Branch...1 year now...you be the judge...

[thomas144]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

In your scenario, there should be no signing bonuses.

The player gets the signing bonus.
The team gets the right to cut the player at any time.

And the player has the right not to play. The team can sue to get the signing bonus back. Why do people get so bent out of shape about this?

 

[rabthepat]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

I am glad he is gone.

 

[Pats726]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

I think you're right about people not reading the article.

Deion had every right and motivation to go for AS MUCH MONEY as possible, not matter the team that paid him.

Look, he has insurance for his family now. That's well and good. But he's a busted knee away from having no insurance at all for them. No one is going to pick up the tab for this kid's pre-existing condition. That's on Deion. And in a country with our health care uninsured mess, where million dollar retirements are depleted overnight from medical expenses, you can't blame him.

How much do you think a solid 24 hour a day home care environment costs in this day and age. If it's only about changing diapers, we're talking $50k. If it's specialists and doctors providing care, we're talking quadruple that.

So he bought a big house. Those are the perks of signing a big contract, being a talented player, etc. A house is also an investment. He can sell that house too.

I would have done the same exact thing. My child comes first, and everyone else can go to hell.

What an attitude....Me me me me me...MEION....
poor excuse for being a scumbag...REALLy...so he was going to sit out 10 games?? THAT really would have helped his family...sorry...given all that people have said about him...and how he could have stayed here..had he been reasonable..I lost all resoect for him....from his lack of negotiations to his lying....

 

[Maroney TD]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

What an attitude....Me me me me me...MEION....
poor excuse for being a scumbag...REALLy...so he was going to sit out 10 games?? THAT really would have helped his family...sorry...given all that people have said about him...and how he could have stayed here..had he been reasonable..I lost all resoect for him....from his lack of negotiations to his lying....

It would have helped his family because what he sacrificed in the short term would easily be made up in the long term. It looks like he got the exact outcome he was looking for but yet you think it was foolish. If he didn't hold out then he would have made a lot less money last year and nothing would have been guarenteed to him.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Look it sucks when one of our favorite players leaves for another team just because of money, but let's not forget the double standard that is going on in football.

When a player underperforms his contract, the team does not honor the contract and cuts the player. When a player outperforms his contract, why is he villified for 'cutting' the team?

excellent point.

 

[psychoPat]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

This is all so much
last year's story!

Let's play ball !

 

[Pats726]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

It would have helped his family because what he sacrificed in the short term would easily be made up in the long term. It looks like he got the exact outcome he was looking for but yet you think it was foolish. If he didn't hold out then he would have made a lot less money last year and nothing would have been guarenteed to him.

As far as many fans are concerned he's a POS...as his antics showed what he's all about..the end justifies the means....Hmmmm Have heard that before.. he seemed to have some regrets about not playing for NE..sort of wondered what happened..kind of wanted his cake and eat it too....but he burned that bridge a LONG time ago by not negotiating and putting himself on a limb. When I heard him interviewed he seemed in denial of the facts..the fact that he did EVERYTHING to get out of town.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

My personal opinion is that BOTH sides misjudged the other, and all of a sudden it was too late for either to back off. Unfortunate situation.

Do you think BB and Pioli dislike Deon? I bet they don't. It was business...

Branch walked on his contract even thou we offered him more than 6 million per for his next contract.

Thankfully, he saved us from our own lapse in judgment.

Thanks for saving us 37 million Deion.

Ty Warren's tied up and it's really not hard to find wide receivers if you try.

Probably the most over valued position in football.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

The difference between Branch and Seymour is that the team and Seymour came to terms . Some would say we "caved". If we "caved" for Branch, he would be a great guy like Seymour. Or if Seymour said "no thanks" , then Seymour would be condiered a bum.

To me, the difference in these situations is the resulsts, not the method used by the player.

 

[Maroney TD]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

The difference between Branch and Seymour is that the team and Seymour came to terms . Some would say we "caved". If we "caved" for Branch, he would be a great guy like Seymour. Or if Seymour said "no thanks" , then Seymour would be condiered a bum.

To me, the difference in these situations is the resulsts, not the method used by the player.

Agreed completely, this is a business for most players and they are going to do everything in their power to get the most $$$ that they can while they have the earning power. NFL careers are notoriously short which is why I don't blame players for going after everything they can. Branch didn't grow up a Patriots fan, he has no loyalty to the club any more than the club has loyalty to a player that they cut. Sure the team is loyal to some players but thats until their cap number is higher than their productivity. Then its time to give up some $$$ to stay or pack your stuff.

 

[Pats726]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

The difference between Branch and Seymour is that the team and Seymour came to terms . Some would say we "caved". If we "caved" for Branch, he would be a great guy like Seymour. Or if Seymour said "no thanks" , then Seymour would be condiered a bum.

To me, the difference in these situations is the resulsts, not the method used by the player.

