w High going FA . focus on Butler

[long distance]

Nothing new here . still a nice recap on Butler by Reiss.
With Dont'a Hightower set to explore market, focus turns to Malcolm Butler

In light of what happened with Hightower Pats could focus on long-term with Butler instead of (probably) 1st round tender.

It will not be easy though in this money-overloded FA with showers of huge record-breaking contracts.. Still, they know that they have the best leverage now with Butler certainly interested to earn more this year than the current minimum or the probable 4M tender..

 

[nabwong]

I think they will extend Butler. But I think they will wait till they end negotiations with Hightower as it would be a sign of respect. I think if they announced that they re-signed Butler, Hightower would be asking why he wasn't the first priority. Managing high profile athletes' egos is tough. I don't envy Nick Caserio. But I think they have enough experience to work this out.

IMO, I think Hightower will be playing somewhere else. If I had to pick between him and Butler, I'd pick Butler. More crucial position and he's been available for every game.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Reiss tweeted that they were close last year. I assume they'll just put the 1st round tender on him and let someone else negotiate. I know that could result in a crazy offer but most of the teams with a ton of cap space are non playoff teams who wouldn't be giving up their #1 for him so I wouldn't be too worried about it.

 

[long distance]

One slight piece of leverage is also that Butler is not considered a shut down and seems to fit Pats D perfectly (having D-Mac over certainly doesn't hurt).

Even if they first tender him pushing for long-term now should be the way to go.
They can offer him something like 5y/60M with some 30 guaranteed and it will still cost them less than a 2017 tender + 2018 and 2019 tags - in case they want to be sure to keep him for the next 3 years..

 

[borg]

Still, they know that they have the best leverage now with Butler certainly interested to earn more this year than the current minimum or the probable 4M tender..

Sure....if Butler negotiates and signs a long term deal this offseason, he will technically "earn more than the $4 mill tender" given the totality of the deal.....BUT....NE typically does not pay extra for a year they already have salary control over....2017. In other words, Butler may earn $12 mill for each of the years 2018-20 ....but NE will fight to include the 2017 $4 mill in the total equation.
And given how few premium NE players have opted for early signings which would remove them from free agency and the massive contracts typically available, I just don't see the leverage argument as being that strong.
Sure, Butler has yet to see real NFL money unlike the high draft studs....and maybe Butler values playing for NE more than the maximum dollar potential likely available in FA to someone of his caliber......but....to paraphrase Marty the Loquacious......teams pay up for Super Bowl champs and Butler wears two rings.
IMHO.......Butler waits it out for a year and hits the FA market ....standing on his agent's shoulders.
Given how much cash NE has this offseason, BB should break precedent and over compensate for Butler's 2017 in order to achieve a more manageable 2018-20.
Let's pay someone

 

[long distance]

Let's throw today's Patspulpit article about “dissatisfied“ Butler in the conversation..

Malcolm Butler reportedly "dissatisfied" with current contract situation

 

[AtomicDawg]

Let's throw today's Patspulpit article about “dissatisfied“ Butler in the conversation..

Malcolm Butler reportedly "dissatisfied" with current contract situation

This sounds like agent speak to me. But agents do work for the player. Nonetheless, I kind of don't like them going to the media to say these things. I can understand wanting to get paid, but I'm not sure of this will expedite the process of that.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

This sounds like agent speak to me. But agents do work for the player. Nonetheless, I kind of don't like them going to the media to say these things. I can understand wanting to get paid, but I'm not sure of this will expedite the process of that.

Right. We know Reiss is usually very good with his sources/reporting, and his main sources are people from the team itself. We don't necessarily know Giardi's sources. Basically I'm interpreting it as being -- the Patriots really thought they were close last offseason to an extension, but they reached a point where discussions were tabled until this offseason. Meanwhile, Butler is "dissatisfied" that the contract isn't done. I don't think those are mutually exclusive -- they could have been really close but neither side was willing to be the one to cross the line, and Butler is dissatisfied that nothing was completed after all that. Anyway, hopefully this bodes well for the current negotiation.

 

[neuronet]

Pay the man.

 

[long distance]

 

[SalemPats]

Butler maybe our most important defensive player. We might have to overpay to keep him and i would be fine with that. I just want to see him a Pat for a long time

 

[luuked]

Butler maybe our most important defensive player. We might have to overpay to keep him and i would be fine with that. I just want to see him a Pat for a long time

No reason to overpay him with all the leverage we have. People here are just overestimating the willingness of other teams to part with a first round pick to sign Butler to an offer sheet.

 

[TB_Helmet]

Anyone who knows more than I do want to rank the cornerbacks in the NFL today? Wonder where Butler would fall. He might not be a true 'shut-down' CB but how many of those are there really?

 

[long distance]

No reason to overpay him with all the leverage we have. People here are just overestimating the willingness of other teams to part with a first round pick to sign Butler to an offer sheet.

I agree 1st round tender should do to keep him for a year, especially with deeep and quality CB class in the Draft. Although we should remind ourselves that for GMs RFAs are - available..




But if they want to keep Butler long-term the best leverage they have is this offseason. Otherwise it will be Hightower story all-over again with possibly even higher price tag..

 

[luuked]

I agree 1st round tender should do to keep him for a year, especially with deeep and quality CB class in the Draft. Although we should remind ourselves that for GMs RFAs are - available..




But if they want to keep Butler long-term the best leverage they have is this offseason. Otherwise it will be Hightower story all-over again with possibly even higher price tag..

I agree. I think that if a Butler extension happens it's this offseason or "never".

I just don't think someone else will want to give up top of the market salary and a first round pick for him. At least it's not that likely.

 

[brdmaverick]

It would be pretty crazy if Collins, Jones, and Hightower all ended up gone after they were suspected to be the core of our defense for a long, long time.

 

[resdubwhite]

Come on Bill. Do a deal.

 

[long distance]

It would be pretty crazy if Collins, Jones, and Hightower all ended up gone after they were suspected to be the core of our defense for a long, long time.

Unfortunately in todays NFL you cannot make a core of elite players in their prime. You have to ride on first and last contracts or you choke.

Remember there are only 2.2 $10M+ contracts on average per team in this league and only 6 more in 5-10M range.

FA frenzy and some splashy contracts make you forget the reality of roster building.
___

In Pats 2017-2018 terms:
they already have 3 $10M+ contracts (cap hit) in 2017: Brady, Solder and McCourty
they also have 3 $10M+ contracts in 2018: Brady, Gronk, McCourty
(Brady's restructures and home discounts give Pats a chance for an extra 10M+ contract)

Looking at this it could be clear a year ago that only one of CJ, JC, HT could stay.
They chose HT and he chose FA. We'll see. But you have to count Butler in this club for 2018.

What they do have is some space in 5-10M range . so expect quite a few signings with those price tags..


Just follow:
Miguel's UNOFFICIAL 2017 Patriots Salary Cap Information Page

 

[brdmaverick]

Unfortunately in todays NFL you cannot make a core of elite players in their prime. You have to ride on first and last contracts or you choke.

Good point, a critical component to a team's success is getting great production from your players still on rookie deals (overplaying their value). We've had an embarrassment of riches the past few years with tremendous production from players who fit this criteria.

Now that Hightower, Jones, Collins, and very likely Butler will have graduated from this category by either getting paid or leaving, a strong argument could be made that THIS is where the lost deflategate pick really hurts us. The failed Dominique Easly pick hurts us here too. Trey Flowers is reason for optimism though.

 

[Jimke]

The Patriots need a long term deal with Butler in place before they even have
conversations with Harmon and Ryan.