Branch given permission to seek trade

[brady_branch]

Just hurry up and sign the guy already.... he's worth WAY more than 1.045M.

[EaglesFan]

But is he worth more than $6 million per year? The Patriots don't think so and I'm sure many more teams don't either (the Eagles included). This isn't a move to get rid of him, this is to let him realize his true value in the eyes of other clubs.

[RedSoxVT92]

This isn't a trade to get rid of him, this is to let him realize his true value in the eyes of other clubs.

I hope that works, but I also hope it doesnt somehow backfire because I dont want to lose Branch (one of my favorites).

[football junkie]

I say let him go. This is why Chad Jackson was drafted.

[brady_branch]

If they let him go, I'll have to change my username.

Day 1, clear!

I say he's worth more than 6M. Way more. He's among the best in the game.

[football junkie]

I say he's worth more than 6M. Way more. He's among the best in the game.

You're talking about a guy who's never gained 1,000 yards in a season, a player who has never caught more than 5 touch downs in the season. Among the best in the game? I'm afraid you're suffering from Stockholm Syndrome -- as Branch is at least attempting to hold the Patriots hostage.

Facts: 1. Branch is not amongst the best WRs in the game. 2. Branch is not worth $6 million a season. 3. The Patriots have already dealt with the situation by using a top round draft pick on Chad Jackson. 4. Whatever the Patriots get for Branch wil be a bonus -- because if Belichick can't trade Branch, he will cut him, i.e. Lawyer Millow, Ty Law.

[efin98]

If they let him go, I'll have to change my username.

Day 1, clear!

I say he's worth more than 6M. Way more. He's among the best in the game.

From a fan's perspective he's worth that much and more.

From a football coach's or GM's perspective he's borderline good. He's nothing without Brady's arm. Put him on another team with a guy who has a worse arm and Branch becomes just another third string wide receiver.

He's worth $2 Million at most, but nowhere near the $6 Million that he wants.

[efin98]

Facts: 1. Branch is not amongst the best WRs in the game. 2. Branch is not worth $6 million a season. 3. The Patriots have already dealt with the situation by using a top round draft pick on Chad Jackson. 4. Whatever the Patriots get for Branch wil be a bonus -- because if Belichick can't trade Branch, he will cut him, i.e. Lawyer Millow, Ty Law.

They have a glut of TEs on the team, they have a good running back, they have a multi-role back- without him they are still a good offensive team. They will simply change their offense around to adapt to the other players on the team, something I was hoping they would do for the last two years.

[brady_branch]

They are still good, but Branch is still my favorite, and I'm praying that they don't cut him.

Day 2, clear!

Though I wouldn't mind seeing Watson and Wilcox get more catches.

And, on second thought, Brady and even Cassel have been nothing short of spectacular this preseason, so maybe we don't need him. He sure would be nice to have around, though. If he goes to, say, Cincinnati, he'll be great and we'll be kicking ourselves. If he goes to the Jets, we'll be patting ourselves on the back. Branch is worth more than what he's making now, but maybe not 6M. But definitely at least 3M. We need a compromise.

Note: Thanks for joining, efin98. I was starting to feel like I was talking to myself.

[efin98]

Day 2, clear!

Though I wouldn't mind seeing Watson and Wilcox get more catches.

When they drafted the TEs the last few years they haven't gotten as much needed playing time due to the crop of WRs on the field, but when given a chance they shine.

Frankly if they keep up the good play I think they may become key components of the offense and possibly even the next coming of Ben Coates: a catching TE who can also block well.

And, on second thought, Brady and even Cassel have been nothing short of spectacular this preseason, so maybe we don't need him. He sure would be nice to have around, though. If he goes to, say, Cincinnati, he'll be great and we'll be kicking ourselves. If he goes to the Jets, we'll be patting ourselves on the back. Branch is worth more than what he's making now, but maybe not 6M. But definitely at least 3M. We need a compromise.

I think you made my point for me as New York has a huge hole at QB with guys who aren't in Brady's league talentwise while in Cincy they have a QB who is a borderline great...if he went to New York he would be mediocre and if he goes to Cincy he would be as good as he is here...

Note: Thanks for joining, efin98. I was starting to feel like I was talking to myself.

Discussions are so much nicer when you have someone else local to argue...I mean discuss things with :D

[EaglesFan]

He's worth $2 Million at most, but nowhere near the $6 Million that he wants.

He's looking for more than $6 million, something in the range of Reggie Wayne's deal. Wayne got a 6yr/40 mil deal with 13.5mil guaranteed. I believe the Pats offered Branch a 5yr/33 mil deal and a 3yr/18.7 mil deal with something around 8mil guaranteed.

[efin98]

He's looking for more than $6 million, something in the range of Reggie Wayne's deal. Wayne got a 6yr/40 mil deal with 13.5mil guaranteed. I believe the Pats offered Branch a 5yr/33 mil deal and a 3yr/18.7 mil deal with something around 8mil guaranteed.

Way too over priced. Wayne is a leading receiver, he isn't.

