Yep, with DH making less than both of themWent as BB expected, too. Which is probably part of the reason Jones and Collins found the exit.
Yep, with DH making less than both of themWent as BB expected, too. Which is probably part of the reason Jones and Collins found the exit.
Can't say I'm surprised. Even if Pats gave less money, which I'm sure they did, taxes are probably less in the New England area and why would he want to play for the Jets? Aside from money, things don't look that great for usanyone monitoring gang green?
There is a good troller there, "Embrace the Hate"Can't say I'm surprised. Even if Pats gave less money, which I'm sure they did, taxes are probably less in the New England area and why would he want to play for the Jets? Aside from money, things don't look that great for us
Won't be the only time the Jets lose to the Patriots in 2017. Terrible. This nightmare has to end eventually, right?
chalk it up as a lesson for Mike Maccagnan.... Players who are losers can be lured to an organization offering more money and stupid gimmicks like cupcakes but players who are winners want you to lure them based on your on-the-field acumen. Not even just in the standings but maybe drop the cupcakes and explain how you intend to win games going forward with a player's services and/or command respect and you'll get it in return.
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Honestly, TGG is handling it pretty well - they seem to realize that DH @ $12M was a bad idea given their current state
Third behind Kuechly (34) and Wagner (22) among inside backersI can't believe he only got 19M guaranteed. That's awesome.
Keepyourcupcakes (Dont'a) is signing up here to read and is going to get depressed if talk like this continues. I mean, what is Mookie Betts playing for this year? I know, have to put in those initial "low pay" years.I can't believe he only got 19M guaranteed. That's awesome.
Yep:Honestly, TGG is handling it pretty well - they seem to realize that DH @ $12M was a bad idea given their current state
Wilkerson Central said:If the Jets had a QB and a respectable offense, or competitive team, it could make sense to add a guy like Hightower to put them over the top. But the fact is, they are rebuilding. No reason to break the bank on Hightower right now. Get the offense fixed first, get your QB of the future. An elite D will only get you so far, and even the D still has major holes even if you add him.
If the team opts out after 2 years, he might be free to collect more before he's 30 (or get the full 40+ from NE). Some team will pay him some guaranteed $$.I can't believe he only got 19M guaranteed. That's awesome.
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/03/15/donta-hightower-patriotrs-steelers-free-agency-rumors-2017-lawrence-timmons-ryan-shazier/stories/201703150164By heading back to New England, Dont'a Hightower does the Steelers a favor
Dont’a Hightower and the New England Patriots did the Steelers a favor when they came to terms Wednesday on a reported four-year, $43.5 million contract.
With crying needs at outside linebacker, cornerback, wide receiver and backup running back, the Steelers set their sights on Hightower, a big-name free agent who would have filled none of those holes. They apparently were willing to go nearly all-in on him during the first week of free agency while ignoring top-of-the-line players at their needy positions.
Hightower is overrated and overhyped, partly because he made two key plays to help the Patriots win two Super Bowls, partly because he was a first-round draft pick and partly, well, because he played in New England.
But if he was so valuable to the Patriots, why didn’t they sign him to an extension last year, and why did they let him test free agency?
Hightower is an inside linebacker, and the Steelers lost one of the best at that position when Lawrence Timmons signed with the Dolphins for two years and $12 million. But with Ryan Shazier and Vince Williams, they still seemed to be set at their inside starters for 2017.
Would Hightower been an improvement over Williams? Maybe, but maybe not much.
He writes as though the ultimate chain of events would be a complete and utter shock to BB.But if he was so valuable to the Patriots, why didn’t they sign him to an extension last year, and why did they let him test free agency?
I think he is among the most thoughtful beat writers out there. And on a relative need basis, he's right about Donta' not being a great fit for the Steelers.Some tasty tears here from Ed Bouchette at the PPG:
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/03/15/donta-hightower-patriotrs-steelers-free-agency-rumors-2017-lawrence-timmons-ryan-shazier/stories/201703150164
Agree 100% (I might have even floated the idea in here at one point). They have such a lousy recent history trying to fix the defensive backfield, that the 30th pick for Butler is not so big a stretch. I doubt it's in the Steelers DNA, though, to be that aggressiveThey'd be far better off throwing this money and a first round pick at Butler.
If Hightower is so overrated and so overhyped, why did the Steelers make him an offer?But if he was so valuable to the Patriots, why didn’t they sign him to an extension last year, and why did they let him test free agency?
Today Greg Bedard said that unfortunately for some Pats free agents, Belichick is so respected that it can hurt their value when NE doesn't lock a guy up. He said he knows for a fact teams have said, "If Belichick isn't willing to pay the franchise tag for Player X, he's not worth that amount."But if he was so valuable to the Patriots, why didn’t they sign him to an extension last year, and why did they let him test free agency?
Well the Pats haven't used the franchise tag in 12 years, so......Today Greg Bedard said that unfortunately for some Pats free agents, Belichick is so respected that it can hurt their value when NE doesn't lock a guy up. He said he knows for a fact teams have said, "If Belichick isn't willing to pay the franchise tag for Player X, he's not worth that amount."
