late again said:
While I understand your point regarding the placement of blame, my opinion is that ultimately the blame needs to be shouldered by Branch, period. I believe that quite often some fans are reluctant to stay too angry with players that they like simply because they like him. So they look for someone/something else to point a finger at. ie: fan reaction to the Ricky Williams debacle.
For me the bottom line is if you're an adult then you have ownership of the outcomes of your choices. Branch certainly has a responsibility to self and family. But he also (should) feel a responsibility to his team mates. And I suppose it needs to be mentioned that there ought to somewhere be something instilled in him that believes in doing the right thing; which is honoring a contract that he knowingly signed his name to. He's not alone though-there's plenty of others with the same kind of attitude.
I said that most Pats fan blame Deions agent and this is one of the reasons.
As you can see from his comments in the time line on April 6th 2006 Deion planned on honoring his contract then May 12 he's a no show for mini camps. 3 Weeks went by and all of a sudden he's holding out. Someone changed his mind within that 3 weeks and I believe his greedy agent wanted his 3 percent on the FA contract that Deion wasn't eligable to received yet so he's trying to make him eligable. I still think 3yrs/19 million is a fair offer.
From the BostonHearld.com
The Branch time line
April 20, 2002: Branch selected in second round of draft, 65th overall out of Louisville.
July 23, 2002: Signs five-year, $2.93 million rookie contract, earning second-round minimum each season.
2002: Catches 43 passes for 489 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.
2003: Catches 57 passes for 803 yards and three TDs.
Feb. 1, 2004: Catches 10 passes for 143 yards and a score in Super Bowl victory over Carolina.
2004: Limited to nine games due to injury, catches 35 passes for 454 yards and four TDs.
Feb. 6, 2005: Named Super Bowl MVP after catching 11 passes for 133 yards in a victory over Philadelphia.
2005: Sets career highs with 78 catches for 998 yards and five TDs.
Jan. 14, 2006: Adds to playoff numbers with 8 catches for 153 yards in loss at Denver.
March 2, 2006: Incentive clause kicks in, boosting Branch’s 2006 pay from $545,000 to $1.045 million.
April 6, 2006: Branch tells Herald, “My job is to finish my contract regardless of whether I get an extension or not. Coach (Bill) Belichick has given me every opportunity to excel here. This is where I want to be, and I’m pretty sure things will work out.â€Â
June 12, 2006: Branch skips team’s charity golf tournament.
June 13, 2006: Branch a no-show when minicamp opens.
May, 2006: Branch rejects five- and three-year deals from the Pats worth between $5.5 and $6 million a year. Says he’ll report to camp if team agrees not to place franchise tag on him. Patriots refuse.
July 28, 2006: Branch skips the start of training camp and his holdout becomes official.
Aug. 1, 2006: In an interview with Sports Illustrated, quarterback Tom Brady pines for Branch’s return.
Aug. 22, 2006: In an interview with Ch. 4, Branch says, “I’ve got a great feeling that we’re both going to do what’s right. We’re going to make sure everything works out.â€Â
Friday, Aug. 25: The Patriots announce they have given Branch permission to seek a trade. He has until Sept. 1 to negotiate a contract with a new team.