Pats Talking Extension With Givens

[bideau]

This is from Mike Reiss of the Metrowest Daily News:

Pats talk extension with Givens
By Mike Reiss/ MetroWest Daily News
Wednesday, May 19, 2004

FOXBORO - With the long term in mind, the Patriots have opened discussions this week on a contract extension for wide receiver David Givens.

Givens, who enters his third season in 2004, is an exclusive-rights free agent. Because of that status, he has little choice but to return to New England this season.

``We appreciate that they've had discussions with us because they're under no obligation to do so,'' said Boston-based agent Brad Blank, who represents Givens. ``We've had some discussions, but thus far they haven't been fruitful.''

Givens, 23, has been tendered a one-year, $380,000 contract by the Patriots.

Should the sides be unable to hammer out an extension, Givens would sign the tender and become a restricted free agent after the 2004 season.

Restricted free agents, unlike exclusive free agents, can be courted by other teams. If a team signs a restricted free agent (think Steelers defensive end Rodney Bailey), they give up compensation in the form of draft picks.

As a restricted free agent, Givens could be an attractive target for NFL teams because he was a seventh-round draft choice. Because of his low-draft status, the compensation would be a seventh-round pick (if he's tendered a low contract).

The 6-foot, 212-pound Givens enjoyed a breakout season in 2003, finishing the regular season with 34 catches for 510 yards and six touchdowns.

Givens caught five passes for 69 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 32-29 win over the Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

In the Pats' 24-14 win over the Colts in the AFC Championship Game, he led the team with eight catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.

[BionicPatriot]

OK Patriots, lets get this done. This guy is gonna be our goto number #2 man. He vastly improved from his rookie season to now. He also had 6 TDs, along with many clutch catches. We need to resign this guy.

[lobster]

Doesn't a $380K one year offer seems a very skimpy offer for a star receiver, if not an insult? I would be thinking a long-term deal for $750K per year.

[dropKickMurphy]

Speaking of David Givens, did anyone catch the Peter Manfredo fight last Friday in Providence?

Peter, wearing a Pats' #87 jersey, entered the ring with his friend David Givens. Peter said before the fight "He is a champion, I am a champion and we are gonna reunite in the corner and I'm gonna pull this fight out for him."

Givens sat with the ESPN2 announcers for a round. He explained that he had boxed since the age of 5, and had given it up to focus on football when he got to college. When he came to New England, he started hanging with some of the boxers and became friends with Manfredo.

By the way, if you haven't yet heard of Peter Manfredo, Jr, you soon will. At the age of 23, Manfredo is 21-0 as a pro boxer and currently holds the NABO Junior Middleweight title, which is a stepping stone to bigger and better things. He's been progressively fighting better competition in each fight, and has been moving steadily up the ranks. He appears poised to become the next great fighter out of New England.

Peter trains at Manfredo's Gym, owned by his father, in Pawtucket. A couple of other young guys who also have emerged from Manfredo's gym are superheavyweight Jason Estrada, who will be fighting for the US in this year's Olympics; and Matt Godfrey, the 2004 U.S. Nationals heavyweight champion who was named second alternate on the Olympic team.

[BizarroAnnihilus]

Originally posted by dropKickMurphy
Speaking of David Givens, did anyone catch the Peter Manfredo fight last Friday in Providence?

Peter, wearing a Pats' #87 jersey, entered the ring with his friend David Givens. Peter said before the fight "He is a champion, I am a champion and we are gonna reunite in the corner and I'm gonna pull this fight out for him."



I didn't see that one, but did catch the end of another fight (unfortunately can't remember the participants). The end of the fight was a little chaotic and one of the guys ended up knocked the f*ck out. Some dude wearing a Ty Law jersey (and Patriots hat too, if I remember right) jumped in from one of the corners to help with the ensuing confusion. I'm pretty sure it wasn't Ty, though - unless he had the Michael Jackson skin treatment.

The Pats are everywhere, man! :D

[Undertaker #59]

Originally posted by lobster
Doesn't a $380K one year offer seems a very skimpy offer for a star receiver, if not an insult? I would be thinking a long-term deal for $750K per year.

Oh sure it is skimpy, but its all they need to do with an exclusive-rights free agent. I am sure in the new deal that they are trying to work out with him, he will be paid at least the 750k. They don't HAVE to do anything more than the 380k right now, but they WANT to.