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Seahawks deal first-round pick to Pats for Branch
Deion Branch might return as soon as Week 2, but it won't be with the Patriots.
New England traded the disgruntled wide receiver to Seattle on Monday. ESPN.com's Michael A. Smith has confirmed a report that the Patriots will receive a 2007 first-round pick from the Seahawks.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick would not reveal whether the pick was a first-rounder, but said there was "no question" Branch was a big contributor to the team.
"It's been a long process," Belichick said. "I think we tried hard to make it work out. I think Deion tried hard. We tried. It didn't work out and we've moved on."
Branch had filed a grievance against the Patriots, contending New England reneged on a verbal promise to trade him if he reached a contract agreement with another team, and that team made a fair trade proposal to the Patriots.
The Seahawks, along with the New York Jets, had fashioned a contract agreement with Branch before the season, agreeing to a six-year, $39 million deal that would have paid him $13 million in combined bonuses and about $23 million in the first three years of the contract. Neither team, however, could satisfy the demands of the Patriots, who were seeking first- and middle-round choices as compensation at the time, and the deadline set by New England passed without a trade.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported last week that arbitrator John Feerick of Fordham Law School had put his decision regarding Branch's grievance on hold.
The Seahawks could use Branch's help in the passing game, especially after an anemic offensive performance in Week 1.
Wide receiver Darrell Jackson, arguably the Seahawks' best receiver, has twice in the past year undergone surgery to his left knee. After missing 10 games in 2005, his durability has come into question.
Jackson caught five passes for 47 yards for Seattle against Detroit, but the Seahawks struggled on offense in a 9-6 Week 1 victory, failing to score a touchdown.
In addition, tight end Jerramy Stevens will probably miss the first month of the season because of a torn meniscus in his left knee. Stevens is an often-inconsistent pass-catcher, as evidenced in the Super Bowl, but he does provide Seattle with a big presence in the middle of the field. Wide receiver Nate Burleson, signed as a free agent in the spring, is still assimilating the offense, and is more of a deep threat who may not be the best fit in a West Coast-style passing game. Always-reliable wide receiver Bobby Engram, forced to play outside in 2005 because of injuries, is far more effective working out of the slot.
Burleson caught one pass for 36 yards on Sunday, while Engram gained 52 yards on five receptions.
Branch, whose obvious displeasure with his current New England contract has not overshadowed the fact that he is regarded as a solid locker room presence and hard worker, could be the prescription for what ails the Seahawks' passing game right now.
Last season, Branch caught 78 passes for 998 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs. In his four seasons, he has 213 receptions for 2,744 yards and 14 touchdowns. In the 2005 Super Bowl he had 11 catches for 133 yards against Philadelphia, helping the Patriots win their third championship in four years.
The Patriots are without their top two receivers from last season. David Givens signed with Tennessee as a free agent for five years and $24 million, including an $8 million signing bonus.
Source: ESPN.com
New England traded the disgruntled wide receiver to Seattle on Monday. ESPN.com's Michael A. Smith has confirmed a report that the Patriots will receive a 2007 first-round pick from the Seahawks.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick would not reveal whether the pick was a first-rounder, but said there was "no question" Branch was a big contributor to the team.
"It's been a long process," Belichick said. "I think we tried hard to make it work out. I think Deion tried hard. We tried. It didn't work out and we've moved on."
Branch had filed a grievance against the Patriots, contending New England reneged on a verbal promise to trade him if he reached a contract agreement with another team, and that team made a fair trade proposal to the Patriots.
The Seahawks, along with the New York Jets, had fashioned a contract agreement with Branch before the season, agreeing to a six-year, $39 million deal that would have paid him $13 million in combined bonuses and about $23 million in the first three years of the contract. Neither team, however, could satisfy the demands of the Patriots, who were seeking first- and middle-round choices as compensation at the time, and the deadline set by New England passed without a trade.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported last week that arbitrator John Feerick of Fordham Law School had put his decision regarding Branch's grievance on hold.
The Seahawks could use Branch's help in the passing game, especially after an anemic offensive performance in Week 1.
Wide receiver Darrell Jackson, arguably the Seahawks' best receiver, has twice in the past year undergone surgery to his left knee. After missing 10 games in 2005, his durability has come into question.
Jackson caught five passes for 47 yards for Seattle against Detroit, but the Seahawks struggled on offense in a 9-6 Week 1 victory, failing to score a touchdown.
In addition, tight end Jerramy Stevens will probably miss the first month of the season because of a torn meniscus in his left knee. Stevens is an often-inconsistent pass-catcher, as evidenced in the Super Bowl, but he does provide Seattle with a big presence in the middle of the field. Wide receiver Nate Burleson, signed as a free agent in the spring, is still assimilating the offense, and is more of a deep threat who may not be the best fit in a West Coast-style passing game. Always-reliable wide receiver Bobby Engram, forced to play outside in 2005 because of injuries, is far more effective working out of the slot.
Burleson caught one pass for 36 yards on Sunday, while Engram gained 52 yards on five receptions.
Branch, whose obvious displeasure with his current New England contract has not overshadowed the fact that he is regarded as a solid locker room presence and hard worker, could be the prescription for what ails the Seahawks' passing game right now.
Last season, Branch caught 78 passes for 998 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs. In his four seasons, he has 213 receptions for 2,744 yards and 14 touchdowns. In the 2005 Super Bowl he had 11 catches for 133 yards against Philadelphia, helping the Patriots win their third championship in four years.
The Patriots are without their top two receivers from last season. David Givens signed with Tennessee as a free agent for five years and $24 million, including an $8 million signing bonus.
Source: ESPN.com