Curran on Branch's Absence

[Welker83]

He isn't an elite receiver..and should not be paid like he is. He doesn't rate with Moss, TO and Chad Johnson and others. He's in the top 15; hardly elite. That being said, he should get paid a solid and fair amont with incentives...quite fair.

Thats why it's in quotations.. also you need to figure in the fact that brady likes to spread the ball around...

 

[spacecrime]

does that mean the twig can't/shouldn't be offered $2 million increase, 5-year contract, right now?

I don't know what he should be offered, to tell the truth. But then I don't know what he has been offered already.

My fear is that he has been offered the most the Pats are willing to pay, and had rejected it.

I do think that WR is a postion where the difference between quality levels is less than other positions.

Branch is not a great WR, but he is as effective as one, and we are NOT better if we get rid of him and sign some 6-8 mil a year super receiver.

OTOH, neither are we in trouble if he leaves and a lesser WR takes his place.

Brady will find the open man. The way the Pats are set up, it is good to have a go-to guy, but not nevessary to have a guy you HAVE to go to, if that makes any sense.

 

[Bill's Girl]

Branch didn't play in games in TC last year, it's not an issue. However, Belichick is likely not happy and will almost certainly not cave as he needs to show the Seymour Path only works for Seymour.

I am still surprised that it worked for Seymour! I think Deion is getting bad advice from his agent on this one. The one thing that will get him a raise and new contract is living up to his old one! I think he needs to get his skinny butt into camp and get ready for some football......and mentor the rookie and new WRs!!

 

[Pats67]

I cant believe it...A team is way uinder the cap and they can't get their only "elite" receiver signed...

Just like they couldn't get Richard Seymour signed last year. But I understand -- its hard to wait on the Internet.

 

[spacecrime]

That article is ignorant. Without branch the starting WR's are who? Reche Caldwell a #2 at best...Chad jackson? ..

this response is arrogant. To think that you know who will play at what level is beyond arrogant. It's silly, especially when you consider that Caldwell and Jackson neverplayed here before and NO ONE knows what they will do.

To say a guy can't replace Branch is pure dumb. FOr one thing,when he leaves, he WILL be replaced, as were Stanley Morgan and Gino Cappilletti. Every player is replaced.

The other thing that makes is silly is that in summer 2002 you would scoff at the idea that Branch himself could replace anyone. You would call him a reach, a rookie, an umproven commodity that will not be a factor in his rokie year.

Ha ha.

So now you are saying the same thing.

 

[Pats67]

I am still surprised that it worked for Seymour! I think Deion is getting bad advice from his agent on this one. The one thing that will get him a raise and new contract is living up to his old one! I think he needs to get his skinny butt into camp and get ready for some football......and mentor the rookie and new WRs!!

All due respect, but this ain't high school.

Cripes, its business. They're not giving out varsity letters here.

The player has to apply leverage where he can. Our guys are tough cookies - they have a strong set of beliefs and they stick to them. If they can get you for cents on the dollar, they will. There's no sentimentality from them, nor should there be. And the player isn't worrying about 'mentoring' anybody. Nobody's going to worry about him, so its up to him and his reps to do that, and now is the time to do it. And there's nothing wrong with that either. That's how its always been.

Give both sides their due - they're all smart people doing their jobs. And you have to figure that the smart people will both see the value in working toiwards a long-term relationship between the Patriots and Deion Branch. Let 'em work it out. Unfortunately for the Internet, there's no bad guys here on either side.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

Not to diminish Deion, I love him like everyone else does, but our Gator WR are talented and could both make camp interesting. I know I'll get jumped all over for saying this but by 2007, Jackson and Caldwell could (I said could) replace Branch and Givens legitimitely. On potential and physical skills - we need to see how the mental side and performance under pressure and the bright lights goes.

I think this is a little over the top. Caldwell, while I have high hopes for him, has proven next to nothing in the NFL. I'm optimistic about Jackson but he hasn't taken a snap yet and until he does, there's no telling just how good he is going to be.

Ive always felt Branch was underappreciated. When healthy is an excellent player who has established a good chemistry with Brady, something that is also over looked all the time. He has also played his best football in some of the biggest games the team has played in i.e. 2004 AFC title game, and the Carolina and Philly SBs.

Curran is right though, everyone knows he will play in the end so missing mini camp is almost a non-story.

 

[OhExaulted1]

Thats my point. Rookie sensations are few and far between... Who do you have so far? Bolden, Clayton, Glenn? average it out prolly at leats 8 receivers are drafted in the first 3 rounds...since 96 then we are looking at 80 receivers and we can only name 3 off the top of our head? Those odds SUCK! and even worse is i LOVE jackson and think he'll be great... But no way can he and reche caldwell fill the void of Branch....

Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison, Me-shon Johnson and Larry Firzgerald also come to mind.

 

[Pats726]

Thats why it's in quotations.. also you need to figure in the fact that brady likes to spread the ball around...

whether Brady likes to spread the ball around or not, that doesn't take away from his ability..just his stats..which I don't care about. He doesn't rate as high as TO, Moss and others...he's somewhere between 10 and 20..and he needs to be paid that amount..with incentives. I tend to think DB is looking for money as in the top ten. We shall see how this plays out.