Eagle-Tribune's Hector Longo Slams Pats On Branch Dealings

[Harrison37]

Actually, the Tribune used to be a good paper. They have that one writer that was KEY in breaking the story on how Alan Eagleson ripped off so many hockey players and totally betrayed the NHLPA. And, unfortunately, his name is escaping me right now.

As others have said, Longo is a moron who doesn't know squat about football.

RUSS CONWAY

 

[DaBruinz]

Pretty good article, I thought.

"The negotiations truly must have dipped into nastiness for the team to fire this kind of shot. New England is saying go find out how much you're really worth on the open market.

"It's a no-lose situation for the team. Branch can find a deal, only to have the team scoff at it. And if he doesn't?

...

"Branch, shackled and entirely underpaid by his rookie contract, has no business holding out.

"And the Patriots, more than $13 million under the salary cap (with Branch and Richard Seymour's gigantic new deal already factored in), should be ashamed of themselves for playing hard and fast and with one their true stars, on and off the football field."

Yes, it was a good article if you ignore the gross mistakes in it. The 13 million under the cap only figures in PART of the Seymour deal, not the 6.66 million bonus that is going to be paid (if it hasn't been already). Also, it only figures in Branch's current deal. Not any extension the Patriots have offered, which is how he has it written.

Or how about the stupid comparison's to the Bruins situations almost 15 years ago. Hell, Longo was just went behind the ears when that happened.

Then the idiocy that the Patriots should have listened to Branch when Branch came calling? Umm.. Hector, Branch hadn't come calling unless he did so in the last 48 hours.

Also, the Seymour situation has no relevance to the Branch situation. Seymour is a perennial All-Pro. Branch is a perennial injury waiting to happen. BIG difference.

 

[DaBruinz]

Well, the guy's not writing literally. He's saying that the Pats didn't negotiate seriously enough. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. Even if you disagree with Deion, it's not like he doesn't have a valid argument.

What's the valid argument? Deion didn't try to negotiate. Where have you been? The Patriots actually made 2 very good offers to Branch, both of which he declined. One was even a LONG TERM DEAL that offered him an 11 million SIGNING BONUS and 30+ mill overall (with unknown incentives to boot)

 

[DaBruinz]

RUSS CONWAY

Thanks Harrison. Russ Conway is it. That man is a hockey legend and helped out the likes of Bobby Orr and Rick Middleton to get Eagleson thrown into jail and tossed out of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

 

[Harrison37]

Thanks Harrison. Russ Conway is it. That man is a hockey legend and helped out the likes of Bobby Orr and Rick Middleton to get Eagleson thrown into jail and tossed out of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

He's also an idol/mentor of mine in the time I've been covering the Bruins.

Tremendous knowledge and class. Not afraid to call it like he sees it, but doesn't slam the Bruins for the sake of slamming them like some in the local media do/did. Things might be changing with the new regime...

A crime the way the ET pushed Conway out the door last year, IMO...don't really know what he's doing these days.

 

[BTTA]

The players lose perspective on life when they listen to their agents and egos

The difference in quality of life for Branch inherent in the Patriots offer vs. what his agent is demanding is maybe 2%.

The difference in quality of life for Branch inherent in the Patriots offer vs. sitting out ten games, being franchised, running the risk of injury or down years leading to a significantly smaller contract, or none at all, is HUGE.

He should count his blessings, find a compromise point that is closer the the Pats position than his, sign the thing, and enjoy life. And in the process, he can dramatically upgrade the quality of life for generations of Branch's. That's what is at stake here - the present and future of dozens of people he (should) care about.

 

[DaBruinz]

He's also an idol/mentor of mine in the time I've been covering the Bruins.

Tremendous knowledge and class. Not afraid to call it like he sees it, but doesn't slam the Bruins for the sake of slamming them like some in the local media do/did. Things might be changing with the new regime...

A crime the way the ET pushed Conway out the door last year, IMO...don't really know what he's doing these days.

I had no idea that the ET had pushed Conway out the door. That blows. Conway was their BEST sports writer and one of the best in the country in my opinion.

 

[Harrison37]

I had no idea that the ET had pushed Conway out the door. That blows. Conway was their BEST sports writer and one of the best in the country in my opinion.

Yep. He's gone. We probably didn't ge the whole story, but he had some health problems, and when he came back there was some kind of new ownership/management thing going on, and he was "encouraged" to retire.

Class guy, though. Very approachable and could regale you for hours with tales of Orr, er- I mean yore...

 

[Pats726]

Yikes!

"The club set a precedent, renegotiating Seymour. When Branch called, they should have at least listened. Belichick owes Branch at least that much".

Fact of the matter is the pats did extend a very good offer and the Branch camp did not even counter. The statement by Longo is just plain false.

I agree..totally bogus...at least get the facts correct...which he has NOT done..

 

[GoPats]

What a bozo, he can't even get the final score right from last nights game.

http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/local_story_239162133?page=0

"The visiting Washington Redskins, without Pro Bowl types Clinton Portis, Shawn Springs and a handful of other starters, offered little resistance in the 34-0 Patriots walkover."

 

[Zuma]

"The visiting Washington Redskins, without Pro Bowl types Clinton Portis, Shawn Springs and a handful of other starters, offered little resistance in the 34-0 Patriots walkover."

An embarrassment to journalism…