Quote:
Originally Posted by JMurder3
I'm sure it's mostly a balancing issue. The less the Saints would have to give up in a trade, the more they'd be willing to pay Butler. Lots of moving pieces, & the Patriots aren't in any rush because they have leverage as Butler is only making $3.9m this year, & the Saints can't actually sign him to an offer sheet because a) Butler hasn't signed his tender & b) if they did the Pats could just let him go for the 11th pick.
I'm sure it will get sorted one way or the other over the next month or two.
The Pats and Saints can't trade unless he signs his tender, but I believe the Saints can extend an offer sheet.
Problem for the Saints is, if the offer sheet is too low the Pats match and keep Butler, if it's too high they lose #11 for the privilege of paying market or close to market.
For some reason Butler's agent doesn't seem to understand he is never getting a market deal while an RFA. He should have taken the deal the Pats reportedly offered prior to last season.