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Possibly, but when someone gives you the opportunities Belichick has given Butler there should be some measure of gratitude for that imo. Could they have extended him earlier, possibly, but without actually what has been offered and rejected it's impossible to know where the responsibility for the lack of progress on s new deal lies. Butler has every right to reject the Patriots offers if he wants but he shouldn't be upset that he doesn't have a new deal and more money if he's the one who has been turning down their offers. If that's the case then he can gamble on getting more elsewhere, that's his choice, but he shouldn't be angry at the Patriots that he turned more money down.
I'm not suggesting the Patriots are always right on their offers, I think they should have torn up Edelman's deal and extended him at least a year ago, but they shouldn't be expected to give Butler Josh Norman's deal just because he thinks he's worth whatever idiotic money Daniel Snyder throws around.
When the first day of free agency was over last year I knew the Patriots were in trouble when it came to signing their upcoming free agents, because the money teams like the Jags and Giants were giving to good but not great players was ridiculous, and that established a new market where good players were going to want money that should be reserved for guys who are headed to the Hall of Fame. Much as I like Hightower and Butler I don't blame Belichick one bit for saying no if they are asking for fifteen million a season, and I think the teams handing those deals out like candy are idiots. The market is way out of whack right now and I think the Patriots are being smart not to go along with it even if it means losing some really talented players.
Ivan, either you had inside knowledge of what the dealings are, or you have a lot of "ifs" and "maybes" to make your argument.
Edelman made $4.25M in 2015 compared to Butler's $500K. Why you are introducing JE11 in the discussion is not making sense to me.