Branch reportedly has deals w/ Jets & Seahawks

[eva4ben-gal]

[quote]Updated: Sep. 1, 2006, 1:34 PM ET
Branch has tentative deals with Jets, SeahawksBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


With the clock ticking toward a Friday 4 p.m. ET deadline for striking a deal, league sources confirmed for ESPN.com that New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch has reached agreement with the New York Jets and, as sources tell ESPN.com's Michael Smith, the Seattle Seahawks on a long-term contract that meets his demands.


Deion Branch
Wide Receiver
New England Patriots

Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC
78 998 5 12.8 51 245



But neither team, the sources acknowledged, has been able to come to an agreement with the Patriots on compensation for the four-year veteran. And without the second half of the deal in place, the deadline could pass without a trade, and again force Branch to decide whether to extend his camp-long holdout.


A deal with the Jets would reunite Branch with first-year head coach Eric Mangini, who previously was the defensive coordinator in New England.


Representatives for Branch were expected on Friday to apprise Patriots officials of the status of talks with other teams. New England last Friday granted Branch permission to discuss a potential trade with other teams. It's believed that none of the suitors involved with Branch are willing to offer the Patriots more than a second-round draft choice.


New England is seeking a first-round pick and perhaps a middle-round choice as well. Smith reported that league sources have indicated that the Patriots are looking to receive two No. 1 draft picks for their leading receiver.


Whether the Pats would consider extending the deadline to enter into trade negotiations with the two clubs attempting to land Branch is unknown. Part of New England's strategy in granting Branch permission to deal with other teams, it seems, was to try to force some kind of resolution to stalemate before the start of the regular season.


People close to Branch insist that he will not crack and will report to the Patriots only for the final six games of the season, enough to earn an accrued year toward the pension, and to qualify him for unrestricted free agency next spring.


While last week's move by the Patriots was surprising, it was also reflective of the state of discussions between the two sides. There has been virtually no meaningful dialogue for weeks and Branch, the team's leading receiver in 2005, remains out of camp and is being fined at the rate of $14,000 per day during his absence.


It is believed that, at some point in the offseason, the Patriots offered two extension proposals: a three-year deal worth $18.75 million with $8 million of that guaranteed, and a five-year extension at $31 million, with $11 million in bonuses.

Branch and his agent were seeking a long-term deal in the range of the six-year, $43 million deal the Colts signed Reggie Wayne to in the offseason.

Branch, 27, is scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.05 million in 2006, the final season of the original five-year contract he signed as a second-round choice in the 2002 draft. And the base salary is only that high because Branch performed well enough to trigger an "escalator" in the contract that raised his compensation by $500,000.

Branch and his agent were seeking a long-term deal in the range of the six-year, $43 million deal the Colts signed Reggie Wayne to in the offseason.

Team officials indicated as far back as March that securing an extension with Branch was a priority, but the sides have been unable to strike a deal and talks seem at a dead end.


Branch is coming off a career year in 2005, when he had 78 receptions for 998 yards and five touchdowns. For his career, Branch has 213 catches for 2,744 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has appeared in 53 games and logged 42 starts. He earned most valuable player honors in Super Bowl XXXIX when he tied a title game record with 11 receptions, netting 133 yards.[/quote]