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

Not to mention that even if the Pats did just let him walk, he'd be a UFA.

That drives his price up a good bit. You may be able to add another starter/depth piece for that price.

Or the Pats could just extend him during/after the season


Not to mention I truly believe we're playing to keep Brees the next 3 seasons. If we don't show huge improvement this year, it is over

I've seen a lot of people associated with the Patriots say that Bill just does not believe in re-signing players that he can still have under contract per the CBA, unless he's getting a great deal (they offered Butler 6mill per season last year). He'd rather let their contract play out and pay them if he has to, or trade them, or let them walk.

He just won't do it.

In this case, Butler is ticked about not getting paid, and Bill is looking to allow him to do that for a pick in this case.

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They just re-signed Hightower for a 4-year $43.5 million deal. $19 million of that is guaranteed. This is concerning. Why do they not want Butler and instead gave that money to Gilmore? There is something fishy going on here and the Saints are about to get fleeced by the Patriots for a second time in one offseason.

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It has literally been said 1,000x on here.


Answer this: who would they have replaced Hightower with?

The Cardinals "won" the trade with them last year, although that is a silly term anyways given that New England will save $15 million a year in cap space on his contract.

2nd player in 12 years to have double digit sacks for the Cardinals, and that is with their great secondary

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I love how people think you can sign and/or trade for legitimate players without giving them a lot of money or giving up something valuable. Nature of the beast.

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To be fair though, this is an "AND" situation not an "OR." We would have to give a lot of money AND something valuable. That is what concerns many.

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This is pretty much it. They have him under contract at $3.9M this year. They have absolutely no reason to give him a contract right now. He is trapped, unless someone signs him to an offer sheet, or they trade him. If he holds out, he will get the RFA tender again next season.

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Yep. Just like we have Snead this year as an ERFA and as a RFA last year.

It takes being great in FA to do it.


I mean New England does strike out in these deals sometimes. They traded a 5th for Mingo.

They also declined the team option for Vince Wilfork, and have traded players that have gone on to be pro bowlers and all-pro


I wish we had traded for Chandler Jones

Schefter, out on a limb there.

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second time

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When was the first?

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To be fair though, this is an "AND" situation not an "OR." We would have to give a lot of money AND something valuable. That is what concerns many.

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Yep.

And I wish we had gone after Gilmore in FA or some other corners.

But I also think that Butler + his contract makes us a much better team than the #32 pick would

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LINK

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For those that cannot access this, what does it say?

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its a tweet that patriots are looking to get first round pick for butler

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Thanks. I would bet they get it as well. Part of me thinks it will be our 2nd rounder as Payton proclaimed he wanted a 1st and a defensive player in exchange for Cooks.