[brady_branch]

Wayne? A leading receiver? He's not even the best on his team. The 3 year deal looks pretty reasonable to me.

[brady_branch]

Day 3, Clear!

Our humiliation of the Redskins has certainly cooled me on Branch.

[Carsonpalmer9]

You're talking about a guy who's never gained 1,000 yards in a season, a player who has never caught more than 5


What's funny is that last year he was 2 yards away and he had 5 touchdowns.

[efin98]

Wayne? A leading receiver? He's not even the best on his team. The 3 year deal looks pretty reasonable to me.

He's more of a leading receiver than Branch is.

[efin98]

He can kiss one team good bye as the Eagles don't need his services any more.


A guy on WBCN today had a good piece on the Branch situation. He stated that he believes the Patriots are only allowing Branch to seek out the trade just to see what his REAL value is, not just what Branch or the Patriots CLAIM it to be.

Basically, let him see for himself how much he is actually worth and when no one but the Patriots are offering he will finally agree to a mutual agreement higher than what the Patriots offered but much less than what Branch wanted. It will end up working out in the end, he's not going anywhere.

[brady_branch]

Good.

Day 4, clear!

[brady_branch]

Days 5 and 6, clear!

Looks like we'll get him after all. Phew!

[efin98]

He filed a grievence against the Patriots...reports on WBCN yesterday that the Patriots upped their offer but no word back from his camp...things are looking like he will play this year for a new contract next spring, nothing wrong with that but not what the Patriots or him want...

[efin98]

NESN and ESPN report that there were offers made to the Patriots from the Seahawks and the Jets for Branch with his desired salary range of $6 Million per year but were turned down when neither team could come up with a viable trade offer to the Patriots for Branch.

Also reported was that Branch's holdout is costing him over $500K so far- basically the more he is out the less he makes this year. At this rate if he continues his holdout on into the season he will end up in debt to the Patriots more than he would have made this year if he had just gone to camp!!!!!!:eek:

I'm gonna rant here for a second: If it happens that he ends up wasting his entire salary this year due to fines I hope it is a lesson to every player- just play! Let your actions on the field show how much you are worth, not what your agent. If they continue to believe you are worth less than you actually are take your services elsewhere and make them regret it! It's not worth it to act like a spoiled brat in front of the nation just to get your point across- just play your butt off and laugh all the way to the bank next year.

[brady_branch]

I think the 7-day period is now over. He should now just play. Come on.

[efin98]

More on the grievence filed... it was in regards to the Patriots turning down the offer to trade Branch to the Jets.

This right hear is about the dumbest grievence I've ever heard- you DO NOT TRADE WITHIN THE DIVISION!!!! He knows that. His agent knows that.

[football junkie]

What's funny is that last year he was 2 yards away and he had 5 touchdowns.

Looks like you're stuck with Branch now. Yeah last year he gained all of 998 yards and 5 whole touch downs -- quite impressive for a supposedly top-notch WR. Last year was probably also his apex, meaning you can expect nothing but decline from here on out.

This puts Belichick in an ackward position. Realizing Branch still has some value on the field, does Belichick leave malcontent Branch on the team to poison the locker room? Or does he just cut him, like he has to so many other "star" players before who forgot their true value?

I would have traded him for a conditional fourth round draft pick.

Elfin is right, the team now has enough talent at TE to play two tight end sets and concentrate on the running game -- passing when necessary to guys like Ben Watson, Danial Graham, David Thomas and Chad Jackson, Bam Childress and Reche Caldwell.

[football junkie]

Jerry McDonald, of ANG Newspapers, reports the Oakland Raiders have traded WR Doug Gabriel to the New England Patriots for an undisclosed draft pick.

[efin98]

Jerry McDonald, of ANG Newspapers, reports the Oakland Raiders have traded WR Doug Gabriel to the New England Patriots for an undisclosed draft pick.

ESPN has speculated that it's a 5th round draft pick.

[efin98]

Trade completed: Branch to the Seahawks for a 2007 first round draft pick.

[brady_branch]

Not sure if this is good or not. I'm still undecided.

NOTE: I am the third member of the 200-post club.

[efin98]

It's good for the team. Two top quality guys next year in the first round guarenteed and depending on what other teams need they could end up with a guy who many times better than Branch.

They also get rid of a cancer to the team and allow someone else who actually WANTS to be there to play.

[brady_branch]

Of course, we want the Patriots to get the 32nd pick, don't we? And it would be kind of cool if the curse of the Super Bowl loser and Madden cover guy was real and Shawn Alexander got injured and the Seahawks went 1-15.... don't really want that, though, I like Alexander.

[efin98]

Of course, we want the Patriots to get the 32nd pick, don't we? And it would be kind of cool if the curse of the Super Bowl loser and Madden cover guy was real and Shawn Alexander got injured and the Seahawks went 1-15.... don't really want that, though, I like Alexander.

Doesn't really matter how they or the Patriots end up, a first rounder is a first rounder. Heck they could even deal the pick to another team for a package of more draft picks next year- and get several players to fill multiple needs next year.