Pats give Branch permission to seek Trade

[PATRIOTS-80]

By allowing Branch to shop his wares the Pats are relinquishing their right to not allow him access to an open market.

If the Pats "truly" wanted the open market to set Branch's value they would have allowed him to test it this offseason when all teams were truly shoppers. Not now when most are not. No doubt Branch's agent realizes this.

Yeah, its like poker. BB raised the pot... He is allowing Branch to test what I would call a somewhat "restricted" market. He can shop his wares to any team, but he will find the pool of suitors will rapidly deminish because there aren't a lot of teams who will give the deal to Branch and give the compensation to the Pats.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

I think because they didn't realize how unreasonable Branch and his agent would be. That is pretty obvious to me...

Hopefully the Pats braintrust will do a much better job in the future of gauging how (un)reasonable their players agents are because this is becoming much too frequent of an occurance.

 

[CTPatsFan]

Holy crap. I'm stunned. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised given that BB doesn't play that game, but I still am.

 

[sarge]

Anyone consider the fact that perhaps they come back with a trade offer, the Pats look at what Deion is being offered and depending on the offer just match it?

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Without Branch I don't see how the Pats can go into the season with only those four WRs, but then, who do they use valuable roster spots on? They can't carry 5 WRs just to have 5 WRs... It's an interesting problem with no clear solution. I guess the solution is Willie Andrews, he takes the 5th WR spot, the final DB spot, and the KR/PR ST spot. He's a triple threat with triple value.

I also see value in Watson, splitting him out, with his speed, he could be a difficult package for a corner to cover?

 

[14thDragon]

Hopefully the Pats braintrust will do a much better job in the future of gauging how (un)reasonable their players agents are because this is becoming much too frequent of an occurance.

Well, they were pretty right on with Brady, Seymour, and Law. So I guess I can give them a pass on Branch. Crazy damn wide-outs.

From what I heard on Sirrius, the Bengals are in a crunch for D-lineman, and would look to trade a WR. (Hopefully not one in jail) Maybe a trade for Hill and Brnach for T.J. Whose-your-mama?

 

[Brownfan80]

I also see value in Watson, splitting him out, with his speed, he could be a difficult package for a corner to cover?

That's been talked about, but I'm not sold on the idea of Watson split out wide... It negates his speed (which creates matchup problems vs S/LBs, but not vs CBs), but I suppose what he loses in speed he'd gain in size. It could work. Lomo could split wide at times too I suppose. Faulk obviously. Even Dillon from camp reports. Mills in a pinch.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Well, I am going to have say that Bill/Scott got hoodwinked on that one. They did not seem to expect the situation would deteriote this far. They had a number in mind and thought it could be worked out to that point.

It certainly appears that way.

Deion could have tested to open market to hearts content next year, had he shown up for work.

I thought the root cause of this holdout was, to the dismay of Branch and his agent, the prospects of the Pats franchising Deion next year!

 

[Brownfan80]

I thought the root cause of this holdout was, to the dismay of Branch and his agent, the prospects of the Pats franchising Deion next year!

That was the strange part of this entire hold out. They stated that they wanted to get an extension done, but then stated that the only reason that Deion didn't report was for fear of being franchised. But you can't be franchised if an extension is reached. Something sinister in their thinking, methinks.

 

[Pats726]

I think that the following may be already done:

1) The pats have a potential trade or two for wide receivers.
2) The pats have a couple of potential free aents in mind to sign after the Sept 2 cut.
3) The pats may get what they can and move on.
For example, we might get a 2nd for Branch and trade a 3rd to someone else for a wr, and also sign Patten or someone else that is cut.

I agree that they may have something in mind...and want a resolution...either Branch signs STAYs..the best option or he leaves and they make the reades and move on. They will NOT be held hostage.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Well, they were pretty right on with Brady, Seymour, and Law. So I guess I can give them a pass on Branch. Crazy damn wide-outs.

Brady was never unreasonable in his demands so he's not a valid comparable. Seymour might have been unreasonable (but he is arguably the best DL in the league) but even he held out.

I suppose you could make a case fo the Pats being right with Law but, technically, they have yet to win a SB without him on the roster.

From what I heard on Sirrius, the Bengals are in a crunch for D-lineman, and would look to trade a WR. (Hopefully not one in jail) Maybe a trade for Hill and Brnach for T.J. Whose-your-mama?

LOL x 2

I wanna play FF against that guy BTW.

 

[SteveBsFan]

Wow, pretty surprising move.

I like it, sounds like it's going to bring closure one way or the other. Either he'll be gone, or he'll realize his market value and re-sign here.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

I thought the root cause of this holdout was, to the dismay of Branch and his agent, the prospects of the Pats franchising Deion next year!

It still is!!!!!!!!! You see if the Pats caved on that, then Branch would be a FA. All 31 teams flush with cash could throw $$$$$$$ at him in off-season. But the Pats would be the losers because they would get neither Branch nor compensation.

But, if the Pats give Branch the opportunity to seek a trade for a week (hinged on showing up week 1), Branch and the Pats can see if any team can meet the criteria to satisfy Branch and the Pats FO. The Pats have the option of matching any deal offered by the "smaller amount" of suitors) or get the compensation.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Wow, pretty surprising move.

I like it, sounds like it's going to bring closure one way or the other. Either he'll be gone, or he'll realize his market value and re-sign here.

He's not going to realize his true market value. There isn't a true market for him right now.

 

[brady2brown]

What this does is speed up the process, rather than dragging it into the season. They either get him under contract because he sees what his value is and they agree to pay it, or they trade him and get something back.

He's already under contract.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Brady was never unreasonable in his demands so he's not a valid comparable. Seymour might have been unreasonable (but he is arguably the best DL in the league) but even he held out.

I suppose you could make a case fo the Pats being right with Law but, technically, they have yet to win a SB without him on the roster.


LOL x 2

I wanna play FF against that guy BTW.

Also they were right about Lawyer Milloy.... And don't forget the Tebucky Jones franchising.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

It still is!!!!!!!!! You see if the Pats caved on that, then Branch would be a FA. All 31 teams flush with cash could throw $$$$$$$ at him in off-season. But the Pats would be the losers because they would get neither Branch nor compensation.

But, if the Pats give Branch the opportunity to seek a trade for a week (hinged on showing up week 1), Branch and the Pats can see if any team can meet the criteria to satisfy Branch and the Pats FO. The Pats have the option of matching any deal offered by the "smaller amount" of suitors) or get the compensation.

I realize this.

 

[DaBruinz]

Oh, this really aweful for Branch. He sits out until Game 10, probably doesn't play the rest of the season and the pats franchise him. He sits out until Labor Day, signs the franchise and plays for only $8M. And the pats can give him a 20% increase each year, until bb get tired.

1st off, MG, If the player signs the franchise tender, they have to report. They can't hold out.

2ndly, You are generalizing the increase that Branch would see. The increase would be a 20% increase OR the average of the top 5 salary cap hits at that position.

3rd, I am pretty sure there is a set date that the Franchise tender has to be signed by. I believe its July 1, but not positive.

 

[NE39]

He's already under contract.

I realize that. I meant a long-term contract.

 

[brady2brown]

Here's an idea.

The Pats should offer Deion Branch to the Colts straight up in a trade for Reggie Wayne.

I'd do that in a millisecond!

Sounds fair, too, since Deion wants Reggie Wayne money.

The problem will be convincing the Colts.