Pats give Branch permission to seek Trade

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Pats Make Very Shrewd Move On Branch

First of all, you've got to love Mike Reiss who comes back with his astute assesment of what the trade offer really means.
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

On top of all that, by waiting until camps were over and other teams know what they really have, the Pats have positioned themsleves to really squeeze max value for Branch should a trade occur. No more wishing that 6th rounder or FA is going to morph into Jerry Rice. Nope, the truth is really hurting teams that need a WR to put them over the top and dangling a SB MVP from a winning organization before their eyes just might make some GM lose his cool and hand over a king's ransom to the Pats in exchange for Deion. BB and Pioli deserve a real touche for this one.

If the Pats had given Deion this permission a month ago and still no resolution had been reached other teams would squeezing the Pats to cave in on a no-win situation. Instead, due to their patience the Pats might get more than anyone believes is possible - a number one and a player, three number twos? - because teams are so acutely aware at the moment of their limitations but still haven't been handed the grim reality of what the regular season will deliver. In other words, Branch may be seen as the final piece of a puzzle that a GM has still only seen in his dreams. And we all know that fantasy is the stuff dreams are made of.

Way to go Bill...

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

the owners did give permission for the players to holdout until week 10, didn't they?

No. They didn't. They said you can not hold out and renege on your contract, and if you do, you'll face X punishment through training camp and preseason. Further infraction and you'll face Y punishment for games 1 through 10 of the regular season. For continued infraction, you'll face Z punishment for anything past game 10 of the regular season.

Thanks to my fellow Canuck for helping to shed light on this matter during my absence.

That explains it.

Now, about them eggs .......

The only food known to man with 100% bioavailablity to the human body of all it's nutrients .

 

[MrTibbs]

Re: Pats Make Very Shrewd Move On Branch

As much as I like the Branch Brady connection good job BB & Pioli. Made that ********* agent of Branch's make a move.

 

[the taildragger]

Re: Pats Make Very Shrewd Move On Branch

or, Deion can simply decide which team he wants to go to....make a public announcement...and we're lucky if we get anything for him.

Deion may be humble, but like all players, he has PRIDE.

I'm very concerned. This is not the kind of distraction we needed...it's gone from a simple preseason holdout (from a guy who didn't need to play in the preseason), to a complete disaster, and I don't see a happy ending in sight.

I'm not pointing fingers...nobody here has insider info so let's not make judgements about who is to blame in creating this situation.

the fact is it's now unraveling.

I've given this thought and I'm trying to be positive...but everyone seems to be forgetting that YOU CAN'T KEEP A PLAYER WHO SAYS HE WANTS TO LEAVE. Well, you can, but forget about getting any production or value from him. This is why you do these things confidentially. The fact that they're airing this laundry in public means things are extremely desperate.

The FO has essentially sacrificed their leverage -- for the next seven days, they are at Deion's mercy. It's sadly more desperate than brilliant.

Hopefully he'll return...but there's no way anyone in Foxboro is planning on that at this point.

 

[DarMan]

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

And yes, I do think that bb thinks that receivers are a dime a dozen.

I absolutely agree. BB and Pioli don't do anything without having all bases covered

 

[frankiesfly]

dieon branch trade?

Patrits have given dieon branch permission to talk to other teams for trade. Just saw on espn about an hour ago

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: dieon branch trade?

Patrits have given dieon branch permission to talk to other teams for trade. Just saw on espn about an hour ago

No!

I can't believe it!

 

[desi-patsfan]

Re: dieon branch trade?

how did you miss the 264 respone and 1200 views of the same topic right below this?

 

[arrellbee]

Do you think that Parcells would be interested in trading T.O. for Branch - AND throw in a couple 1st rounders to close the deal ??

 

[MDPATSFAN]

Is Branch running the risk of placing himself into the T.O.-Cancer/Prima Donna category here? I gotta think his value slips due to the soap opera he's causing.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

No. They didn't. They said you can not hold out and renege on your contract, and if you do, you'll face X punishment through training camp and preseason. Further infraction and you'll face Y punishment for games 1 through 10 of the regular season. For continued infraction, you'll face Z punishment for anything past game 10 of the regular season.

Some might think that permission was indeed granted else no player would be allowed to hold out at all

The only food known to man with 100% bioavailablity to the human body of all it's nutrients .

Are you sure you're not mistaking eggs with beer

 

[PromisedLand]

Yikes, 267 posts. Forgive me if I am repeating what someone else said but I only read about 100 of them and then gave up.

BUT

Insofar as I read here is the point that many seem to be missing. I think Branch and Chayut ("the Player"), not being stupid, realize that any offers they would receive would be less than "fair market value" because:

1. most teams have little cap room at this time of year,

2. they would not only need to pay the Player whatever compensation was agreed to by him, but they would also need to compensate the Patriots ("the Team"). Therefore the market value for the Player at this time and under this conditions is considerably less than it would be were the Player a March 1st free agent.

