Union files grievance against Pats

[BAMAPHIN 22]

The NFL Players Association filed a grievance Friday on behalf of holdout Deion Branch after the New England Patriots did not trade the wide receiver before the team-imposed deadline for him to seek a deal.

Richard Berthelsen, lawyer for the union, said the grievance alleges that the Patriots "reneged" on an agreement to trade their best receiver, who is entering the last season of a five-year contract he signed as a rookie.


On Aug. 25, the Patriots gave Branch, who is scheduled to make $1.045 million this year, permission to negotiate a contract with other teams and seek a trade until 4 p.m. on Sept. 1.

At 4:02 p.m. Friday, the Patriots issued a statement saying, "No trade has been consummated. Deion Branch remains under contract to the New England Patriots."

The grievance alleges that in allowing Branch to work out a contract with another team, the Patriots agreed they would trade him if Branch was comfortable with that contract and the draft choice compensation for him "was commensurate with what has been the value of similar players," Berthelsen said in a telephone interview.

He said the New York Jets offered a second-round draft pick for Branch, which Berthelsen said was of commensurate value.

He noted that Branch was the 65th player drafted in 2002, one of the last in the second round, and that Miami sent a second-round pick to Minnesota before this season for quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

"We filed a grievance today and we're expediting the case," meaning it must be heard within seven days, Berthelsen said.
The Jets, who are in need of a playmaker, were one of several teams interested in Branch, the MVP of the 2005 Super Bowl. They reportedly agreed to the parameters of a six-year, $39 million deal, but the teams couldn't agree the draft choice compensation.


http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5905580

[MR NFLFAN]

:blah:

[MR NFLFAN]

Originally Posted by BAMAPHIN 22

The NFL Players Association filed a grievance Friday on behalf of holdout Deion Branch after the New England Patriots did not trade the wide receiver before the team-imposed deadline for him to seek a deal.

Richard Berthelsen, lawyer for the union, said the grievance alleges that the Patriots "reneged" on an agreement to trade their best receiver, who is entering the last season of a five-year contract he signed as a rookie.


On Aug. 25, the Patriots gave Branch, who is scheduled to make $1.045 million this year, permission to negotiate a contract with other teams and seek a trade until 4 p.m. on Sept. 1.

At 4:02 p.m. Friday, the Patriots issued a statement saying, "No trade has been consummated. Deion Branch remains under contract to the New England Patriots."

The grievance alleges that in allowing Branch to work out a contract with another team, the Patriots agreed they would trade him if Branch was comfortable with that contract and the draft choice compensation for him "was commensurate with what has been the value of similar players," Berthelsen said in a telephone interview.

He said the New York Jets offered a second-round draft pick for Branch, which Berthelsen said was of commensurate value.

He noted that Branch was the 65th player drafted in 2002, one of the last in the second round, and that Miami sent a second-round pick to Minnesota before this season for quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

"We filed a grievance today and we're expediting the case," meaning it must be heard within seven days, Berthelsen said.
The Jets, who are in need of a playmaker, were one of several teams interested in Branch, the MVP of the 2005 Super Bowl. They reportedly agreed to the parameters of a six-year, $39 million deal, but the teams couldn't agree the draft choice compensation.


http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5905580

"reneged" on an agreement

Seems to me a player who is still under contract and holds out would be reneging on a written contract. You have to love the way Branch and his agent only see white instead of being able to see black and white. At this time If it were my decision I'd shut down the Deion talks altogether for the season. Let his A$$ sit and wait and then next season I'd franchise tag him and trade him off to an arizona type team where he'll never again see a playoff game. This BS has gone on long enough and now its nothing more than a distraction. Tell Deion to go home and rest and don't call us we'll call you.