2017 All Along the Hightower: Princes Kept Their View
- Thread starter Mugsy's Jock
- Start date
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
There is a good troller there, "Embrace the Hate"
He posted something like, *good, now work on the Malcolm and Jimmy G situations, and it's on to the pre-season.*
One guy's response: "I'm so happy for you"
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.
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 $$.
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
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.
Steeler writers/followers are apoplectic about the corner situation and the futility of going zone in what for them is a toxic matchup. And they are right to be.
They'd be far better off throwing this money and a first round pick at Butler.
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 aggressive
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. But the "Belichick Factor" might be a consideration for a lot of teams.
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
This isn't that complicated though: Tom Brady is simultaneously hilariously underpaid and the best quarterback in NFL history.
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
It was actually a lot more than 12 years ago, almost 1,000 years.
Hightower's mother's reaction to his new deal (Twitter video may not embed for mobile app users so here is the IG link too)
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.
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.
This is a great example of BB and the Pats being real open with a player and trusting the process. I don't know what the "on the table" dollars may have been prior to Hightower doing his 3 city tour, but I bet it wasn't far from the final numbers. He isn't Luke, he wasn't getting 4 @ 12.5 per, so this is just a real good job of open communication with a player.
I hate the tag as a tool to begin negotiations, because instead of negotiating a 4 year deal, your negotiating a 3 year deal on top of a 1, and the one is probably too high. Ask Washington how that worked our for them with Cousins. Just a real good job of BB and the player staff here. Trusting that the open conversations with Hightower and agent were honest enough to drive the process.
I will say BTW, you couldn't have done this with Jones. The temptation to overpay for an edge guy was too great a variable to attempt a move like this. Perfect strategy for a position where the money never gets crazy.
I hate the tag as a tool to begin negotiations, because instead of negotiating a 4 year deal, your negotiating a 3 year deal on top of a 1, and the one is probably too high. Ask Washington how that worked our for them with Cousins. Just a real good job of BB and the player staff here. Trusting that the open conversations with Hightower and agent were honest enough to drive the process.
I will say BTW, you couldn't have done this with Jones. The temptation to overpay for an edge guy was too great a variable to attempt a move like this. Perfect strategy for a position where the money never gets crazy.
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.
Good point. And also really trusting their own valuation.
Finding out what other teams are willing to pay in the fairly unique market that is the NFL is surely information the Patriots like to have. And maybe they even it incorporate it a little. But they seem to have a very sure sense of what a player is worth to them and a willingness to stick with it with confidence.
I was thinking about him but then thought maybe he signed his long term deal before the tag. I should have looked it up.
Ghost is s good example. Tag worked out then. Not sure the other times haven't worked out either.
Mankins hold out was when he was an RFA. Took him a while to sign the franchise tag but signed a long term deal not much after. Sounds like it worked out in the long run.
Wilfork worked out. I'd say Welker worked out from a Pats POV.
It may be they are moving away from using the tag but I think the jury is still out.
I don't think they're moving away from the tag in any way shape or form, I just think they didn't think the # was worth it for Hightower. Or they felt confident his market wasn't there. BB will use every tool at his disposal. If he felt the tag was necessary, he would have used it.
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
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
Great to see him back - not all that shocked at the money. He's a bit like Edelman in that his skillset really fits the Patriots well, and isn't one that typically gets paid well. He's not really a passrusher, and he doesn't have nearly the range of Keuchly.
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?
