Contract Lunacy

Year Games Starts Catches Yards
2002 13 7 43 489
2003 15 11 57 803
2004 9 9 35 454
2005 16 15 78 998

How do those numbers look to you for a receiver? Not bad. Superb year in 2005. Shows promise. On the verge for sure. These numbers belong to Deion Branch who is holding out of Patriot's camp. Why? He is in the last year of his rookie contract and is due to be paid $1.3 million. He wants in the neighborhood of $40 for 6 years with $13 being guaranteed. WHAT?! He turned down 3 years for $19 million. Hines Ward is going to end up being a bargain at those numbers.