Don Banks on EEI yesterday re Branch

[MoLewisrocks]

Even if they can't tell him to go away then can certainly de-activate him weekly and still pay him about $0.00 for the year after fines.

Yup, but that would likely cause the kind of distraction even BB could not defuse. To have him there and available and not use him would send a message to the team that busting balls matters more than winning. BB won't do it. He will bust his ass in practice (no point coddling him any more) and if he's better than the next WR ahead of him on the depth chart he will climb, likely all the way to #1 in a week or two unless by then Caldwell has grown a pair or Jackson's hammies have quieted down sufficiently to let his talent emerge.

 

[Willie55]

Seems to me he came back in 2004 after having been injured by Neal early on - when he returned, he played lights out the rest of the way.
Branch could come back week 10 and contribute nicely. Maybe it all works out as he will be fresh for playoffs.

Then we franchise him next year - tag him and trade him.

That was after having an entire training camp, playing two games and then after he was injured, rehabbing. While I'm sure he's staying in shape now, it cant compare to a full training camp plus a couple games. IMO you would see different results.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

what's up with draft picks wanting #1 or #2 money when they were drafted lower. you should get where you were drafted...i blame the teams for giving in, especially the saint and titans. they shaft over teams in that spot for subsequent years. as for branch, i think it's rhetoric becuas the pats can franchise him, so basically he's stuck with the pats unless some team with a low first rounder is willing to give it up.

he should do the math if he is willing to sit out till game 10. he is fined all of training camp, loses out on game checks. i'm willing to say game checks weeks 11-16 don't equal what he'll be losing out on, he might have to pay money back. it's gonna be close.

it's jsut a matter of time before branch fires his agent.

 

[Pats726]

Chuyut is doing what Branch wants...why fire his agent when he's doing what is wanted??

 

[Jacky Roberts]

Why spite ourselves? Let him come in week 10, pay his fines, basically play for zero this year and then Deion can look forward to being franchised next year.

Now Deion - if you possibly read this, please explain to us how the above situation is better for you then what the Pats offered (as told to us by your agent).

It all just does not make sense. Of course, no panic sets in until at least 1 week before TC.

IF this selfish guy comes back, I hope that if they make it to Super Bowl XLI and they introduce the Pats as a "team", they introduce "WR Deion Branch accompanied by the New England Patriots". This guy is no longer a team player as far as Im concerned.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Why spite ourselves?

I'm a grudge holder. Screw him and his fake smile.

 

[Pats726]

Unfortinately. I think hos actions have really showed all of what he's about...sorry..his phoniness doesn't play here at all. If all the great things about him were trie, he wouldn't be holding out like he has...his behind would be working hard in camp.

 

[jaychamp]

This is what pisses me off about the big contract that TO got from the Cowboys. Instead of getting year to year contracts like he should have, he won huge by holding out, and opened the door for everyone else to do the same. The Cowboys really hurt the league IMO.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

This is what pisses me off about the big contract that TO got from the Cowboys. Instead of getting year to year contracts like he should have, he won huge by holding out, and opened the door for everyone else to do the same. The Cowboys really hurt the league IMO.

T.O. got no bonus money and every contract is year to year. If he misbehaves the Cowboys will have paid him this year's salary and no more. It was a well thought out deal for the Cowboys but has plenty of upside for Owens if he behaves.

 

[mac]

Last year, the Patriots held Branch out of the pre-season games because they feared Branch could get hurt. Branch's holdout this year is accomplishing the same thing. If the Pats compromise, they will do it toward the end of the preseason with the idea of Branch starting fresh in week one.

 

[jaychamp]

T.O. got no bonus money and every contract is year to year. If he misbehaves the Cowboys will have paid him this year's salary and no more. It was a well thought out deal for the Cowboys but has plenty of upside for Owens if he behaves.

Not according to this, the opposite actually.

The receiver who has proven he can wreak havoc on or off the field signed a three-year, $25 million contract with Dallas on Saturday. The deal includes a $5 million bonus and $5 million salary this season, but no added penalties should Owens pull any of the stunts that caused so many problems for his two previous teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Source: Sporting News

Branch needs to realize though that he is not in TO's class. I love him, and I think he's a great fit, but TO is in a class of his own. If he thinks he's going to cash in like TO did I think he's sadly mistaken.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Not according to this, the opposite actually.

