http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/ BRILLIANT!!!! Let Branch and his idiot agent go see what his value is on the market. I actually feel bad for a player when his agent gives him bad advice, but that all ends if he leaves his teammates on the field without him come Game 1. At that point, screw 'em. Anyway, love this move.
Actually his value might be pretty high, if leslie is worth a 3rd, or TJ duckett what does that make branch worth?
I'm sure Brady won't like this move. Didn't be practically demand the FO to make sure Branch stays with the team?
Return values not that high. One, because teams will be skeptical. No one in their right mind believes that New England is going to be fine starting Troy Brown and Reche Caldwell at wide receiver. Two, because if they are in fact serious, teams will know that New England has no intentions of re-signing him, and will low-ball. Three, because Branch is not that much better than Lelie. 16 game averages- Branch- 53.25 catches 686 yards, 3.5 TD's Lelie- 42 catches, 752 yards, 3 TD's -X-
Yeah, if Chambers were holding out in Miami, and was then given permission to seek a trade, I'd probably feel the same, given the fact that he's our best WR and all.....Yeah, I'd love that move..... Face it, this is yet another "major defection" being added to the list in New England this year. If he gets traded, or even continues to hold-out, the Patriots / Brady are going to miss Branch big time.....
Cellar Door, don't make the mistake of confusing what the Redskins give for a player and said player's actual value. They're notorious overspenders.
First off, don't put words in my mouth or tell what I am thinking as if you know me better than I know myself. Second, this is a reality in the NFL. Branch is under contract. He has to play or he loses his year. Chances are better than 50% he plays for us this year, but if he doesn't, something tell me the Pats front office is going to trade Branch for a 6th rounder. Third, I do like this move. If we lose him, the sky doesn't fall. If we get decent return value, it is better than a player who was going to holdout. I can not this situation to happen all I want, but the Pats made a very good offer to him and he rejected it. It would be one thing if the Pats made a terrible offer. These situations will hit all teams. We all have the same cap and every team has to place a value on a player. Your team is not immune to this either. You can wish you still had Abe all you want, but you don't. The Branch situation is what it is and this move is a smart move by managment. Just because they are allowing him to look at the market doesn't mean he leaves.
Yeah, you would if Chambers were doing what branch is doing.... holding out while under contract. If you truely understand this move, it has nothing to do with actually trading him. It allows both sides to see his market value. Either he resigns, or we get good return. Jeez, why does everything have to be a damn fight with you, and condesending no less. Grow up. I did nothing to provoke you. He is still on the Pats, so there is no "major defection". And if he does leave, I'll wait and see what replaces him before i say we'll miss him. Brady always spreads it around, no 1 WR is dominant on our team. And don't act like these issues won't come knocking on your door either. The better the Fins get, the more money your players will want.
One question. Who's going to start at WR now, assuming Branch doesn't play in NE this year???.... I know that WR C. Jackson has a bad hammy, who's going to step up????....
Go check our roster, look under WR, TE and RB. They are the ones eligable to catch the football from our QB. 1. A hamstring injury usually doesn't last 16 games. 2. I am not a clairvoyant. Later...
Damn, I hate it when I do that!!! I forgot you were a Pats fan, and should have known you wouldn't be able to answer my question. My bad.... Wow. Good answer. I guess that means he's doing great!!!.... Neither am I, but that's okay. I seem get by witout the ability to foresee the future....
Blitz, seriously, why all the nonsense? I am not here to fight with you, why must you continue to provoke me? There is a trash talking forum here if you desire such banter. I wish you well.
DW you are a quality guy and the last thing I would want to do is patronise you (no pun intended) but, in heart of hearts you cannot think that Branch going is a good thing. Sure hes been shown the bright lights , but once he realises the damn aweful truth that the FO hold all the cards he 'll soon slip into the fold. He s a fine receiver that would make most teams 1 or 2 WR. You sound pissed off , and I would be too that somebody as important as DB is rocking the boat , hes Brady's #1 , do you really want him out?
Thanks for simply and rationally talking football. I think you are missing why I was/am happy. I am happy with this tactic. I do not think that Branch will find a team to be traded to in 6 days. It took Lelie 6 months to get traded. I am happy with this move by the Patriots front office as it will expose Branch's fraudlent agent. I hold him responsible. In the end, Branch will be playing for the Pats, most likely by the first game, but it's the tactic I am happy with. If this led to the Patriots trading Branch to KC for a 6th rounder, you are beyond correct I would not be happy. But I'll reserve judgment for that conclusion if he ever does in fact get traded.
I doubt any Patsy fan wants him out. They're just saying it's a good management move since: (a) if he leaves, they'll get something in return via trade, (b) he gets no takers and realizes he isn't worth as much as he thought he was, thus agreeing to a cheaper contract with the Patsies. The NE management is doing the best they can in a bad situation.
i could see branch back on the pats next year just for the fact that he would be over valued on the market i do think the pats should give him more money, they can afford to bring players out of retirement but not to give the cuperbowl MVP a raise??? whats the deal with that, he deserves it big time
