Deion Branch to the Jets

[NorthwesternFan]

Looks like it may happen

[Jayhawk]

link, ?

[FinNasty]

I found this on another message board...

With the clock ticking toward a Friday 4 p.m. ET deadline for striking a deal, league sources confirmed for ESPN.com that New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch has reached agreement with the New York Jets and an unnamed NFC team on a long-term contract that meets his demands. The NFC team is believed to be the Seattle Seahawks.

But neither team, the sources acknowledged, has been able to come to an agreement with the Patriots on compensation for the four-year veteran. And without the second half of the deal in place, the deadline could pass without a trade, and again force Branch to decide whether to extend his camp-long holdout.


A deal with the Jets would reunite Branch with first-year head coach Eric Mangini, who previously was the defensive coordinator in New England.


Representatives for Branch were expected on Friday to apprise Patriots officials of the status of talks with other teams. New England last Friday granted Branch permission to discuss a potential trade with other teams. It's believed that none of the suitors involved with Branch are willing to offer the Patriots more than a second-round draft choice.


New England is seeking a first-round pick and perhaps a middle-round choice as well. ESPN.com's Michael Smith reported that league sources have indicated that the Patriots are looking to receive two No. 1 draft picks for their leading receiver.


Whether the Pats would consider extending the deadline to enter into trade negotiations with the two clubs attempting to land Branch is unknown. Part of New England's strategy in granting Branch permission to deal with other teams, it seems, was to try to force some kind of resolution to stalemate before the start of the regular season.


People close to Branch insist that he will not crack and will report to the Patriots only for the final six games of the season, enough to earn an accrued year toward the pension, and to qualify him for unrestricted free agency next spring.


While last week's move by the Patriots was surprising, it was also reflective of the state of discussions between the two sides. There has been virtually no meaningful dialogue for weeks and Branch, the team's leading receiver in 2005, remains out of camp and is being fined at the rate of $14,000 per day during his absence.


It is believed that, at some point in the offseason, the Patriots offered two extension proposals: a three-year deal worth $18.75 million with $8 million of that guaranteed, and a five-year extension at $31 million, with $11 million in bonuses.


Branch, 27, is scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.05 million in 2006, the final season of the original five-year contract he signed as a second-round choice in the 2002 draft. And the base salary is only that high because Branch performed well enough to trigger an "escalator" in the contract that raised his compensation by $500,000.


Team officials indicated as far back as March that securing an extension with Branch was a priority, but the sides have been unable to strike a deal and talks seem at a dead end.


Branch is coming off a career year in 2005, when he had 78 receptions for 998 yards and five touchdowns. For his career, Branch has 213 catches for 2,744 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has appeared in 53 games and logged 42 starts. He earned most valuable player honors in Super Bowl XXXIX when he tied a title game record with 11 receptions, netting 133 yards

[TRIPLE P]

Let him go to the jets.......who cares.... He's not that good.

[emk30]

Or the Seahawks

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/09/01/two_offers_for_branch/

[l3ills]

No deal Pats just shot it down according to NFL Live.

[gilchristfan]

No deal Pats just shot it down according to NFL Live.

Yep, he's filing a grievance/

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2568851

[BostonTim]

No deal Pats just shot it down according to NFL Live.

http://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/56907/detail.html

Tom Curran reporting Branch's ageant has filed emergency grievance claiming he had a vrbal agreement that the P{ats would trade Branch if given a fair and reasonable offer. Now wants arbitater to tell Pats what's reasonable. WHaaaaaH. :guy:

Hope I'm still laughing when the idiots get through with the case.

Cheers, BostonTim

[JLB]

I hope it does how does Jetsy feel about this?

[JLB]

Branch has agreed with both the Jets and the Seahawks how is this possible?

[pigpen65]

Branch has agreed with both the Jets and the Seahawks how is this possible?

i'd imagine they are similar deals.

[JLB]

i'd imagine they are similar deals.
Ok could you imagine him with the Seahawks damn.

[Jetsy]

I hope it does how does Jetsy feel about this?

Word I'm hearing from my Jets fans in NYC is that the Jets offered a #2 (we have 2 #2 picks in the 07 draft ) to the Pats and offered Branch 6yrs at 36 mil. I KNOW Tangini won't over pay so I'm guessing that Branch won't be going to NY. I don't think the Pats ever had any thoughts of trading Branch and were floored at the 2 offers he received. That'swhy they are demanding 2 picks(one being a #1) because they know they WON'T get it. The Jets IMO don't need another small WR. They have other more important areas of need. No thanks, pass.

[nyjunc]

Branch has agreed with both the Jets and the Seahawks how is this possible?


he wasn't a FA, the deals are pending a trade so basically he has the chance to be traded to either team. i can't see NE trading him w/in the division(they did that w/ Bledsoe but Bledsoe was shot at that point) so i guess his only chance is Seattle.

[Chewbacher]

Brady made Branch what he is. He'll end up going somewhere else and you won't hear from him again.

[JLB]

he wasn't a FA, the deals are pending a trade so basically he has the chance to be traded to either team. i can't see NE trading him w/in the division(they did that w/ Bledsoe but Bledsoe was shot at that point) so i guess his only chance is Seattle.
If he goes I agree thats the most likely place.
But will Holmgren pay that high of a price IYO?

[JLB]

Word I'm hearing from my Jets fans in NYC is that the Jets offered a #2 (we have 2 #2 picks in the 07 draft ) to the Pats and offered Branch 6yrs at 36 mil. I KNOW Tangini won't over pay so I'm guessing that Branch won't be going to NY. I don't think the Pats ever had any thoughts of trading Branch and were floored at the 2 offers he received. That'swhy they are demanding 2 picks(one being a #1) because they know they WON'T get it. The Jets IMO don't need another small WR. They have other more important areas of need. No thanks, pass.

It would be interesting but it seems like to steep a price I would pass.

[JLB]

i'd imagine they are similar deals.
Could he possibly sit this year?
I can't imagine that whats your take?