If that is correct I was wrong on the bonus but the concept is still the same, he gets $10M this year but if he is cut, that's it. It's not like his salaries are guaranteed, the remaining $15M over the last 2 years goes away if they release him.

 

[Willie55]

This is what pisses me off about the big contract that TO got from the Cowboys. Instead of getting year to year contracts like he should have, he won huge by holding out, and opened the door for everyone else to do the same. The Cowboys really hurt the league IMO.

When did TO hold out? He has definately been a carnival act but I dont recall him holding out.

 

[Willie55]

TO got 3 years/$25 mil. Pats offered Branch basically 3 years/$19 mil IIRC. Based on their level of play, the caliber of player they are and their output, I would say those offers are even.

 

[spacecrime]

Please get some perspective.

Name me 10 guys who held out for ten games before reporting.

Can't? How about five?

Can't? How about two?

Can't? Well can you find One?

I'm waiting...

Still waiting...

Still waiting...

Ogunleye held out during the season. Fins traded him, but not sure if it was before of after the 10 weeks. It seems to me that Ogunlyeye held out about 8 weeks or so before the Fins figured he was serious and traded him to the Bears.

There have been a couple others who held out but there names escape me.

Before the 10 game rule, there were players who held out entire years. two guys for the Bears, forget thier names, but it was the SUperbowl year.

John Hannah held out for a few games into teh season, didn't he?

The problem is that the longer Branch holds out, the harder it is to come back without a resolution. He can't just cave. His best shot was last night. last year Hines Wards held out, then showed up in civvies at first per-season game, then started practicing as if nothing had happened. Branch could have done that, easily. It would not have been hard for the Pats to refuse to talk about it, jsut say, "We're glad he's here."

But the fact seems to be that Branch is't really interested in playing for the Patsl this year or long term. He thinks he is looking at really big money in FA. maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but if that is his mindset, that he wants FA, then he is smart to hold out until week 10. The pats aren't likely to play him, at least the first couple of games, so his chances of getting hurt are slim.

(The Pats cannot deactivate him for the season. That bit of leverage went out with TO. Teams can no longer do that, and they can't tell him to go home either. He has to have access to the team or be cut. He can be inactivated each gaem of course, but "Keyshawning" is no longer legal.

 

[PatsSteve1]

They can't suspend him if he reports in week 10. Although there is no law that says he has to be active or featured or start once he does show up.

** BB doesn't usually hold grudges, he does what's best for the team to win. Ty Law and Terry Glenn for instance. If BB thinks he'll help the team, even if it isn't until week 10, he'll play him. And if they continue to get WR play like they did last night, he'll definetly be playing - Caldwell lived up to his rep of not catching in any traffic and alligator arms. Brown is 100 years old and Jackson is a rookie missing TC practice which isn't historically a good thing for a rook. Having watched preseason games for years, I do know what looks bad in 1 week can look good the next. And what looks good 1 week can look bad the next. Hopefully we get a lot of the former, and none of the latter.

 

[patchick]

Why spite ourselves? Let him come in week 10, pay his fines, basically play for zero this year and then Deion can look forward to being franchised next year.

Yes, yes, yes! If you're paying him and giving him a roster spot, make him earn his keep. You gain nothing by refusing to put the player on the field. Let him earn the lowest net salary of any player in modern league history, and work his butt off for it.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Patsfan--- Ben Watson eventually learned when he fired his agent becuase his agent refused to sign a 6 year deal I beleive it was versus a 5 year deal. Plus Deion is losing money here, not the agent due to fines.

Deion will learn that the Pats are going to budge. The argument is most likely over guaranteed money. I don't know the details of the contract aside from the average per year, but that doesn't mean anything if it's backloaded.

 

[jaychamp]

When did TO hold out? He has definately been a carnival act but I dont recall him holding out.

You're right, for some reason I thought he held out of training camp

 

[thewaylifeshouldbe]

You're right, for some reason I thought he held out of training camp

He sort of did. He held out of mandatory mini-camps last year. He did show up for TC though.