I don't think this was done as something that was not talked over with Branch (via his agent). I think the sides sat down and went over it.
I know some here fear that Branch will get a huge offer but the team will not be willing to give the Pats much. I feared that as well but then thought about. They must have agreed on the following.
Minimum draft pick. Be it what it may, but the pats must have told him if they aren't willing to give us what ever that pick happens to be, don't even bother. And I suspect Branch and his agent agreed.
Offlimit teams. I would think generally the AFC would be off limits, especially the afc east and all the contenders in the afc. Maybe they let him go to the Titans or something.
Player trade. This one I don't know how they could word. Maybe that one is a we'll look at the offer.
Timeline. I think both sides agreed that either this happens or Branch gets to camp, Pats waive the fines.
Finally, and here is the one that I am really hoping for. I hope they have agreed that the Pats have the right to match any offer from another team that Branch would agree is fair compensation, and that he will sign with the Pats and can not use the match to make to team raise it's offer.
In the end I hope this is resolved with Branch in a Pats uniform.
I do think it is a smart move buy the team. And I have been particularly p!ssed at Branch mainly because he lied when he told the press he would finish his contract with or without an extension.
That said it really felt like a punch in the gut when I saw the headlines. And I would really hate to see the man in another teams uniform.
I know some here fear that Branch will get a huge offer but the team will not be willing to give the Pats much. I feared that as well but then thought about. They must have agreed on the following.
Minimum draft pick. Be it what it may, but the pats must have told him if they aren't willing to give us what ever that pick happens to be, don't even bother. And I suspect Branch and his agent agreed.
Offlimit teams. I would think generally the AFC would be off limits, especially the afc east and all the contenders in the afc. Maybe they let him go to the Titans or something.
Player trade. This one I don't know how they could word. Maybe that one is a we'll look at the offer.
Timeline. I think both sides agreed that either this happens or Branch gets to camp, Pats waive the fines.
Finally, and here is the one that I am really hoping for. I hope they have agreed that the Pats have the right to match any offer from another team that Branch would agree is fair compensation, and that he will sign with the Pats and can not use the match to make to team raise it's offer.
In the end I hope this is resolved with Branch in a Pats uniform.
I do think it is a smart move buy the team. And I have been particularly p!ssed at Branch mainly because he lied when he told the press he would finish his contract with or without an extension.
That said it really felt like a punch in the gut when I saw the headlines. And I would really hate to see the man in another teams uniform.