Branch fines?

[Johnny Mac]

They damn well better make him pay the fines. I'll be pissed if they don't.

 

[mikey]

As sure as 1+1=2, he'll have to pay the fines.

1 + 1 = 2 if you are using base 10.

1 + 1 = 10 if you are using base 2.


There is no sure thing in life.


.

 

[RI Pats Fan]

I say they'll take it. This is the most money-grubbin' organization in the league (that's not a bad thing). I don't see how that would lead to Branch "playing for free" but whatever makes you guys happy to think about, think it. Whatever his new contract gets him this year -$500,000 is certainly still going to be a lot more than the million he was going to get had he played it out and done what the Patriots and its fans prefer.

Moral of the story: It pays to look out for yourself. Apply it to your daily life.

 

[SNL]

They damn well better make him pay the fines. I'll be pissed if they don't.

I hear ya. They should also look at taking back as much of the siging bonus they can under the CBA.

The spin on ESPN is that the Seahawks got the better trade. I say different. What the Patriots should do is tell the media what a injury prone player Branch is and that he wont last the season.

Lets see who got the better value!

 

[QuiGon]

I hear what you are saying and I think that there are some senarios where the fines should have been enforced. I am just saying that since both sides acted within the rules and it came to a good conclusion for both, I think it would be a meaningless to enforce the fines. Just my take.

You don't think that enforcing about a half million dollars in fines would help serve as a deterrent to future problems..? I have to say I disagree.

 

[mdhprime]

You don't think that enforcing about a half million dollars in fines would help serve as a deterrent to future problems..? I have to say I disagree.

I think that the fines are there for teams to use as leverage in negotiations, not as punishment. They are a tactic, nothing more and that is probably why both the league and the players union agreed on them. Now that Branch is gone and the situation is resolved, leveling fines against him is rather useless.

 

[SNL]

I think that the fines are there for teams to use as leverage in negotiations, not as punishment. They are a tactic, nothing more and that is probably why both the league and the players union agreed on them. Now that Branch is gone and the situation is resolved, leveling fines against him is rather useless.

Yes, lets reward Branch's behavior of holding out in the preseason and regular season. Lets turn a blind eye to the distraction and disruption he caused on the team.

Your view point is wrong.

If you are under contract, you honor that contract, or you are fined. Period! Weather or not he was traded is irrelevant. He did not complete his time with the Patriots as per his existing contract!

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

I think that the fines are there for teams to use as leverage in negotiations, not as punishment.

You can think all you like, but I'm pretty sure Ashley Lelie views the penalties that he's paying the Donks now that he's no longer with the team as a punishment.

Now that Branch is gone and the situation is resolved, leveling fines against him is rather useless.

Couldn't disagree more. Although at this point, from the Patriots standpoint it's less about punishing Leion and more about sending a clear message to future holdouts.

 

[mdhprime]

Yes, lets reward Branch's behavior of holding out in the preseason and regular season. Lets turn a blind eye to the distraction and disruption he caused on the team.

Your view point is wrong.

If you are under contract, you honor that contract, or you are fined. Period! Weather or not he was traded is irrelevant. He did not complete his time with the Patriots as per his existing contract!

It has nothing to do with a reward. It has everything to do with managing your team. Why would the Patriots fine him now that the situation is resolved and the team has actually made out really well with a first round pick? Would they do it to stick it to him? That's not the way to run an organization where there are 53 other players watching very closely. Did they fine Seymour when he held out? I don't think so. I actually think that Branch should have honored is last year of the deal, but he was well within his rights to do what he did, as were the Patriots. It is over and the only thing that fines would achieve is bad PR.

 

[mdhprime]

You can think all you like, but I'm pretty sure Ashley Lelie views the penalties that he's paying the Donks now that he's no longer with the team as a punishment. Couldn't disagree more. Although at this point, from the Patriots standpoint it's less about punishing Leion and more about sending a clear message to future holdouts.

You are wrong. It is about negotiating. It is about using the tactics and leverage allowed in order to further your self-interest. That goes for both the player and the organization. Both sides did this throughout the process and both sides benefitted in the end. What message do you want the team to send?

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

It has nothing to do with a reward. It has everything to do with managing your team. Why would the Patriots fine him now that the situation is resolved and the team has actually made out really well with a first round pick? Would they do it to stick it to him? That's not the way to run an organization where there are 53 other players watching very closely. Did they fine Seymour when he held out? I don't think so. I actually think that Branch should have honored is last year of the deal, but he was well within his rights to do what he did, as were the Patriots. It is over and the only thing that fines would achieve is bad PR.

Richard Seymour didn't handle his "negotiations" with the Pats in the manner that Branch and Chayut did. Big difference.

If you have the "threat" of fines and other recovery vehicles in your negotiating arsenal and don't use them, they're pretty useless, yes? Why bother having them in the first place? What you're recommending is tantamount to permitting the inmates to run the asylum.

No thanks.

(Boy, I hope for your sake you don't run a business, and if you do, you don't run it this way!)

