re: Michael Lombardi reporting that NE want #11 for Butler

Just to clear it up, Lombardi isn't saying that NE wants to trade Butler for #11

He's saying the only way the saints can get MB is to sign him to an offer sheet and give up #11 because it is against league rules to negotiate a trade for players that aren't under contract and so the only way a trade would happen would be MB to sign his tender and then the Pats can negotiate a trade from there or keep him for 3 mil


If you think he's a legit Pats mouthpiece (I don't), then you could argue he's covering BBs tracks in the media to avoid repercussions from bending the rule against negotiating trades for unsigned RFAs.

Or you can just see it as him making a loud statement in order to gain attention and then backtracking to cover his arse later on.