The official "Branch is dead to me" thread.

[Clonamery]

DAmn you'd think DEion personally kicked your dog or slept with your girl.
This is all part of the biz fellas get used to it.
Here's the thing for Deion and it has little to do with the franchise tag. First the 3 year deal offered is an insult in that it is only for three years. Players in this league want money sure but they also want security, especially if they get a career ending injury. After all DEion has done for the team I can see him being of the opinion that it was an insult to only commit to him for 3 years. Him and his agent don't care about the franchise tag, that's a smokescreen. What they are worried about is that if Branch plays out this year and gets injured again, even if it is only for two games, his leverge with any team is going to be virtually shot cause he'll be slotted as injury-prone, which of course he is but teams don't necessarily have him viewed as such at the current moment. The Pats FO has this concern and that is why they are not willing to commit to a longterm deal. And that is the impasse.
Tell me, were some of you this enraged when the Pats cut Milloy a week before the season started? How many have mocked the words of TOm Jackson and his imfamous, "They hate their coach"? Well guess what, many players were poissed at this move and did resent BB for it (hate is a strong word). You seem to think that since players still played hard for him they liked him. That doesn't equate at all. Most good coaches are not well liked. (i.e. Bobby Knight). But I digress.
The point is, it is all part of the process. Teams are allowed to cut players under contract. Players are allowed to hold out to put pressure on for a new contract. That's the way it is and will always be. If you don't fault BB-Pioli for cutting players under contract it is irrational and naive to demonize Branch.
It's a sad and beautiful world.

Wow.....it is a sad and beautiful world but I digress too (not that there's anything wrong with that....)

You're crazy if you don't think almost every professional player isn't looking out for his family and more money first. I bet you would too; stop pretending like you're somehow more morally superior.

I guess I like best how his teammate and friend, Troy Brown, describes him: "He's a pretty good player."

That's how I feel about his football.....pretty good player. Not great (once), not very good (probably a few times), but pretty good (most games). So is he worth all this money NOW with a year left on his original contract (that I guess the Pats held a gun to his agent's head to sign)? I guess the Pats' Front Office does for at least 2 years anyway.........

As a man of intelligence Branch's quota is sinking based upon his handling of his agent and the negotiations.

........Another little snipet Smith dropped was that when Javon Walker was rumored to be coming here he talked to Deion and Deion advised him not to, saying he wouldn't see any money here. Smith said he didn't know how much of that advice was rooted in Deion giving Javon a peers heads up vs. Deion trying to disuade someone who might take reps from him and weaken his negotiating position from potentially signing here. Smith didn't come right out and say it but it sounded as if he got that directly from Walker in the aftermath of his trade to Denver. Who the hell does Deion Branch think he is. Unf'ingbelievable.

And if this is true then he has some serious personality issues as well.

Oh, and some people ARE morally superior......it's just hard to watch sports with them or talk politics.

And even though Taildragger intimates that "we'll forget any of this ever happened," the way this is probably going to turn out, I seriously doubt that for everyone. Not in an 'end of the world' kind of way just for the length and the sheer stupidity and angst of it all....

 

[dryheat44]

DAmn you'd think DEion personally kicked your dog or slept with your girl.
This is all part of the biz fellas get used to it.
Here's the thing for Deion and it has little to do with the franchise tag. First the 3 year deal offered is an insult in that it is only for three years. Players in this league want money sure but they also want security, especially if they get a career ending injury. After all DEion has done for the team I can see him being of the opinion that it was an insult to only commit to him for 3 years.

Actually, a good agent would have steered his client to take this deal pronto. It gives him three years making him the 13th highest paid WR in the league (for now, anyway), and allows him to be a free agent while he's still on the right side of 30, and when the salary cap figures to be much higher than it is now.

There is only one reason for not signing this deal, and it makes Deion look like a little b1tch who deserves to be slapped hard across the beak: He believes that it's insulting to only be paid 1 million plus for 2006. If the Patriots tore up his current contract and gave him a new three year deal at that salary, Deion would sign it in a heartbeat.

If I'm the front office, that deal is now off the table and a new two year extension is on the table. If another week goes by, than the extension gets reduced to one year. If another...then no extension for Deion...he plays this year for this salary and a promise that he WILL be franchised next season.

 

[upstater1]

You're crazy if you don't think almost every professional player is looking out for his family and more money first. I bet you would too; stop pretending like you're somehow more morally superior.
.