 

[PonyExpress]

There's no reason to be petty. Let Minnie Mouse keep all her money. Just erase all her pictures from the post SB celebrations and photoshop in pictures of Waldo.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

It remains to be seen if Deion truly got what he wanted. I think he wanted to force the team to pay him more and pay it this season. Absent that he wanted to be a FA next year - and now he won't be one before 2011 unless he gets cut midway through his 6 year deal. He wanted to start negotiations at Reggie Wayne $$, but he won't quite get to that level. Not to mention Wayne will likely get another extension midway through this deal when Harrison is actually off the books in Indy. Given his choice he wanted to go to NY and play for Mangini. That says he had comfort level concerns, he wanted to remain on the East coast to be close to his kids, and he doesn't care about winning...because they never do until they play for a losing team.

Denver had Lelie and Atlanta sign an agreement stipulating the fines would be deducted from his Falson's paychecks. I imagine Pioli insisted on a similar agreement. That close to his perceived return to a playing field and paychecks of any sort I don't doubt the Branch team signed off on it. We won't hear it from this FO because they are not the type to rub your nose in it as Shannahan and most other "jilted" organizations do. But they will know they did it, and they know players will hear it through the grape vine.

And public pronouncements and love of teamate aside, I guarantee you there are guys in that club house who are at least as disappointed in Deion as they are in the team. On some level they all know that the money they are asked to forego is not used here to line Kraft or FO pockets but to surround them with better depth and backups than most teams can muster. And that makes your job easier and gives you a better chance to succeed when you care about winning championships. Brady said it best last week. It's not about what you deserve or even what you want, it's about what you need and what really matters to you. Deion is gone because despite what he says it was all about his wanting to prove he deserved what really matters to him most, and that was his $$$.

 

[arrellbee]

You are wrong. It is about negotiating. It is about using the tactics and leverage allowed in order to further your self-interest. That goes for both the player and the organization. Both sides did this throughout the process and both sides benefitted in the end. What message do you want the team to send?

Don't you think there might be a problem if the team 'sends the message' that they won't assess fines ? Doesn't that 'send the message' that there is no penalty for holding out ? If there is no penalty for holding out, why wouldn't EVERY SINGLE PLAYER hold out ?? WHY NOT ?? And what would be your assessment of the Patriots situation if all of the players in the last year of their contract held out ? Or why not hold out even if you have two years left on your contract ? I don't know what rosy glasses you have on, but I think it would be flippin CHAOS.

You also have to be recommending that the astute business operation of the Patriots would also just simply leave close to half a million dollars on the table. Somehow or another, I'm not sure I see the Patriots leaving that money on the table just to send a message to the other Patriots players that ..... there is no penalty for holding out ?? ?? ?? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. In fact, it doesn't make any sense at all.

 

[Ceresco]

(KFFL) Mike Reiss, of the Boston Globe, reports the New England Patriots intend to collect the full amount of fines from WR Deion Branch, who was recently traded to the Seattle Seahawks. The full amount of fines Branch totaled during his holdout figure to top $600,000

 

[arrellbee]

(KFFL) Mike Reiss, of the Boston Globe, reports the New England Patriots intend to collect the full amount of fines from WR Deion Branch, who was recently traded to the Seattle Seahawks. The full amount of fines Branch totaled during his holdout figure to top $600,000

Now that's exceedingly interesting. I looked on the Globe site and couldn't find anything about this. Did I just miss something that was in front of my nose or does KFFL have some backdoor to advance info on Reiss' articles/blog ?? Anybody have a clue ?

 

[njpatsfan]

Tack on 200k in prorated signing bonus. You know the Pats will go after that.

R

 

[RI Pats Fan]

Wow.

"Your viewpoint is wrong" is becoming the most obnoxious patsfans.com catchphrase since ... tight?

 

[mdhprime]

Richard Seymour didn't handle his "negotiations" with the Pats in the manner that Branch and Chayut did. Big difference.

If you have the "threat" of fines and other recovery vehicles in your negotiating arsenal and don't use them, they're pretty useless, yes? Why bother having them in the first place? What you're recommending is tantamount to permitting the inmates to run the asylum.

No thanks.

(Boy, I hope for your sake you don't run a business, and if you do, you don't run it this way!)

First off I have managed a business and more importantly a large staff of people employed in that business. I know what I am talking about in regards to group dynamics and how that treatment of one employee can not only affect the morale of a group but their commitment to the organization. If Branch had continued to hold out and deny the Patriots any value then I would be totally in favor of levelling the fines and perhaps even more if it were possible. The fact that the Patriots and Branch came to a conclusion on the issue where both sides ended up benefitting is why I do not think it is wise to level the fines. Your analogy of the "inmates running the asylum" doesn't fit. There were two sides to this negotiation and both did what they had to do and both used the tools they saw fit to further their own ends. There is nothing wrong with that. The Patriots will end up doing whatever they think best. If that is to fine Branch, then I am sure they have a good reason for it. If it is not to fine him, same thing. Neither you, me or anyone else in this forum is part of the organization so all any of here are doing is speculating.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

You are wrong. It is about negotiating. It is about using the tactics and leverage allowed in order to further your self-interest. That goes for both the player and the organization. Both sides did this throughout the process and both sides benefitted in the end. What message do you want the team to send?

I think the message to present and future players should be that the Pats are a firm but fair org and are firm in negotions but not spiteful. Drop the fines and wish HeWhoIsNowDeadToMe farewell. That's the Patriots way.

EDIT: What MDHPRIME said in previous post #39. I've been there too.