re: Malcolm Butler warming up to the idea of playing in New Orleans

quote:

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The Saints can't even give them #42 unless N.E. does a sign-and-trade.

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right. The Saints don't hold all the cards.

Similarly, Butler can't demand the Patriots trade him or give him a long term deal. As a restricted Free Agent, he faces two real choices...play under market value this year (for about 4M) and enter Free Agency next year, or convince NE or someone else to give him a long term deal now (probably at a discount as compared to what he'd get if he was an unrestricted FA). So, Butler doesn't hold all of the cards.

Meanwhile, if the Patriots don't trade Butler this year, they run the risk of him playing out his contract and them getting nothing next year. So, the Patriots don't hold all of the cards

I think it's reasonable to expect that a deal could be made between the Patriots and a team that is willing to give Butler a long term deal that he'd agree to for less than a first round pick.

Personally, I think even 2nd round pick is a lot of compensation for a guy that the Patriots don't have under contract. I'd feel a lot better with a 3rd...but the tea leaves seem to point to a 2nd.