I think you're misreading a lot of the complaints about Branch. No one is killing him for looking after himself. We all understand that. In fact, a lot of us--including myself--think he's hopelessly deluded and is NOT looking after himself, the same way Ty Law didn't look after himself, the same way Nomar didn't look after himself. You shouldn't look down your nose at decent deals especially when you have no leverage otherwise. Ty Law wanted to feed his family? Well, judging by the big cut he took looking for a better grocery store, they must be starving now. That's not looking after yourself. That's just the opposite.

 

[upstater1]

the Patriots have PLENTY of cap room right now, why not resign him and give him more money? it makes no sense...seriously,if they resign him and give him what he is asking for, he'll be happy, brady will be happy and they still probably have plenty of cap room...if they dont resign him, you have a disgruntled WR (if he even plays) and if he doesnt play, a QB without his #1 and #2 receivers from last year...doesn't make ANY sense.

So, anytime you have extra money around, you should sign your best players to outlandish contracts. Is that the argument? That sounds like Bill Polian right there. We'd have to cut Vrabel, Bruschi and a few of the guys who are making 2-4 million to afford a policy like that. Think about it. The salary cap looks big, but if you start doling out $8 million contracts to your best position players, you are severely undermanned, as the Colts have found out. Let's say we signed Ty Law under your theory a few years back.

Law $7m
Brady $15m
Seymour $9m
Branch $8m
Givens $5m
Dillon $4-5m
Rookies $4-5m
Vinatieri $2.8m
Jarvis Green $3.5m
Ty Warren, Bruschi, Vrabel, Harrison $15-18m
Colvin $4-5m
Light & Neal $6-8
McGinest $4.5m

That's 85 to 90 million right there. I haven't even mentioned 1st round picks like Watson, Graham, Mankins, Wilson, Wilfork, and their over million dollar contracts. Once you factor them in, you're down to $10 million left.

That's about 25 players right there. So, effectively, you have $10 million to shell out for the rest of the players. 28 of them. That's an average of $350k, below the NFL minimum. You can't even field a full squad. You can't start paying players more than they're worth, because even at $110m salary cap, there's not enough money to go around for 53 guys.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

I agree. Trade this greedy bastard if he doesn't sign by a Patriots chosen deadline.

 

[mavfan2390]

I think thats what it's going to come down to, the Pats trading Branch to a WR hungry team who will give him 7 million a year in exchange for some young talent or a number 1 pick. Just off the top of my head...

AFC (avoiding serious contenders)
Ravens
Browns
Jaguars
Chiefs
Raiders
Chargers

NFC
Cowboys
Eagles
Bears
Packers
Vikings
Falcons
49'ers

 

[PatrioticDynasty]

Ok, The Pat's organization should have nipped this in the bud last year with David Givens...

One: we wouldn't have lost him to Tenn., and would have probably signed him to much less money & signing Bonus.
Two: It would have set a precedence for Branch's contract negotiations this year (Plus Grahams contract coming up as well) not the other way around as it has now turned out.
Three: The Watson hold-out for 18 days and signing for 6.8Mil over 6 years is about Half a mil more that Dieon gets now....
So where does that leave the pats? They have never been in the belief that offensive players should command A lot of or, a majority of the teams money (except QB & RB) Deion is a great receiver, but can he stay healthy for an entire year? Can he beat double coverage? (even he admits it is difficult for him to do)

With this in Mind, and The knowledge that The Pats offered 6mil a year (speculation on the truth to this, and if so how much is back loaded/incentive/etc.) for Deion to still hold out, can only mean that he is posturing for an out, and this will most likely be his last year in New England. He has his rings, His Super bowl MVP, Now comes his payday...There can be no other explanation. Too many players have left with comparable money laid on the table for them to stay.

I will root for Deion when he plays, but to hold out of camp hurts the team, especially Brady and his timing/new plays...It is a business, and so far he now owes almost 126,000 in fines, He better start showing up soon, or this year he might just play for us for free...

 

[mcbee]

They should send Branch's agent a fish wrapped in a picture of Deion's super bowl MVP pick.

just say so if you don't get the analogy.

"Fredo! It was you!" "You are dead to me now."

 

[Pats726]

Chuyut is just using the twig...

I agree...it's getting to that point..Time to forget Deion..he may be GOOOONE!!!!!!!

