APIf the Patriots’ offensive line struggles in today’s opener against the Titans, Brian Waters‘ phone might ring tonight.
Waters, the veteran guard who signed a two-year contract with the Patriots last year and had a very strong season, starting every game up to and including the Super Bowl, has not returned to the team this year, and there’s been no word on whether or when he will. But Patriots owner Bob Kraft made clear that the team would like to have him back.
“I’ve learned, I don’t sit in judgment of anyone until I find myself walking in their shoes. I don’t know what’s going on in his private life, what the different concerns are,” Kraft told the Boston Herald. “Surely, we would have liked to have had him. I’m still not giving up hope that maybe he still wants to come back. But, you know, it’s a rigorous, strenuous . . . he came in last year right before the start of the season and performed beautifully. We’ll see what happens.”
Both sides have been quiet about Waters’ absence, but there have been hints that Waters is holding out for more money. As Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com notes, it’s surprising that when Waters joined the Patriots just days before the start of the season last year, he signed a two-year contract. A one-year contract is the more common deal for a veteran who’s coming to a team late in the offseason, and a one-year contract would have made it clear to both sides that they’d need to renegotiate if Waters were going to return in 2012.
Instead, Waters is still under contract to the Patriots, but he isn’t in the Patriots’ locker room. The Patriots are still hoping that might change.
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I’ve heard various stories/theories, all at least somewhat plausible
1. He began talking about retirement immediately after the Super Bowl – he’s had a long career, he just played in the Super Bowl for the first time, maybe he feels comfortable walking away from the game. This is plausible, except he’d have filed his retirement papers to give the Patriots’ clarity on the fact that he’s not coming back.
2. His family is in Texas, and he’d rather not be so far away for an entire season. He’s hoping the Patriots release him (hence him not reporting to camp), so that way he can sign with a team like the Dallas Cowboys or Houston Texans. This would explain why he didn’t report to camp, hasn’t filed retirement papers, and why the Patriots refuse to release him (they wouldn’t want him to play for a contender like the Texans who might be their opponent in the playoffs).
3. Money – I consider this least likely as the *main* reason (he’s earned a lot in his career by now), but an offer to bump up his pay after an All-Pro season might have helped persuade him to come back. Most veteran, All-Pro guards earn significantly more than $2 million a year.
The last couple years Waters played for the Chiefs he seemed to be looking for a reason to leave and do understand it was the lowly Chiefs but he was a little odd during those last two years he played there.
If it’s not about money, then it’s likely about money. Buy why on earth would Brian Waters even remotely think he’s entitled to more money? After all, it’s not like he had a Pro-Bowl caliber year last season at age 34, right? For Brady’s sake, get on the horn, New England, and PAY THE GUY!!!
The Patriots understand leverage. If you have it, you do not need to be obtuse about it and grandstand. The Patriots know how to sit back and quietly wait. Logan Mankins, and now Brian Waters, both were put in situations where they could play for the Patriots or not play. Significantly different situations but both elected not to play to start seasons. Alas, the agents don’t seem to understand when it is time to cut the best deal they can and get their guy on the field. Holding out is not doing the player much good.
Maybe something good will FINALLY happen for the Patriots this year. Oh how those fans have suffered.
Yo Bob, I sure hope after your “acting cameo” last month with your young gold digger you don’t “stand in judgement of anyone”
Enough already. It would be nice if he showed up, but if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. Connelly is a good player, they’ve got it covered. Tackle is the worry. Solder is an unknown, Vollmer’s health is an issue and at this point Cannon can’t play, if he’s even a tackle. This is getting as tired as the BValentine talk. Just hope they don’t give in and trade him to Houston; in my mind their biggest threat in the AFC.
I’m sick of all this Brian Waters talk…We’ve been talking about this since the Super Bowl ended and nothing has changed…Time to move on without him and hope the line can keep it together and I think we have enough solid depth to plug the hole left by Waters…Would it be great if he were here? Yeah absolutely he was awesome last year and if he wants more money I think you give it to him for the sake of Brady but they won’t cut him and let him walk to the Texans and I’m pretty sure Belichick would have flipped him to another NFC team already if he thought Waters wasn’t showing up…Hopefully Waters is okay but until/if he shows up we need to move on
Pats want to pay him the veteran minimum, and he wants more. I understand the Pats leverage in these situations, but why do they also go out and give big signing bonuses to guys who don’t stick around like Ochocinco or Fanene. It makes the few hundred thousand that Waters deserves after his Pro Bowl season look like peanuts.
overpay him by 1 mill in exchange for services this year and the promise to retire next year
I guess at least one player has recognized that the “Patriot Way” is a bunch of worthless drivel.
Good for you, Brian.
Am pays fan and I want the Kraft family to pay and make him play. He is invaluable part of this shaky O line. Do we need to remind Kraft family that Brady is getting older and more susceptible to injury due to hits?
10-6, bounced in opening round.
andrewproughcfe says:Sep 9, 2012 11:08 AM
I guess at least one player has recognized that the “Patriot Way” is a bunch of worthless drivel.
Good for you, Brian.
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Yep, drivelled their way to 5SBs in the last 10 yrs.
They should be like most of the other teams, blow up their salary structure, overpay him and beg him to play when his heart may not even be in it. Then wonder why they have cap problems. Another well thought out post by a jealous hater.