88 replies to this topic

[BillsFan-4-Ever]

http://www.cbssports...coughlin-agrees


When the Giants waived injured tight end Jake Ballard on Tuesday, they certainly didn't expect anyone to claim him. After all, Ballard's probably going to miss all of 2012 after tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl. But the Patriots -- who, as you know, lost that Super Bowl -- snatched him off waivers.

And that prompted a lot of questions as to whether or not the Pats violated any "unwritten" rules of NFL transactions. Bill Belichick, who was asked those questions, scoffed at the notion on Wednesday.

[Doc]

All's fair.  Ballard won't play in 2012, seeing as how he tore his ACL and had the repair plus microfracture surgery in February.  And after this season, he'll be a RFA.

[RichmondRob]

This is a stretch.  hope this tread dies.

[NoSaint]

Doc, on 14 June 2012 - 08:33 AM, said:

All's fair.  Ballard won't play in 2012, seeing as how he tore his ACL and had the repair plus microfracture surgery in February.  And after this season, he'll be a RFA.

is he an RFA next year? I heard them quoting his salary for next year. Of course it could have been an assumed level of tender but it certainly wasnt specified, and they didnt mention any compensation possibility when discussing it. They being espn who easily could have dropped the ball.

[Doc]

NoSaint, on 14 June 2012 - 08:42 AM, said:

is he an RFA next year? I heard them quoting his salary for next year. Of course it could have been an assumed level of tender but it certainly wasnt specified, and they didnt mention any compensation possibility when discussing it. They being espn who easily could have dropped the ball.

Rotoworld has his listed as making $540K this coming year and being a RFA in 2013.

[apuszczalowski]

This pissed Coughlin off

Its funny cause apparently it had pissed BB off too when it happened to them a couple of season ago from what I heard. Some are saying it is just BB trying to get some revenge/get back at the team that keeps beating him in the SB

[timmo1805]

BillsFan-4-Ever, on 14 June 2012 - 08:28 AM, said:

http://www.cbssports...coughlin-agrees


When the Giants waived injured tight end Jake Ballard on Tuesday, they certainly didn't expect anyone to claim him. After all, Ballard's probably going to miss all of 2012 after tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl. But the Patriots -- who, as you know, lost that Super Bowl -- snatched him off waivers.

And that prompted a lot of questions as to whether or not the Pats violated any "unwritten" rules of NFL transactions. Bill Belichick, who was asked those questions, scoffed at the notion on Wednesday.

why work any harder to dislike the pats than you have to?  an unwritten rule simply means there is no rule at all.  as much as i despise bb, i'd scoff too.

[Teen Insight]

What's the unwritten rule? Taking a player from a team that beat you in the Super Bowl last year? Taking an injured player off waivers?

EDIT: Thanks Senator!

Edited by Teen Insight, 14 June 2012 - 10:05 AM.

[Alphadawg7]

Lol, this is lame...there is no unwritten rule and there is nothing to see here.  This happens all the time, and Giants took a risk and it back fired.  They are stupid for taking the risk on a guy they did not want to give up.

[kickedface]

i agree that its stupid, on both parts, the pats* don't need a TE and may have done this out of spite or to get the playbook and the njg's should've been a bit more careful with a player they wanted to keep.

[The Senator]

Meh...it's actually kinda funny to watch these two girls (Belicheat* & Coughlin) kick and scratch and pull each other's hair!

Ballard's 1-yard TD catch with 17 seconds to go ends a NE* 20-game win streak at home (Foxboro*) last November, then NJ beat NE* in the SB.  In an extremely petty move by a guy* already well -stocked at the TE position, Belicheat* sees an opportunity to tweak Couglin's nose by taking a guy who can't play a down this season, and becomes an RFA  when the season ends.

The Patriots are well-stocked at tight end with Rob Gronkowski and  Aaron Hernandez, but Bill Belichick has made these types of  unconventional moves before. Belichick scoffed at the notion he broke  some unwritten rule about claiming an injured player.

“First of  all, there aren’t any unwrittens,’’ Belichick said in New England. “Any  time you put a player on waivers, you know there are 31 teams out there  that can take him if they want him. We all know that.”

Ballard, 24, caught 38 passes last season, was a revelation for the  Giants and wanted to stay. He arrived at the Giants facility on Tuesday  figuring he’d cleared waivers but was informed that the Patriots claimed  him at 3:50 p.m., 10 minutes before the waiver deadline.  “Obviously he built a reputation here, he’s very close with the guys  here, the staff, the team,’’ tight end Travis Beckum said, “and I think  if he could have picked he would have picked to stay here, but that is  not how the NFL works.’’

(link - NY Post)

Would be a real pisser if the Giants signed him back next Spring!



(Personally, I loved it when Buddy and Chan grabbed NE* 5th-round pick - Marshall TE Lee Smith - off waivers last season just before Belicheat could sign Smith to the NE* PS!)


GO BILLSSS!!!


"I expect to be undefeated...I expect to win every game." - Chan Gailey


19 and 0 baby!!!!

[Buftex]

It sucks most for Ballard.  Pats really don't have a need for him, but he is sort of in limbo...

[todd]

This is similar to how we got tasker. It isn't cheating.

[KD in CT]

Buftex, on 14 June 2012 - 10:12 AM, said:

It sucks most for Ballard. Pats really don't have a need for him, but he is sort of in limbo...

Exactly what I was thinking; he's probably broken hearted. It's one thing to change teams for a better opportunity, but he's unlikely to ever play for the Pats and now loses his connection to the Giants while rehabbing his injury.

[Teen Insight]

todd, on 14 June 2012 - 10:25 AM, said:

This is similar to how we got tasker. It isn't cheating.

That's creepy. I was just reading about how Steve Tasker joined the Bills via waiver wire after he got injured in the book he wrote.

[The Senator]

todd, on 14 June 2012 - 10:25 AM, said:

This is similar to how we got tasker. It isn't cheating.

And if you want to go WAY back in time, also Jack Kemp...

Link - How The Chargers Lost Jack Kemp

[Just Jack]

The Senator, on 14 June 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

And if you want to go WAY back in time, also Jack Kemp...

Link - How The Chargers Lost Jack Kemp

What about Lawyer Milloy? He wasn't on waivers, but the Bills did grab him less than a week before the home opener against the Pats*.

[Doc]

Sounds like insurance in case Hernandez wants mad money after the 2013 season.  But Ballard's microfracture surgery isn't a good sign.

[shrader]

Why are they even allowed to waive someone who is out due to injury?

[The Senator]

Just Jack, on 14 June 2012 - 10:42 AM, said:

What about Lawyer Milloy? He wasn't on waivers, but the Bills did grab him less than a week before the home opener against the Pats*.

Yeah...a bit different in that  the Cheats* weren't trying to keep Milloy, or 'hide' him on IR, PUP, etc.  They just outright released Milloy 5 days before the start of the season after failing to agree on a renegotiated deal.

(Still, I'm pretty sure Belicheat* was caught a bit 'flat-footed' whe the Bills signed Milloy the next day - just in time to get the entire NE* game plan and trounce the Cheatriettes* 31-0 !!!!!!)