 

[maverick4]

This is going to be hilarious when Deion re-signs in a week or two for 6.5-7/year.

Since Branch will be 'dead to you', will you boo him when he catches a pass? Will you just plain ignore him? Will you boo Branch in the same game that you cheer Seymour after a sack, even though both players basically did the same thing?

To put things in perspective, what Vinatieri did was much worse. He signed with a hated rival, and immediately started trash talking about the Pats. All Deion Branch has done is sign an inept agent who has bungled his salary for the past 4 years, and continues to rely on this agent's idiotic advice.

I think a lot of really talented people sometimes choose the wrong agents, and sometimes put too much blind trust/faith in those people, which leads to bad decisions. It doesn't mean Deion Branch is an ass or a greedy player. He is probably just pissed, justifiably so, because he has been one of the most underpaid players in the entire league for a long period of time.

.

 

[mcbee]

Deion branch sleeps with the fishes.

(Old Sicilian saying).

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Have you read the offer that the Patriots made to Branch's agent? Damn fair offer, more than I ever thought that they would.

Look guys we have not even played a preseason game yet - let's not jump off bridges yet. Ok- a few of you can.



Even Moe Green understood - it's not personal,it's just business.

To be picky I think that's the Johnny Fontaine scene, and of course Johnny answered with, "You know I'd do anything for BB, ehh I mean my Godfather"..........

Branch will be back, and most likely with a new contract that keeps him around for a while, he is paying an agent to get him the best deal, and that's what the guy is trying to do. It says nothing about Deion, it's not personal, it's business. Do not discount what this kid has done, what does he have something like 21 catches for almost 300 yds, in 2 SB, looks at the BS the other WR who didn't put up those numbers dishes out, before you kill of Deion.

 

[maverick4]

Exactly.

Some people here are linking Deion's agent's actions to Deion. Deion hired his agent to be the 'bad cop' and try to get as much as possible for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he has been completely hands off during the entire negotiation.

.

 

[mcbee]

To be picky I think that's the Johnny Fontaine scene, and of course Johnny answered with, "You know I'd do anything for BB, ehh I mean my Godfather"..........

Branch will be back, and most likely with a new contract that keeps him around for a while, he is paying an agent to get him the best deal, and that's what the guy is trying to do. It says nothing about Deion, it's not personal, it's business. Do not discount what this kid has done, what does he have something like 21 catches for almost 300 yds, in 2 SB, looks at the BS the other WR who didn't put up those numbers dishes out, before you kill of Deion.

The "Luca Brazi sleeps with the fishes" line is by Abe Vigoda, pretty sure.

Don't know about the Johnny Fontaine scene. "Fredo! It was you!" I liked that.

 

[Michigan Dave]

I hope Deion comes back, and catches 15 TDs, and scores the winning TD in the Super Bowl.

 

[Clonamery]

I hope Deion comes back, and catches 15 TDs, and scores the winning TD in the Super Bowl.

I do too if it's with the Patriots.

 

[dryheat44]

The "Luca Brazi sleeps with the fishes" line is by Abe Vigoda, pretty sure.

Actually it was Tom Hagen.

 

[ClosingTime]

BRanch is coming back to the Pats this year, he has no choice. But if a deal doesn't get done you can forget about it next year. Have fun rooting for a player you dislike just cause of normal business practices.
And if anyone here would stay with a company that paid them less than they were worth and didn't play hardball to renegotiate they are an idiot.

 

[14thDragon]

And if anyone here would stay with a company that paid them less than they were worth and didn't play hardball to renegotiate they are an idiot.

I would not be mad at Deion playing hard ball, aggressively negotiating or even holding out to get negotioations going. But he is holding out without even making a counter offer. He is pouting waiting for the promise of not being franchised. That is re-gawddamn-diculus.

He is essentially saying that he will not negotiate until the teams only leverage is off the table. That is not hard ball, that is bad faith.

 

[dryheat44]

BRanch is coming back to the Pats this year, he has no choice. But if a deal doesn't get done you can forget about it next year. Have fun rooting for a player you dislike just cause of normal business practices.
And if anyone here would stay with a company that paid them less than they were worth and didn't play hardball to renegotiate they are an idiot.

Really? If you have a four year contract with any company and in the last year of that contract you decide that you'd like more money, you'd respond by not showing up for work as you are contractually obligated to?

That doesn't fly in the real world.