Stop asking me for Chinese food recommendations. You know that you did, don't deny it- I'll go back to that post of yours where you mention how many minutes it would take for your order to get here.
Well, first Branch and now Samuel. This is great. I can't wait until payback comes. First we'll go after Rhodes, or at least drive up the market on him, then....? Definitely a good move on your part. Makes the Pats FO go a bit crazy. Conversely, a very short-sighted move. When you keep prodding someone, then they want to get back at you. When your top players' contracts come up, I am sure we'll repay the favor. Got to love the off-season.
With the trade-up for Revis and already having Dyson, I don't see the Jets trading multiple 1's and then giving him a contract which will include a SB of about $18-20 million... I think he's worth it, the money, but not the picks...And the Jets just got Revis, I know he'll probably be in the Nickel role at the start, but eventually start.
Couldn't this be solved by the Pats actually taking care of some of their own players. I understand the "what's best for the team mentality" and am all for it. However, I think it is pretty much a given that the Pats made a mistake not resigning Branch. As for Samuel, how can you pay big money for A.Thomas who has had two good years in a top-tier defense and then not want to pay market value for Samuel. Sure, Samuel had one break-out year, but he has only been in the league for four years. Add to that the money thrown at Welker and Stallworth, cap hit to trade for Moss and the fact that Pats are still well-under the cap. I hate saying professional athletes are underpaid, but when you have Clements getting $64 over 7 with $20 upfront, why wouldn't Samuel be pissed when the Pats are restricting him from getting market value with the tag. Couldn't they just give him $15mm in salary this year thereby eliminating any future cap implications since there is no signing bonus? As for getting back at the Jets, the Patriots and their leaders are way to classy to do that.:lol: Besides, Ellis, Cotchery, 2/5 of the O-line, Coles and Revis (eventually) are locked up. Robertson and Vilma don't really fit the Pats system. Rhodes would be the only guy. (Please take Coleman.)
How is offering about 8 million not taking care of their player? That is more than virtually any player on the Pats has ever made in a season. He wants about per year on a long term deal, we want to pay 6 per. I'm sorry, but I just don't want to pay Samuel Clements' money. Why are we the bad guys for going by the CBA? I would far prefer 2 1st round picks from the Jets than signing him for that. Did we take care of Seymour? Did we take care of Brady? I'm sorry, but you can't "take care" of every player that comes up for a contract. Samuel had 1 great season. Now we have to pay him a long-term deal at top money? No thanks. I mean, I can't deny how well he played last season, but there will be other CB's who will play well in our system. What can you do? It's life in the NFL.
The Pats were fortunate that Brady took less than market value. Then they return the favor by shipping off Branch. Regardless, Brady / Pats will come to a head when they have to restructure after next season. (They converted salary to signing bonus to get the Moss deal done and his cap numbers get ridiculous after next season.) As much as I don't like it, NFL players don't care about a one-year payoff. They only care about what other players are getting and what the size of the signing bonus is. Doesn't make it right, but that is the reality. I am not saying the Pats are the bad guys, they are doing what they think is right, but that may cost them their best secondary player for the first ten games. How do you reconcile the A.Thomas contract with not working out a long-term deal with Samuel? With the cap going up and the ridiculous money availabe this offseason, the franchise tag is grossly out of line with market value. Franchising a player this offseason, while within the guidelines of the CBA is effectively raising the middle finger to a player on your own team (this offseason).
I suspect Rhodes is tied up long-term a year early, like Cotchery. Feel free to tap up Erik Coleman though! :wink:
I just don't see how this is a smart move on our part. Just as the Branch move came back to bite us in the ass, I could see the same happen with Samuel. and BTW Dirtywater, you guys won't get a sniff of Rhodes and neither will any other team. He is next on the sign to a long term deal list.
I think Nate Clements' contract blew up the market for DBs. Once it's established that Nate Clements is worth that, why isn't Samuel worth that and more?
I'm not aware of anyone who thinks the Patriots didn't do the right thing with Branch, so I'm a little baffled by this statement. Obviously, they didn't win the Superbowl last year, so their season was a complete failure, and who knows? maybe if they had signed Branch they would have won it all, but maybe they would have won it all if they had Brandon Meriweather (the player they drafted with the pick they got for Branch) to replace Rodney Harrison, who was injured. it's all hypothetical, but the bottom line is I would trade Deion Branch for a first-round draft pick in a heartbeat. he wasn't that good. I was surprised when they franchised Samuel and not Daniel Graham. In some respects I think the Patriots look at Asante Samuel as a player they were going to lose to free agency. I'm more concerned with their aging linebackers than I am with their cornerbacks. In any case, I trust Belichick's judgment in these matters. I don't begrudge Asante Samuel for refusing to sign, nor do I think the Patriots are doing the wrong thing in capitulating.
So, you're telling me that you are going to pay Rhodes #1 Safety money? I don't see Mangini doing that. And yes, Rhodes will be looking for that deal. And for the record, I don't see us paying him that either, just getting into it to drive up the price ala Branch & Samuel.
Rhodes will get extended a year early, saving us a little money. Look at Cotchery's deal as a guideline, it's not top tier money, but it's fair.
If we have to, I would have absoultely no problem paying Rhodes #1 safety money. He is arguably the best player on our defense, possibly the team. He is still extremely young and hasn't even entered his prime yet. There aren't many great safeties in the league right now, and by the way he played this past season, it would be a foolish move to let him go. He may end up being on of the top 5 or possibly 3 at his position along with the likes of Ed Reed and Adrian Wilson
No one is debating his talent, just the % of total cap money you guys will allocate to 1 position, safety. I don't see Mangini doing that. It sets a precedent for others to demand the same thing.
well we will be in the drivers seat until he becomes a FA, take a look at the Cotchery deal as a reference. Now if it comes down to it, I do believe we would pay him what it will take. He is just that important to our D.. I don't see him going anywhere for awhile.
2 years time i think,so you'll have to wait a while before you drive up the price. In fact he's probably a restricted free agent after this upcoming season,but I'm sure he'd get the maximum tender.
First things first. He wouldnt cost 2 first round picks. I believe if you were to offer him a deal now, it would cost two first rounders because he is franchised. I dont believe any team would trade two first rounds. If he doesnt get a deal with the patriots he may or may not sit out some games. Next offseason if he were to get franchised again it would cost the patriots about 10 million dollars. Most teams would rather wait until next offseason and just bid on him. I think he would cost a #1 pick. If I were the jets I would look into this. He just turned 26, and has alot of years left. You could cut Barrett who makes 4 million to soften the cap blow. We could quickly have the best secondary in the NFL. Then if Revis turns out to be a good corner, we could trade Dyson in the offseason.
The fact that we would have to give up 2 first round picks as compensation means the deal is NO NO NO. Nobody is worth that except maybe Barry Sanders, OJ Simpson, Sweetness in their prime.