Therefore the Player may feel that the Team's offer to let him negotiate a trade is disingenious and he would therefore elect not to exercise the option the Team has given him, preferring the already existing option of holding out until week 10 and thereby playing out his contract whereby on March 1st he becomes a UFA and will therefore expect to receive higher compensation due to the absense of the two factors previously mentioned.

The player may also realize that the Franchise Player value for him could be as high as the average of the 5 top paid WR's (of which he is not one). This figure has been reported here to be around $8M and therefore is better than what he could hope to receive on the free agent market, and is considerably more than what the Patriots have reportedly offered him (although he assumes the full risk of a career shortening injury).

If this theory is true then there is a substantial chance that Sept 1st will come and go with no deal and no end to the holdout.

 

[bresna]

A couple of facts

Branch is scheduled to get paid $1.065 million, not $1.5 million this year

the 2nd time a franchise player gets tagged he gets the minimum of a 20% increase or the average of the 5 salary cap numbers at his position.

Miguel,

Didn't the new CBA also limit the amount of times a player can be franchised to 2 or did they just talk about it?

 

[Water Boy]

Trade Deion Branch to the Minnesota Vikings for a second round draft pick and then put the screws to him:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2559815

''Depending on how Broncos officials resolve various fines and potential penalties pending against Lelie as a result of his decision to boycott the team's offseason activities -- and his failure to report to training camp despite having a contract -- the four-year veteran could go into the red for 2006."

Thanks for the link. The egos most WRs have are unbelievable -TO, Moss, Meshawn, Leilie, Branch etc. These guys think they walk on water.

 

[Pats726]

As yet he hasn't but he doesn't have to as of right now. According to the CBA, Branch can complete the duties of his contract by showing up for 10 games this year.

Branch is doing what the CBA allows him to do. To say he is doing something wrong is, well, wrong.


The issue of open versus not open is one of personal opinion obviously. Suffice it to say that the market for Branch's services is much more restricted right now than it was back in May. Back then the league was flush with sal cap $ and vacant roster spots. This is no longer the case.

My point is such restriction might very well be a contentious issue with Branch's agent if the Pats use it as a means to determine his market value. I know if I were his agent I'd certainly be of that opinion.

It is all about timing..NOT when the player wishes to become a free agent.. The rule is a player bceomes a UFA at the end uf a contract..The Patriots are being FAR generous even talking to him..they COULD certainly just have easily told him he HAD a contract and to pound sand. THEY certainly HAD that right and were VERY reasonable about negotiating with him when they were of NO legal obligation to do that. Branch and Chuyut are yapping about money and the Patriots are calling them on it. They have absolutely NO beef at all with what the Patriots are doing. As to whether it is restrictive or not, that has to do with timing. Complaining about THIS opportuniy is akin to a player with a 5 year deal, feeling the market is better after year 2 and wanting to negotiate at that point. Deion has that opportunity now if he has a problem then he needs to get himself into camp and complete his contract SO he can become a UFA. P;ayer's don't get to choose when they can vecome a FA.

 

[Water Boy]

A shrewd team could offer him a ridiculous contract, then fail to give the trade bait, in order for him to think he can get more on the open market and refuse to resign here. If Mangini learned from the master, he will offer Branch everything he asked for, then offer the Pats a 4th for the trade, meaning there will be no trade, and Branchs future here is over.
For 2006, this move is a good one, for beyond, its very risky.

I don't think he'll consider an offer legit unless a team is willing to pony up the pick as well as the $$$. If a team only offered a 4th rounder, he'd probably consider it a slap in the face.

 

[SBPatsFan]

Miguel,

Didn't the new CBA also limit the amount of times a player can be franchised to 2 or did they just talk about it?

On the NFLPA website the term sheet for the extension is available as a PDF. It allows for a third year of franchise player designation but with some pretty steep financial disincentives for a team choosing this course of action. Club can also select to tender a player as a Transition player this 3rd year after franchising for years 1 and 2.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I don't understand the joy felt over the stance the Pats are taking on Branch.....

I really don't get it. This is like drawing a line in the sand and saying, "I dare you to step over this line", Deion steps over it, and drawing another line. What we all have to realize is that, come September 1st, we will be in the same place. Branch won't work out a trade, and he will still hold out afterwards. I really don't get the optimism. Just because the Pats have proclaimed this deadline, doesn't mean a trade OR a deal get's done by Sept 1st. Then what happens ? This proclamation doesn't force Deion to show up in camp on or after September 1st.

I think this is a face saving attempt by the Pats, basically washing their hands of Branch, but the only way they can get him outta here, is to trade him, which I don't think will happen, or cut him, which definately won't happen. If they think this will force Deion's hand into signing with the Pats, I don't think this was the smart way to do it. My only hope is that a trade does get worked out, but I doubt it.

 

[lobster]

Wonder what happens if Branch finds the best he can get is less than what the Pat's offered him?

 

[Water Boy]

AJ, I'm sure that before they gave permission, the Patriots told Branch's agent what is acceptable compensation.

I'm also sure that there's an agreement that if Branch does not find a viable suitor by 9/1, the holdout is over.

I'm curious as to why you think that's the case?