[Rapoport] Marty B wants to keep playing

[mgteich]

Bennett is with the Patriots because they claimed him off waivers in November. The 49ers could have done so, and had higher waiver priority at the time, so they would have been awarded the contract. Jimmy G was already on the 49ers then so could have vouched for him at that time (Chris R's point in his original message). His 2017 cap charge post-waiver claim was minimal.

So what's changed that would cause the 49ers to want him now (assuming the Pats cut him) versus not claiming him then?

my bad; a faulty memory

 

[jah]

Bennett is with the Patriots because they claimed him off waivers in November. The 49ers could have done so, and had higher waiver priority at the time, so they would have been awarded the contract. Jimmy G was already on the 49ers then so could have vouched for him at that time (Chris R's point in his original message). His 2017 cap charge post-waiver claim was minimal.

So what's changed that would cause the 49ers to want him now (assuming the Pats cut him) versus not claiming him then?

I don't see any big reason to believe Bennett is going to SF, but I think whatever Jimmy G happens to want matters a lot more now than it did in November. Back then, he wasn't even starting, but now he's the highest paid player in NFL history.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

my bad; a faulty memory

No problem, just wanted to make sure I was communicating clearly!

 

[mgteich]

Bennett is a backup TE, someone who could start if Gronk was injured. It's not like Gronk is always playing at 100%. A backup to Gronk is worth starting pay, especially if he is a decent threat to make a few receptions. The situation is similar to the situation we had when Cannon was paid as a backup to Vollmer. Posters scratched their heads. Belichick paid the money.

 

[Chris Stevenson]

Why not just do the old "wink-win" thingy and cut him, then re-sign him under proper terms?

Make it a 1 year deal, vet min, with incentives, so if he plays a lot, he earns his money.

Put the onus on Bennett. If he truly wants to be play again for BB and the Pats, this should be the arrangement.

He doesn't have any leverage for 2 reasons:

1. Old and been hurt a lot lately.
2. Malcontent rep that may only be checked by BB in Foxborough and no one else.

 

[signbabybrady]

This shouldn't be Tricky. If BB wants him back then rip up the old deal and write up a LTBE incentive laden deal.

If Marty doesn't like that idea he has to go to unrestricted free agency where the teams interested know he's already thought about retirement and had the fiasco in GB last year.

So it's beneficial to both sides to rework the deal so he stays here.

 

[mgteich]

How is it in Bennett's interest not to check our free agency to find someone willing to pay a contract that guarantees more than you would want Belichick to pay?

As is almost always the case, the player can check out free agency, and then come back to the patriots if he can't find something better.

If the patriots truly want him, they will sign an extension with a $2M signing bonus. The salaries can be incentive laden.

This shouldn't be Tricky. If BB wants him back then rip up the old deal and write up a LTBE incentive laden deal.

If Marty doesn't like that idea he has to go to unrestricted free agency where the teams interested know he's already thought about retirement and had the fiasco in GB last year.

So it's beneficial to both sides to rework the deal so he stays here.

 

[signbabybrady]

How is it in Bennett's interest not to check our free agency to find someone willing to pay a contract that guarantees more than you would want Belichick to pay?

As is almost always the case, the player can check out free agency, and then come back to the patriots if he can't find something better.

If the patriots truly want him, they will sign an extension with a $2M signing bonus. The salaries can be incentive laden.

Go test free agency you might find its awhile before you are employed and the longer it goes the less available $. I don't see how it's not in his best interest to try to come up with a reasonable deal with us to try and avoid the market.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I'd keep Bennett on his current contract. $6.2M for Gronk insurance isn't so bad, and they can get $4.5M of that back by cutting Allen anyway.

 

[Deus Irae]

Will the Patriots finally get a fully healthy duo of Gronk and Bennett on the field at that same time?


Stay tuned!

 

[PP2]

I'd keep Bennett on his current contract. $6.2M for Gronk insurance isn't so bad, and they can get $4.5M of that back by cutting Allen anyway.

Not going to cut Allen. It's a virtual guarantee that Gronk and/or Bennett are going to miss at least one game or more, in 2018.

But you can bet they'll restructure Allen's contract into an extension and lower his cap hit for '18.

 

[mgteich]

The question is how much will we be billing to pay for a #3 TE, and how much will Allen be willing to take.

The team and Allen could be very far apart. If the answer for us is $2M a year, then I suspect that Allen will see if others want him as a #2 TE and will be pay more.

In any case, the team doesn't need to cut him until they need the cap money for a transaction.

Not going to cut Allen. It's a virtual guarantee that Gronk and/or Bennett are going to miss at least one game or more, in 2018.

But you can bet they'll restructure Allen's contract into an extension and lower his cap hit for '18.