delete me

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Patriots | Branch given permission to seek trade
  Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:15:51 -0700
 
  ESPNews reports the New England Patriots have given WR Deion Branch permission to seek a trade.

Good thing we got Stallworth.  We don't need no stinkin' Deion Branch!1

[Rome]

Get him.

Don't delay.  Don't quibble.  Just f'ing get him.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

No way I get my hopes up for this. Nope. No sir. No how. Nada.


Brown, Baskett, Avant, Gaffney, Pinkston, McCants. Get used to it.

[MadMarchHare]

Pfft - too late.  That being said, no way it happens.

[mpmcgraw]

I hate you.  Stop getting my hopes up and expecting my team to do something.

[ice grillin you]

gotta give him a lot of money too....not gonna happen

the eagles give money AND a high pick for him.....HA

[MadMarchHare]

If he was TO calibre, I could see the FO doing that, sure, especially if they saw WR as a need position.  But Branch ain't TO calibre, and the season starts in 2 weeks.  Ain't gonna happen.

[Feva]

Believe me... I don't want to get my hopes up, but DAMN!


The Eagles need to make this happen.  They've got the picks, they've got the money.


Quit farging around... get it done.

[Rome]

Get him.  Get him.  Get him.  Get him.  Get him.


End of story.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I think Jason Licht was partially behind the decision to draft Branch.  That could be a big factor.

Or not, because I totally think they're going to trade with NO for Stallworth.  Maybe a backup player and a 4th rounder.

[SunMo]

dumb idea

[Rome]

dumb idea

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I think Jason Licht was partially behind the decision to draft Branch.  That could be a big factor.

Take your very logical assumptions and cram them up your wishful ass. Why god?! WHY!?


PFT.com

PATS EXTEND OLIVE BRANCH TO DEION?

Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe reports that the Patriots have released the following statement:

"The New England Patriots have given Deion Branch permission to seek a trade and negotiate a contract with other clubs. This permission will extend until September 1, 2006."

Here's our take on the development:  The team is trying to soften him up to end his holdout. 

The problem is that Branch still has a limb up his knothole regarding the five-year deal that he signed as a rookie, and the fact that the team's prior offer of a multi-year contract is less valuable in his eyes because he doesn't want an extension but a replacement of the final year of his rookie deal.

In essence, he wants to be paid like an unrestricted free agent, even though he's under contract for another year.

So the Pats are letting him shop for other offers, knowing full well that any offers he might receive will also take into account the fact that the Super Bowl XXXIX MVP is still under contract for a year.  Further reducing the value of any contract that another team might present to him is the fact that compensation must be given to the Patriots in order to acquire his rights.

Thus, at a time when Branch has expressed a belief that "everything's going to work out," the Pats have given Deion an olive branch of sorts in order to further nudge him into coming back.  He'll feel like the team is being cooperative by letting him try to get the best deal possible, even if the team has no intention at the end of the day to give up his rights.  The only risk is that Branch and his agent will use this opportunity as a way to gauge the market for his services in March 2007.

Then again, that might be a good thing for the Pats, since Branch would likely realize that he's not going to command Moss or Marvin money if the Patriots choose not to apply the franchise tag.

Our guess?  Branch will conclude that he's not going to get many or any offers better than the one he didn't accept from New England, and he'll decide to report in time to get paid his full salary for 2006, hoping that the team will eventually put back on the table the offer that was yanked after Branch's agent, Jason Chayut, likely alienated the organization by taking his case to the media. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Licht was with the Pats through the 2003 draft.  Branch was drafted in 2002.

You have to believe that his opinion of Branch could really push this one way or another.  Frankly, Licht is in a position that if he thinks a player is absolutely worth getting, he can get him.  He's Heckert's main man.  He's probably going to have a big say on what the Eagles are willing to give up for Donte Stallworth.

[mpmcgraw]

Stop toying with us.