[cjg11582]

Is anyone else encouraged by Tom Brady going to bat for Deon Branch in his contract dispute with the Patriots? He said something to the extent of just pay him, get him in camp so we can start our season.
Personally, I love this attitude. NFL fans and management always cry about loyalty, and that the players never exude any. Well, loyalty is not a one way street, for all that Deon Branch has done for that organization, he should be appropriately compensated with a competitive salary for the WR's in The NFL at his skill level.
Why do we only discuss spoiled, over-privileged players (which there are clearly some) and never self-entitled, greedy owners?

[EmpireWF]

While it's nice to see the face of the franchise stick up for a guy who helped him in all those Superbowls, why hasn't Brady gone to bat for any other players on the team? I don't know, it's nice and all but why be selective?

[cjg11582]

Typically it has been defensive players in contract disputes on The Patriots. And while it would be commendable if he took up there cause as well, I can understand a certain allegiance among the people within one's core group of teammates.
The only other offensive player I can recall holding out was Troy Brown. And I imagine Tom Brady's approach for the first such instance was too wait it out and hope everything is resolved amicably. But when they threaten to take away another receiver, he felt obligated to step in and voice his concern towards the front office's detriment to his team.
As expendable as NFL's fans think WR's are, teams never rebound well when they lose a premiere talent at that position. Minnesota and Randy Moss, Green Bay and Javon Walker, Philadelphia and San Fransisco with Terrell Owens. Not that Branch or Brown are the same caliber of player, but Brady is confident in throwing the ball to those guys, as evidenced by the three Superbowls.