Branch's Absense From Minicamp Is No Big Deal

[NoCal Patriot]

While like most of You,I would prefer to have Deion Branch at Minicamp,I also remember that last season during the Preseason Bill Belichick made sure that Deion Branch didn't even take one snap during 4 Games.
I firmly believe that The Pats and Deion will announce a new long term deal at Training Camp with smiles all around.Today is just part of The rain Dance,no more and no less.

 

[pats1]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

Posted 12:12 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2006​

BRANCH EXPECTED TO SKIP MANDATORY MINICAMP​

Patriots receiver Deion Branch, the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV, reportedly will not participate in a mandatory minicamp that opens on Tuesday.​

Branch, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, wants a new deal. ​

Said defensive lineman Richard Seymour: "I'm not in Deion's shoes." But Seymour was in Branch's position a year ago, skipping a mandatory minicamp and holding out from the first few days of training camp before accepting a one-year raise that has since been replaced with a long-term extension.​

Now that he's gotten his, Seymour sounds like a company man: "Deion's a heck of a player. I can't speak on his situation. We like Deion. He's a Pro Bowl-caliber player and a Super Bowl MVP. He's been making big plays ever since he's been here. Of course we'd love to have him on this football team."​

But just because the Pats caved in to Seymour doesn't mean they'll pay Branch. Of all the positions on the field, the Patriots seem to regard receiver as the most fungible, allowing both David Patten and David Givens to leave via free agency in successive years.​

Under the CBA, Branch must report by the tenth week of the regular season in order to get credit toward the completion of his contract. (Because he already has four "accrued years," Branch isn't required to report within 30 days of the regular season opener in order to qualify for free agency.)​

After completing his rookie contract, the team can restrict his movement via the transition tag or the franchise tag.​

 

[Welker83]

The patriots Front office needs to get their stuff together and sign their Superbowl MVP before he gets mad like AV did and goes to another team after this year....

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

The patriots Front office needs to get their stuff together and sign their Superbowl MVP before he gets mad like AV did and goes to another team after this year....

Sign him at any cost right ? No. Wrong.

 

[dryheat44]

While like most of You,I would prefer to have Deion Branch at Minicamp,I also remember that last season during the Preseason Bill Belichick made sure that Deion Branch didn't even take one snap during 4 Games.
I firmly believe that The Pats and Deion will announce a new long term deal at Training Camp with smiles all around.Today is just part of The rain Dance,no more and no less.

I don't think anybody's concerned that missing mini-camp is going to throw Branch behind the curve.

The issue, at least to me, is that he's skipping a mandatory practice session in an attempt to force management's hand, which could lead to an extended holdout. It's more an attitude/behavioral thing, that maybe supposed "team" guy Branch is more about the money than we like to believe.

 

[onegameatatime]

I do not assume there are two-kinds-of-people -- team guys and money guys. Tedi Bruschi signed cheap, not for free. No one disputes Rodney is a team guy, but he also pushed for a raise in his own way last year. And while Brady did not get top dollar, he was about 90% of the way there. Branch is not acting much different from Seymour -- as a quiet holdout.

Unless we know who is offering what, it's hard for us to tell who's being reasonable and who is not. Is Branch demanding #1-#5 WR money? Are the Pats offering #30 WR money?

In short, I would not conclude that he is "not a team guy" from this.

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

The Patriots are in great cap shape. They need to pony up and pay their stud. You can't expect a guy of that caliber to play on that crappy rookie contract forever. Don't sell the farm for him, but pay the man. I hope he holds out, how awesome would that be? Just another peice of the dynasty unraveling in my mind.

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

Branch is not acting much different from Seymour -- as a quiet holdout.

Seymour did not skip out of a mandatory Charity event out of protest as Branch did.

 

[Pats726]

The Patriots are in great cap shape. They need to pony up and pay their stud. You can't expect a guy of that caliber to play on that crappy rookie contract forever. Don't sell the farm for him, but pay the man. I hope he holds out, how awesome would that be? Just another peice of the dynasty unraveling in my mind.

I don't think Branch is a stud..he's a good receiver..top 15..but stud?? Not at all...you don't sound much like a Patriot fan wishing him to hold out..or of talking about dynasty unraveling..I like Deion a lot..but missing a mandatory charity event?? That says a lot to me..

 

[primetime]

Seymour did not skip out of a mandatory Charity event out of protest as Branch did.

That's right. I specifically remember Seymour attending a charity event with the team and when asked about it, saying something about how his contract dispute wouldn't prevent him from joining the team in charitable works.

Branch is a good receiver. I wouldn't say great, though. He's not the caliber of a Smith, Johnson, Harrison, TO, or Moss, or even a couple other guys. The Patriots know this and won't pay him like one of those guys, either.

 

[zippo59]

I don't think Branch is a stud..he's a good receiver..top 15..but stud?? Not at all...you don't sound much like a Patriot fan wishing him to hold out..or of talking about dynasty unraveling..I like Deion a lot..but missing a mandatory charity event?? That says a lot to me..

That's because he or she is a confessed Dolphins fan.