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September 13, 2006

Mangini on Patriots' tampering charge

The Patriots have reportedly filed a grievance against WR Deion Branch seeking payment of the $500,000 in fines he accrued while holding out of training camp this summer but also repayment of 20 percent of his original $1 million signing bonus. Branch signed a six-year, $39 million deal with Seattle that includes $13 million in signing bonus.
The Pats have also filed tampering charges against the Jets on the Branch case. The Pats contend that they gave Branch permission to discuss terms of a contract with any new team, and not what a team would offer the Pats in return. Branch and the Jets apparently violated that in their discussions before he was traded away to Seattle for a first round draft choice.
``That issue is a league issue and that's where it'll be addressed,'' said Mangini. ``At all times, I expect every team to do what's in their best interest and give them the best chance to succeed. We're going to do that here and every team is going to do that around the league.''
Mangini rejected the theory that the Patriots' claims of tampering against the Jets in the Branch case are part of a intradivisional rivalry.
``I view it as just business. Each team is going to operate in their best interests and we're going to do that here,'' he said. ``I think it's important that that's the approach we take. That's just the way it works.''

KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Kevin  at 12:30 PM | Permalink