But the results Sey being signed..Branch not..were partly not the variations in HOW they negotiated or not part of the reason the results were good in one case and NOT in another?? Do you think if Seymour had just failed to counter an offer and just sat teh results would have turned out the same? Do you think if Branch had been one bit reasonable he would still be here?? I agree bottom line..is results..but there's a lot of factors involved...Seymour being one of the best at his position..Branch being in the top 15 or so...etc.)

 

[mgteich]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Yes the two had different negotiation tactics. Perhaps branch didn't counter because it was made clear that the patriots had no intention to pay anywhere near what he could get elsewhere. In any case, both players were potential holdouts. You are now arguing that the primarily secret negotiations made the two cases different. I disagree. You did hit on the real difference. The team decided that Seymour was worth the exception. He is one of the rop players at his position in the NFL. Given his recent injury, that choice still may have been the wrong one, or not.

BTW, I have not disagreed with any of the choices made by the team. I do wish that we were more farsighted last year and developed a wide receiver corps before the season began. It is not like we had on OK set of receivers without Branch, and Branch would have made them one of the best (that was the situatiion with the secondary and the signing of Ty Law).

But the results Sey being signed..Branch not..were partly not the variations in HOW they negotiated or not part of the reason the results were good in one case and NOT in another?? Do you think if Seymour had just failed to counter an offer and just sat teh results would have turned out the same? Do you think if Branch had been one bit reasonable he would still be here?? I agree bottom line..is results..but there's a lot of factors involved...Seymour being one of the best at his position..Branch being in the top 15 or so...etc.)

 

[spacecrime]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003865967_branch03.html


I just can't make him out to be the bad guy...he did what he had to do....

No, he did what he WANTED to do. He didn't HAVE to violate his contract. He CHOOSE to.

Deion had every right and motivation to go for AS MUCH MONEY as possible, not matter the team that paid him.

I would have done the same exact thing. My child comes first, and everyone else can go to hell.

Well, he didn't have the "right." He had to not honor a contract to do it.

Are you saying that this was all about his son, and not about money?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

I think Seattle and Alexander will struggle with the running game,Therfore I think Branch has his best year ever with 1,350 receiving and several TDs to boot.

 

[FarScapeR]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

20 years from now, everyone won't care, Deion will be sitting pretty (hopefully) and nobody will really care about his holdout.

But he won't make it to the hall of fame. Brady will, however.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

No, he did what he WANTED to do. He didn't HAVE to violate his contract. He CHOOSE to.

Are you saying that this was all about his son, and not about money?

How can we, with the information available, separate them? We can't. I know alot of ppl would like a black and white world..but its not. He did what he did cause it was best for him.

Can you say you would do different if in the same position...?

 

[patfanken]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

My 2 cents:

1. I get tired hearng about how the NFL "screws" player because the contracts aren't guaranteed. That's simply not true. The only players who get "screwed" are the ones that AREN'T EARNING the money. When are we going to start hearing about the players who "screwed" the owners when they never played up to the money they received. That list would be a very long list, starting with Mike Vick, and including guys like Woody, McGinest, Givens, Patten, and our good friend Deon Branch.

2. I will NEVER root for Branch again, quite the opposite. It isn't all about the fact he didn't honor the contract. That was part of it. But what got me was that he didn't negotiate in good faith. He said one thing then did another. He wasn't a team guy. If he was, he'd be ALMOST as rich, and in a much better situation.

3. I thought when Deon signed his contract it made him the 3rd highest paid WR, not the 7th as I read here. Well whichever is true, he is very much overpaid, despite the fact no one disagrees that he's a damned good WR, just no that good.

4. If one thing comes out of this mess we learned 2 things about the importance of the WR position. First we learned that we could still compete for a supebowl (and really should have won one) without great WRs - its truly the most overrated position in football. Secondly - we proved that its a position is the LEAST rare and most easy to obtain talent. Within a year of being one minute away from a superbowl, our best WR from that team isn't good enough make THIS team. Its just not that hard. WRs are a dime a dozen, and next year there will be a dozen more quality guys available.

5. That leads me to my final point. It was a stroke of good fortune that Branch didn't take the Pats final offer. In the long run that money will be better put to use paying guys like Warren, Wilfolk and Thomas. Thanks MEION, we've upgraded the position and signed core guys, guys to play clost to the ball, who will keep ups competitive for years to come, while you will just be another decent WR in a league that is FULL OF THEM. .

 

[Kdo5]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

All are entitled to their opinion. For me Branch is scum for refusing to completed his contractual obligations. I need to put aside such feelings regarding Seymour, but he did the same evil deed.

Whoa there. You don't need to call him scum. He seems like a very good person regardless of how things went last year.

 

[jct]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

Branch

Selfish dishonorable jerk scum ... cost us a Superbowl

 

[jct]

Re: Branch...1 year now..you be the judge..

How can we, with the information available, separate them? We can't. I know alot of ppl would like a black and white world..but its not. He did what he did cause it was best for him.

Can you say you would do different if in the same position...?

Yes I would honor my contract.