That seems way too simplistic. There's obviously a lot more to re-signing a player - it doesn't happen in a vacuum. But the "Belichick Factor" might be a consideration.
The overall premise still applies. He was just using one aspect of free agency.Well the Pats haven't used the franchise tag in 12 years, so......
This isn't that complicated though: Tom Brady is simultaneously hilariously underpaid and the best quarterback in NFL history.The latter is true, but given, among other things, the Pats perennial contender status, its as though they have reached some sort of self-sustaining process that no other team has. Super Bowl champs, perennial contender, salary cap comfort, not a lot of dead money on the horizon, not an old team, no franchise-tagging antagonism, allow a star player to find out about his own market. Guys might get hurt or just suck, but from a front-office, roster-building, paper and off season approach (the things they can control), the team is nearly untethered from the conventional wisdom of the NFL.
To other teams, it's like a combination of the death star becoming operational and Skynet becoming self-aware.
You mean since 2012?Well the Pats haven't used the franchise tag in 12 years, so......
1012 was 12 years ago?Well the Pats haven't used the franchise tag in 12 years, so......
He writes as though the ultimate chain of events would be a complete and utter shock to BB.
It was actually a lot more than 12 years ago, almost 1,000 years.1012 was 12 years ago?
I get what you are saying, but how many players have hit unrestricted free agency from the Pats over the last 5-7 years? Revis got a huge deal. Collins and Jones got huge deals despite being traded from the Pats. Welker did not get a huge deal, and BB was proven correct. The Pats paid both McCourty and Hightower market level contracts. I don't see (m)any examples of their strategy hurting the player.The overall premise still applies. He was just using one aspect of free agency.
Anytime a team lets a player go I think it has to be examined. Is it simply, "Well they couldn't afford him/He didn't fit their system" or is it maybe, "This guy is talented but he's a pain in the ass and they're fed up with him". It just so happens that when Belichick doesn't attempt to lock a guy up it might carry more weight than another another GM/personnel guy. I don't think the thought is that outrageous.
Edit - Clarity
Ok so I was wrong, but given how things ended up with Vinatieri, Samuel, Mankins, even Wilfork for a bit, and of course Welker... it seems like the Pats aren't planning on going down that route again.1012 was 12 years ago?
From http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/the_blitz/2015/02/examining_the_patriots_history_of_the_franchise_tag_under_bill
Bill Belichick's Patriots have used the franchise tag eight times, and they've waited until deadline day on four occasions. Here is a look at the Pats' tagging history.
2012: Wes Welker
Tagged: March 5
Deadline: March 5
2011: Logan Mankins
Tagged: Feb. 14
Deadline: Feb. 25
2010: Vince Wilfork
Tagged: Feb. 22
Deadline: Feb. 25
2009: Matt Cassel
Tagged: Feb. 5
Deadline: Feb. 19
2007: Asante Samuel
Tagged: Feb. 16
Deadline: Feb. 22
2005: Adam Vinatieri
Tagged: Feb. 22
Deadline: Feb. 22
2003: Tebucky Jones
Tagged: Feb. 20
Deadline: Feb. 20
2002: Adam Vinatieri
Tagged: Feb. 21
Deadline: Feb. 21
D'oh! That's why they call me Gramps!It was actually a lot more than 12 years ago, almost 1,000 years.
True. That is probably the foundation of it all. But even if Brady's cap hits were more in the Rodgers range, they'd still have cap room. I think the bigger issue is the team's ability to avoid serious dead money, which is a function of letting people go, even if there is a bit of wear left on the treads.This isn't that complicated though: Tom Brady is simultaneously hilariously underpaid and the best quarterback in NFL history.
Good point. And also really trusting their own valuation.This is a great example of BB and the Pats being real open with a player and trusting the process.
I think he meant since 2015, when they used it on Ghost.You mean since 2012?
I'll believe that the JimmyG saga is over Week 1 at 1PM
I still feel he will change teams...
I was thinking about him but then thought maybe he signed his long term deal before the tag. I should have looked it up.I think he meant since 2015, when they used it on Ghost.
It was during the reign of Aethelred the UnreadyIt was actually a lot more than 12 years ago, almost 1,000 years.
Or BB knew he'd have to increase their offer to sweeten the deal and slightly low-balled it to begin with. Same playbook as McCourty, no?Giardi
Source tells me Pats increased their offer either late last night/this morning to help get Hightower back into the fold.
So congrats to the Jets and Steelers for making the Pats use some extra cap room! Too bad the Colts weren't involved they could have hung a banner
ExactlyOr BB knew he'd have to increase their offer to sweeten the deal and slightly low-balled it to begin with. Same playbook as McCourty, no?
Dont'a wish your LB was hot like me?Some tasty tears here from Ed Bouchette at the PPG:
So Hightower's deal is actually $35.5M over 4, and $3.5M of that's contingent on him being healthy. Incentives can push it higher.
$17 million fully guaranteed, which makes this a two-year deal ($18.75M base) w/team options. There's a $2 million injury guarantee in 2019.