Does anyone want to sign Tom Brady? Pats are cheap, evil

[TomShane]

Came across this great article on BostonHerald.com:

Bottom line(men): Patriots create new business model with lack of sentiment, loyalty

By Christopher Cox

Monday, March 21, 2005 - Updated: 02:21 AM EST

Former General Electric CEO Jack Welch famously embraced a management style where the bottom 10 percent were fired every year.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick might go even further, as evidenced by the recent departures of lineman Joe Andruzzi, linebacker Roman Phifer and jack-of-all-trades Troy Brown. The coach will part with players, no matter how productive or popular, if they've become too expensive.

The issue isn't, What have you done for me lately? For the Genius of Foxboro it's more like, What can you do for me tomorrow - and under budget?

"(Belichick) has adopted a business model," said Dianne Durkin, president of Loyalty Factor, a Portsmouth, N.H., consulting and training firm. "That's why he does not let emotion necessarily get in way of doing the right thing for the business."

And in a world where layoffs, outsourcing and temporary contract workers are a fact of life, sentiment and loyalty - one of the five building blocks in former UCLA coach John Wooden's ``Pyramid of Success'' - seem increasingly quaint notions.

"There is no (employer) loyalty," said Barbara Ehrenreich, author of an upcoming book, `Bait and Switch,' about white-collar workers. "It's almost like they want `just in time' employees. When they don't need you, out you go."

"Corporations want passion; it's not enough to be enthusiastic," she said. "They want you to be a team player - but it's kind of a funny team when people can be shed so easily."

Potential employees need to understand the corporate culture and choose what they care about, counseled James Lavin, author of "Management Secrets of the New England Patriots." Is it security? Or is it challenge, and the chance for greatness?

"If you want to be at GE or the Patriots, you have to fight for your job every day," said Lavin.

"The Patriots understand that every day is a tryout. They all understand that `Last year is last year.'"

It's not that the coach doesn't have affection for his players, said business-management experts. But his primary allegiance is to the franchise.

"First and foremost, his loyalty is to the Kraft family and making the Patriots a successful football operation," said Leonard Zaichkowsky, director of sports psychology at Boston University.

But the shedding of team-oriented players such as Brown, a receiver who sacrificed contract incentives on offense to play defensive back (he also returned punts), might present a management challenge.

"Much of the Patriots' success has been around the concept of team and the lack of selfishness,'' said Zaichowsky. "The players see their close friends unceremoniously being dumped. They'll ask, `Can that be me?'"

"Will that cancer spread? It's a good question."

[PatsFanTX]

BB needs to find a new business model.

This one doesn't seem to be working.

[YJF]

Too much is being made about the players that The Pats have lost or let go.

David Patten was a journeyman WR before he played with Tom Brady. He was expendable.

Troy Brown should have a roster spot. He will end up somewhere. He's a good veteran leader with the versatility to fill a couple of roles. Can't blame The Pats for cutting him. He was due 5.5 Million. Can't pay him that. Loyalty or No Loyalty.

Roman Phifer is 100 years old. As a veteran backup, He makes too much money. You are better off drafting a young player in his place.

Ty Law has been a problem in the locker room and is coming off an injury and had too much money tied to him. He had to be let go.

You notice alot of these decisions take place with guys who are in their 30's and at the end of the road.

That's really how you gotta run a team.

Tom Brady is going to be interesting. If Peyton Manning is worth 100 million, Brady is worth atleast that or close to it.

Watch a crazy team like The Redskins try and sign him to an offer sheet in a couple of years. They would be daring enough to cough up 100 million and two first round picks.

There's no way The Pats cut or trade Brady. NO WAY. He's the entire franchise.

[Mean Papi Green]

i prefr team loyalty to players like the big tract that fat bastid gave out before he left to guys like Mo and Marvin....you know 'his guys'

[PatsFanTX]

Watch a crazy team like The Redskins try and sign him to an offer sheet in a couple of years. They would be daring enough to cough up 100 million and two first round picks.

YJF, it will never come to that.

Brady's contract will be all wrapped up well before he ever hits the FA market.

[YJF]

YJF, it will never come to that.

Brady's contract will be all wrapped up well before he ever hits the FA market.

By the time Brady is a free agent. Belichick and Pioli could both be gone.

I think Belichick will coach for a couple more seasons and hang it up. If he wins another superbowl. I'm pretty sure he'll leave once his contract expires.

[RSJ]

It will be interesting to see how the Pats handle the Brady contract situation.

