Extend Sean Lee Now

[Nation]

Looking at what the Patriots have done this offseason with Pro Bowl talents Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez now is the time to strike on an extension with our own 2010 draft steal Sean Lee. Both tight ends had 2 years left on their rookie contracts, much like Lee. And like those two I think we have seen enough from Lee to justify making that move now instead of paying him a premium at the end of his contract.

Hernandez signed to a 7 year 41 million deal with only 16.4 million guaranteed. Gronkowski's was 8 years, 55.23 with only 13.17 million guaranteed. The player gets financial security and the team gets a Pro Bowl caliber player locked up at a reasonable rate for his prime years. To me this would be a no-brainer move.

 

[Joshmil53]

Yep, he needs one now.

 

[theogt]

Makes sense to me.

 

[Doomsday101]

If they look to do it I would imagine it will not happen until next off season.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Makes. No business sense.

 

[The Natural]

I can guarantee the people saying Dez should not be extended if he has a monster season will be the same ones saying Lee deserves to be extended now after 1 good season.

And for the record I'm not opposed to extending Lee now. I believe you have to make such extensions with a foresight of a players potential. Guys like Dez and Lee have perennial all-pro potential. It's when you start rewarding the likes of Spencers and Scandricks that you set a franchise back

 

[WoodysGirl]

Sean Lee is the kind of guy they might take care of towards the end of the season. However, Romo is probably more of a priority than Lee.

 

[Nation]

Makes. No business sense.

What part of it doesn't make business sense? You pay a little now to avoid paying a lot later, and avoid paying market value for a Pro Bowl player who you can be confident won't go in the tank once he's been paid.

 

[Stash]

Looking at what the Patriots have done this offseason with Pro Bowl talents Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez now is the time to strike on an extension with our own 2010 draft steal Sean Lee. Both tight ends had 2 years left on their rookie contracts, much like Lee. And like those two I think we have seen enough from Lee to justify making that move now instead of paying him a premium at the end of his contract.

Hernandez signed to a 7 year 41 million deal with only 16.4 million guaranteed. Gronkowski's was 8 years, 55.23 with only 13.17 million guaranteed. The player gets financial security and the team gets a Pro Bowl caliber player locked up at a reasonable rate for his prime years. To me this would be a no-brainer move.

Welcome to the club, we've got jackets!

:shake:

 

[basstapp]

What part of it doesn't make business sense? You pay a little now to avoid paying a lot later, and avoid paying market value for a Pro Bowl player who you can be confident won't go in the tank once he's been paid.

Then you are in an MJD situation. Taking advantage of the market makes sense on a business stand point, but if a player feels undervalued they are just going to holdout.

 

[Doomsday101]

Then you are in an MJD situation. Taking advantage of the market makes sense on a business stand point, but if a player feels undervalued they are just going to holdout.

Also makes sense to use the off season to do these things not at the start of the season where the only focus this team should be looking at is the games ahead of them.

You got around 5 months of an off season that is when business matters should be done, not 1 week away from the opening of the season. I have not heard Lee say anything about money matters so wait until the year is done then do it.

 

[speedkilz88]

What part of it doesn't make business sense? You pay a little now to avoid paying a lot later, and avoid paying market value for a Pro Bowl player who you can be confident won't go in the tank once he's been paid.

Because if you pay him now then there is likely another player that they can't extend because you already spent the available cap space when you didn't need to.

 

[CyberB0b]

Makes. No business sense.

+1. Let him get close to completing his current contract.

 

[Nation]

I wouldn't suggest doing so with a player you can't trust to take advantage of you like MJD is attempting. And I think MJD is learning the hard way that you can't pull these stunts with the new CBA. A premature extension worked out great with Jay Ratliff and I think we have a similar motor here. The one week before the season thing shouldn't be an issue either, as I'm pretty sure Jason Witten was focused last season and I'd imagine everyone in New England is as well.

Other than Romo we also don't have any pressing needs as far as players we need immediate room for. This way when Tyron Smith, Mo Claiborne, and DeMarco Murray all come up in free agency we don't have to worry about having to fit them in with one of the highest paid linebackers in the game.

 

[erod]

Too much history of significant knee injuries. Wait as long as you can.

But I love Sean Lee, and I hope Bruce Carter is a lot like him.

 

[Shinywalrus]

Don't know what you get from it other than locking up more guaranteed money in an injury scenario, which isn't a good thing. He's already someone who'd get MLB money just below the elite tier in FA, so you're probably not saving money. As for re-signing, I don't see it as much of a risk with him if we do it before the last year.

Ratliff was a good early re-up example. I don't think that Sean Lee would.

 

[Eskimo]

I'd suggesting doing it at mid-season with his agent.

I'd like something in the five to six year range but it would be an extension, not an entirely new deal. In lieu of extra salary the next two years he would get the bonus now which would give him financial security for life. Lee's agents have to remember he could injure his knee tomorrow and never play in the NFL again and never get that second contract which is still two years down the road.

For the extension I'd suggest 4 years, $24M, $10M bonus. That would keep him in the Cowboys uniform until the end of the 2018 season. He would be 32 years old at that point. He would also be at that point where players' performance drops off the table so it'd be a good point to re-evaluate him.

Some may think that deal low but he has major injury/durability concerns and was quite old for a rookie when he came into the league so he might not have a super long career due to those factors. He also has yet to make the Pro Bowl and the salary cap won't be going up much for a few years apparently.

 

[EvilJerry88]

Maybe after this season if he takes another step forward.

 

[dallasdave]

Maybe after this season if he takes another step forward.

We have a lot of dead money coming off books after this season.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Need to extend Romo first.