General football question: Does doing players a favor in trades ever make a difference?

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

I'm sure there's nothing I can add to the Boutte thread that hasn't already been said, and I feel like this is more of a general football topic, not just specifically the Pats or this one trade.

I did see someone say early in the other thread that the team did Boutte a favor. I have no idea if that's what happened today, but that's something that has been said often over the years, by fans and reporters. Team A did someone a favor by trading him to Team B when Team C offered more. Or a team cutting a guy early is seen as respectful by giving him a better chance to land somewhere before final cut downs.

My question, from a purely business standpoint, is there any proof whatsoever that those kinds of moves actually benefit a team long term? Has there ever been an agent say he recommended a specific team to his clients because they have always treated his guys so well when they were moving on? Has any former players said they've told guys to sign with a team because the team was kind enough to cut him early in camp and he was able to sign with someone else before week 1?

Again, so often some trades and specific cuts are treated as some kind of good karma, but I've yet to see any real data that the karma ever comes. Has anyone else?

 

[TommyD4207]

I'm sure there's nothing I can add to the Boutte thread that hasn't already been said, and I feel like this is more of a general football topic, not just specifically the Pats or this one trade.

I did see someone say early in the other thread that the team did Boutte a favor. I have no idea if that's what happened today, but that's something that has been said often over the years, by fans and reporters. Team A did someone a favor by trading him to Team B when Team C offered more. Or a team cutting a guy early is seen as respectful by giving him a better chance to land somewhere before final cut downs.

My question, from a purely business standpoint, is there any proof whatsoever that those kinds of moves actually benefit a team long term? Has there ever been an agent say he recommended a specific team to his clients because they have always treated his guys so well when they were moving on? Has any former players said they've told guys to sign with a team because the team was kind enough to cut him early in camp and he was able to sign with someone else before week 1?

Again, so often some trades and specific cuts are treated as some kind of good karma, but I've yet to see any real data that the karma ever comes. Has anyone else?

Doing a player a favor may or may not have long-lasting returns - but NOT doing a player a favor absolutely does.

 

[patfanken]

No, I doubt ANY trade is done as a favor to the player. Boutte was simply a redundant talent in a deep WR room, who was on an expiring contract. The TEAM deemed it was time to get something for him, rather than the nothing they would have gotten next season, plus open up some playing time to younger and developing players with higher ceilings.

Now you can argue that we traded for the wrong position, or didn't get enough, or should have waited til the trade deadline, but I would argue that this trade WASN'T done to do Boutte a favor.

 

[silentone]

Players, agents, coaches, owners and gms are all human beings. Have to think that good will (and bad will) is often created over the years. Have no proof off the top of my head but guessing that information is out there.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Upon further review I'm going to predict that the Patriots will win this trade over the long run. Boutte will play well for the Texans this season but it's a one year rental, they won't meet his contract demands and he will leave Houston after one season. Reed will contribute on special teams and as safety depth, as well as working into a big nickel safety role for them, will resign with the Patriots and will end up as their big nickel safety for the foreseeable future.