewhere Hightower. Here or somewhere else.

 

[Fixit]

I feel like every Pats free agency period is a creative writing exercise.

"Writing prompt: A professional football player remains unsigned. With no other info, write 500 words on his state of mind. Be sure to sound authoritative!"

 

[Oswlek]

I can't possibly be the only person who keeps seeing this title as

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Based on him visiting teams during FA to get a sense of what he is worth?

His worth has already been determined. The financial offers are out there. You don't really think teams are demanding that he come to their complex for multi-day workouts/tours before giving any indication of their offer, do you? There's five years of film on Hightower. By all reports, the market for him is nowhere near the range of Jamie Collins or Chandler Jones; the ILB position is just not rated that high on most teams list, Hightower has an injury history, and most teams won't utilize his blitzing skills like the Patriots. I think if a team was going to make him an offer way over the top of what the Patriots have offered, a deal would have been struck pretty early on. Teams don't generally increase offers as free agency goes on, especially by several million annually. Usually the first two days are the biggest pay days. After that, many teams are out of the bidding after already landed their big prizes. Bottom line is, it's clear that the Patriots offer is very competitive, confirmed by several sources who have reported on Hightower's free agency situation. Free agents often do tours with multiple teams, but those are typically the free agents who aren't getting offers. I suspect that Hightower and his agent have been scoping out the market for a very long time, like 99.9% of highly valued players who hit free agency who generally are ready to make an immediate decision since they've already weighed out everything.

I just think this situation is weird and won't end well. Again, hope I am wrong...really.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

His worth has already been determined. The financial offers are out there. You don't really think teams are demanding that he come to their complex for multi-day workouts/tours before giving any indication of their offer, do you? There's five years of film on Hightower. By all reports, the market for him is nowhere near the range of Jamie Collins or Chandler Jones; the ILB position is just not rated that high on most teams list, Hightower has an injury history, and most teams won't utilize his blitzing skills like the Patriots. I think if a team was going to make him an offer way over the top of what the Patriots have offered, a deal would have been struck pretty early on. Teams don't generally increase offers as free agency goes on, especially by several million annually. Usually the first two days are the biggest pay days. After that, many teams are out of the bidding after already landed their big prizes. Bottom line is, it's clear that the Patriots offer is very competitive, confirmed by several sources who have reported on Hightower's free agency situation. Free agents often do tours with multiple teams, but those are typically the free agents who aren't getting offers. I suspect that Hightower and his agent have been scoping out the market for a very long time, like 99.9% of highly valued players who hit free agency who generally are ready to make an immediate decision since they've already weighed out everything.

I just think this situation is weird and won't end well. Again, hope I am wrong...really.

I am with. I hope i am wrong as well. If he wanted to sign here it would be over already. I can see him going home to the tits. It won't be because of money. I don't how you turn down an opportunity to win another ring or two.

 

[upstater1]

Who would pay $49 for an Aaron Dobson jersey? Time to slash some prices.

I paid $25 for an authentic Revis jersey and then ironed off the Revis name.

Say hello to my vintage Ty Law jersey.

 

[Love The Drake]

I am with. I hope i am wrong as well. If he wanted to sign here it would be over already. I can see him going home to the tits. It won't be because of money. I don't how you turn down an opportunity to win another ring or two.

Someone here posted Titans were out of the running

 

[RobertWeathers]

His worth has already been determined. The financial offers are out there. You don't really think teams are demanding that he come to their complex for multi-day workouts/tours before giving any indication of their offer, do you? There's five years of film on Hightower. By all reports, the market for him is nowhere near the range of Jamie Collins or Chandler Jones; the ILB position is just not rated that high on most teams list, Hightower has an injury history, and most teams won't utilize his blitzing skills like the Patriots. I think if a team was going to make him an offer way over the top of what the Patriots have offered, a deal would have been struck pretty early on. Teams don't generally increase offers as free agency goes on, especially by several million annually. Usually the first two days are the biggest pay days. After that, many teams are out of the bidding after already landed their big prizes. Bottom line is, it's clear that the Patriots offer is very competitive, confirmed by several sources who have reported on Hightower's free agency situation. Free agents often do tours with multiple teams, but those are typically the free agents who aren't getting offers. I suspect that Hightower and his agent have been scoping out the market for a very long time, like 99.9% of highly valued players who hit free agency who generally are ready to make an immediate decision since they've already weighed out everything.

I just think this situation is weird and won't end well. Again, hope I am wrong...really.

My gut tells me the NEP have their offer out there but have contingencies based on playing time and a less guaranteed $ which is substantial enough to force him to hangout with Woody and eat cupcakes.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Someone here posted Titans were out of the running

Well that makes me feel good about his return.

 

[ViperGTS]

My gut tells me the NEP have their offer out there but have contingencies based on playing time and a less guaranteed $ which is substantial enough to force him to hangout with Woody and eat cupcakes.

He is trying to save face. He probably doesn't want the appearance of leaving for the same amount of money to a loser franchise. He should have taken the 10 last offseason and he would be fine right now. Instead he is basically hoping and praying some team overpays so he can save his dignity and leave like he pretty much seems to want to. Otherwise he's take the Pats offer right now. This is week 2 of FA (yes the tampering period counts) and when was the last time a number 2 FA was unsigned at this point? I was thinking no biggie on Fri/Sat. Now it's one week and NOW he is going on visits?

There is nothing normal with this situation.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

My gut tells me the NEP have their offer out there but have contingencies based on playing time and a less guaranteed $ which is substantial enough to force him to hangout with Woody and eat cupcakes.

That has crossed my mind and certainly may be true, as that is typically how the Patriots deal.

I also think that teams may be placing a huge BUYER BEWARE sign on any Patriots hitting the FA market. I don't recall many who turned out well for their new team after the Patriots decided the price wasn't worth it. Or, in other words, it's a dangerous game to think your player evaluation, including all the risks and guarantees, is a better evaluation than Belichick's. In addition to that, so many Patriots have busted in other teams systems. And of course, the Darrelle Revis case study which I'm sure every GM has looked at with a face palm. So for that reason, I'm not sure sure teams are offering him a lot more guaranteed money, or less offsets, than Belichick. I'm sure some teams are willing to do moderately better, but again, if a deal existed that was a no-brainer financially and way above the Patriots, I think it would have been done by now, or at least reported on.

 

[luuked]

Well i wish they had waited out on marty.

Has cook signed yet?

Reiss said they didn't wait at all but wanted to move on and get younger at TE.

 

[luuked]

Have been wrong many times before.

Not surprised.

 

[resdubwhite]

Count me in as someone that thinks he really is looking to leave town. Whether its the Collins trade or whatever. Don't get the warm and fuzzies. Mind you, not many are showing and love.

 

[luuked]

I wish I could play poker against some of the people in this thread. No nerves, no concept of strategy and no subtleness. Seriously, just relax and let the process play itself out..

And please just shut the **** up and stop coming up with tinfoil hat stories about HT being a mercenary or not interested in coming back. The guy is exploring all options before making a decision which is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Especially when it comes to life-altering decisions like a first FA contract which is supposed to be the (financial) culmination of decades of work.