Just a feeling...

[QB12]

It's funny, that exact same feeling came to me out of the blue yesterday.

It goes like this: if the special master comes down hard against Team Branch, he quickly signs an extension (likely canning his agent first). Because at that point he can't possibly get what he really wanted, which was a deal that ripped up his 2006 contract. If he's going to end up with "just" a 5-year extension he might as well sign it with the Patriots, which is the only way to get the signing bonus in hand before playing and risking injury this year.

I'm a lawyer. My immediate reaction upon reading that the special master would defer ruling is that the parties are trying to work out a settlement, including a contract extension or a trade - sort of like keeping the card on the table, face down.

This impression of mine has only been stregthened by the fact that no party or lawyer is talking anymore . . .

At the time this was first reported, I thought his re-signing and return to Pats would be done in time for DB to play against the Bills.

QB12