Comings and Goings

The economic realities of the NFL have sent, "the ultimate team player," packing.

The NFL is a cruel, heartless, and unsympathetic business. The cap is king and sentimental attachments are frivolous and ultimately discarded. Thus, the release of Troy Brown by the New England Patriots, the prototypical "all business" franchise.

Brown was due 2.5 million next season in addition to a 2.5 million roster bonus. His release saves the team 5 million in cap room, hopefully bringing them under the cap before the opening of the free agent period this week.

This is a sad reality in New England, Brown is one of the most popular players in franchise history and in the era of the selfish athlete he epitomized the opposite. You would be hard pressed to find many other players willing to make the sacrifices made by Brown this past season especially in regard to his statistical bonuses. As most NFL contracts are, Brown's deal was based primarily on performance incentives which (since he was a receiver at the time) were based on his offensive performance. That means the majority of his salary would be triggered by factors like receptions, yards, touchdowns, etc. By agreeing to switch to defense he gave all that up. There were no incentives in his contract for interceptions, tackles, or deflected passes. In the NFL it is an era of very little guaranteed money. Brown guaranteed himself the smallest possible paycheck for a chance at another Super Bowl.

With only 17 catches and 1 touchdown this season it is unlikely that Brown triggered any of his bonus money but we never heard a single gripe about it. He was, as Tom Brady put it, "the ultimate team player." His only reward, a third Super Bowl championship. It makes you wonder how many players, if they were given the choice (money or ring) would make the same sacrifice.

And now he's gone, who knows where he'll land. He's probably over the hill as a top notch receiver, and while he did a phenomenal job at corner all things considered, he'll never be signed as a defensive player.

He gave the Patriots everything they asked of him and more. He sacrificed money (a pro athlete sacrificed money?) and played a position he probably hadn't played since high school because he understood the nature of the business. Winning is the only thing that matters and even on a dynasty team the window to do so is always closing.

We'll miss Troy Brown in New England, but until proven otherwise "In Belichick and Pioli we trust." That's business.

On the other side of the coin is Ty Law. It can never be said that he does not understand the business of football, but he looks at it differently. Regardless, he's on on his way out of town as well.

Law has always been a star, capable of shutting down a top receiver and sometimes a whole side of the offensive formation. But he knew it and it killed him to not see his name on top of the list of highest paid defensive backs. His major issue for the past two seasons has been compensation commensurate with his ability, which is never going to happen in New England. His wanted to be paid like a top corner and his last deal gave him that, but he was never willing to restructure (something the Pioli system LOVES to do) because he couldn't imagine not cashing the biggest checks at his position. His cap number heading into next season would have been 12 (that's 12 million) which is a monster number to be tied up in one player, especially in a diversified defensive system like the Patriots and he just wasn't worth it.

I personally was shocked he ever found himself in a Patriots uniform again after calling Belichick a liar and pulling the "I have to feed my family" card last offseason (Note to Ty Law: yes you have to feed your family but they don't have to use C-notes as napkins) but at that point the Patriots football people weren't sure that they could win without him. Now they've proven to themselves that they can and Law is on his way to a huge contract with a lesser team. Maybe he'll land in Dallas or Kansas City they're both shopping for corners, but wherever it is he'll be paid big and more than likely will watch his old team in the Super Bowl again next year. This time it'll be on TV, not from the sideline.

This offseason the Patriots have proven that they don't care what your attitude is towards the game. You can be the most unselfish team player in the league or the most overpaid primadonna, if keeping you doesn't make BOTH financial and football sense then you're gone. No hard feelings, that's business. And that's why they're the best in the business.