Imo, comparing Jack Welch and corporate america is a bad comparison. The NFL is a level playing field among all teams and running a corporation is not.

[PatsFanTX]

The NFL is a level playing field among all teams and the NFL is not

[Verde]

By the time Brady is a free agent. Belichick and Pioli could both be gone.

I think Belichick will coach for a couple more seasons and hang it up. If he wins another superbowl. I'm pretty sure he'll leave once his contract expires.

Not if Bob Kraft digs deep enough into his pockets to retain him. $$$ talks.

[YJF]

Not if Bob Kraft digs deep enough into his pockets to retain him. $$$ talks.

I think they talked about this at the end of last season. Belichick is considering hanging it up after his contract expires. If he wins another superbowl, He will ride off into the sunset.

Unlike Tuna, BB may honestly pass the torch to Mangini. If Kraft is willing to turn it over to him.

[Smizzy]

[PFSIKH]

YJF, it will never come to that.

Brady's contract will be all wrapped up well before he ever hits the FA market.

According to the Herald a few weeks back, the Patriots and Brady's contract is already done. The newspaper said they are waiting to announce it at a time the Patriots need to free up money.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that agents and executives around the league continue to wait anxiously for the details of quarterback Tom Brady's pending contract extension with the New England Patriots and that an agreement appears to be close. According to the newspaper the deal likely will make Brady one of the league's highest-paid players but probably will not contain a signing bonus approaching the record $34.5 million that quarterback Peyton Manning received as part of his seven-year, $98 million contract extension from the Indianapolis Colts last year.

IndyStar reported it was 7 year 68 million, but that appears to be BS.

[YJF]

According to the Herald a few weeks back, the Patriots and Brady's contract is already done. The newspaper said they are waiting to announce it at a time the Patriots need to free up money.

IndyStar reported it was 7 year 68 million, but that appears to be BS.

Smart move by The Pats. The two most important figures on The Pats are Belichick and Brady. As long as those two are in New Egland. They will continue to be a superbowl contender. That's Lombardi/Bart Starr all over again.

7 years 68 million would be a bargain. Brady is a marquee superstar who can make so much money outside of football. He can take less with New England.

[TomShane]

Didn't Bob Kraft say that he's not going to over-pay for Brady? I'm assuming he means that he's not giving Brady Peyton Manning money. IMO, Brady will get Peytn Manning money from somewhere.

[PFSIKH]

Didn't Bob Kraft say that he's not going to over-pay for Brady? I'm assuming he means that he's not giving Brady Peyton Manning money. IMO, Brady will get Peytn Manning money from somewhere.

How?

He is not going to see it from the Patriots and they will never let him leave via free agency. The Patriots can ride out his contract and then have the franchise tag applied to him.

Tom has publicly stated he recognizes the harm of chasing every last dime. He will give the Patriots a hometown discount, if a 60-80 million dollar contract could ever be considered a discount, and will be very rich.

[RSJ]

How?

He is not going to see it from the Patriots and they will never let him leave via free agency. The Patriots can ride out his contract and then have the franchise tag applied to him.

Tom has publicly stated he recognizes the harm of chasing every last dime. He will give the Patriots a hometown discount, if a 60-80 million dollar contract could ever be considered a discount, and will be very rich.

So what you are saying is Brady will give a 20-40 million dollar hometown discount including 10-15 million in guarentees? I think they call that hometown fantasyville.

[PFSIKH]

So what you are saying is Brady will give a 20-40 million dollar hometown discount including 10-15 million in guarentees? I think they call that hometown fantasyville.

Ok, look at it from his perspective.

Scenario 1: Already have 20-30 million in the bank from previous contracts, not including endorsement deals, do you sign a 7 year-68 million dollar contract with 20 million up front, so your average cap hit is 10 millionish a year. Which allows your team to spend money elsewhere and keep a good supporting cast that has helped you win 3 Superbowls and 2 Superbowl MVPs in 4 years, with a possibility of even more fame and glory.

Or.....

Scenario 2: With 20-30 million already in the bank, you sign a 7 year-135 million dollar contract with 35 million up front and watch the team that helped you win 3 Superbowls and 2 Superbowl MVPs in 4 years go elsewhere as your salary cap hit soaks up close to a quarter or more of the available cap space. Watch the team get stuck in mediocrisy until the day your cap hit is like 35 million and your cut.

It does not take a Harvard buisness degree to realize Peyton is not going to see alot of that money. In two years when Peyton's salary cap hit goes from 4 million to 17 million, he is going to start defering that money to future years and he will never see it.