Pats sign DL Lawrence "The Cable" Guy

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Yeah, the cap works out the same either way. If the Patriots are pretty sure they intend to franchise him next year then maybe what they do is throw some money at him. You offer him, say, 2/18 with $10 million guaranteed and that might give him a really tough choice. He gets $10 million guaranteed and gets a raise of over $8 million this year. Pretty good for a guy who has only made $4 million. He gives up the right to franchise money or becoming an unrestricted free agent in a good market next year. But the hypothesis is the Patriots we're going to franchise him anyway most likely so he gives up about $5 million that he would have gotten next year if he stays healthy or doesn't play and suck.

Patriots save $5 million but lose the flexibility to let him go if he is hurt or plays poorly.

A three-year deal starts to look more attractive for both sides but runs the risk of sinking even more money for a backup.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

I've been vocal about this before, but I think the chances of them franchising him - to keep him, they *could go the Cassel route - are slim to none. So now we look at the other factors and the first thing that pops up for me is that he and Brady have the same agent. Frankly, I think if we see him sign an extension, it marks TB12's retirement date. I know Yee puked on his shoes during DFG, but I think he's competent enough to not advise his client to stick around and wait it out, if for no other reason than his own bank account.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

I've been vocal about this before, but I think the chances of them franchising him - to keep him, they *could go the Cassel route - are slim to none. So now we look at the other factors and the first thing that pops up for me is that he and Brady have the same agent. Frankly, I think if we see him sign an extension, it marks TB12's retirement date. I know Yee puked on his shoes during DFG, but I think he's competent enough to not advise his client to stick around and wait it out, if for no other reason than his own bank account.

I agree. Franchising him will be expensive. The $19 million is a bit of a red herring especially since the Patriots have recently committed upwards of $14 million 2018 cap dollars to Cooks and Gronk if he earns his incentives. Plus, Brady has a cap dollar raise coming.

They could afford it maybe but at a cost. I was just posting a potential scenario if they knew they were going to franchise him. I think we've basically been having the same conversation for months to deal with our disbelief that Belichick decided not to take a trade haul for Jimmy just to have him as a backup this year plus potential franchise insurance if Tom falls off a cliff. But that seems where we are.