Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal

Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler met with the New Orleans Saints Thursday, and while at one point it was reported “there is momentum toward finalizing a deal before he leaves,” it appears the visit has ended without one.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Twitter that a “source close to [Butler] said it went well. No deal yet. The sides remain motivated to get it done.”

Meanwhile, the Saints provided only a cryptic update on their official Twitter account.

“When we know you will know You may even know before we know...,” the Saints tweeted at 4:23 p.m. Thursday.

According to The Advocate of Baton Rouge, La., Butler met with the Saints’ front office and coaching staff, and had lunch at the cafeteria at the team’s facility with his agents. The Advocate also reported it could be “a long process” for the sides to reach a deal.

Butler, a restricted free agent, is able to meet with teams and solicit offers. If the Saints sign Butler, 27, to an offer sheet, the Patriots have the right to match it. If they decline, they will receive New Orleans’s first-round pick, the 11th overall selection.

Butler’s name has also come up in trade reports between the two teams.

Butler arrived in New Orleans Wednesday night and went to dinner with a handful of Saints players, according to reports.


Josina Anderson of ESPN reported that a source said of the dinner, “The vibe was good. Everybody communicated well. (He) seemed comfortable.”

Butler’s visit with the Saints was his first free agent meeting.

Saints coach Sean Payton confirmed the visit to the Associated Press earlier this week.

Butler has yet to sign the $3.91 million tender the Patriots placed on him.

The Saints already own the Patriots’ first-round pick (No. 32 overall) after shipping receiver Brandin Cooks to New England last week.

Payton and Patriots coach Bill Belichick have a long friendship and working relationship, with the teams holding joint practices the last two seasons. They will face each other in a regular-season game in New Orleans this season.

Another possibility for Butler landing in New Orleans would be for him to sign his New England tender and then have the clubs work out a trade for something other than the No. 11 pick. A possible scenario could be the Patriots recouping the No. 32 pick.

Any trade likely would be contingent on Butler agreeing to a long-term deal with the Saints, as it’s unlikely the team would be willing to give up a pick if Butler could still walk at the end of the 2017 season.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

The doesn't mean that Butler and the Saints didn't agree to a deal. It just means they didn't finalize one. Looking more likely the scenario of Butler signing the Pats' tender, Pats and Saints exercising a trade, and then Butler and the Saints executing the previously agreed upon deal.

Either that or moving on.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

There would have been no one I would have signed a deal wtih him until he signed the tender. Putting us at risk of losing our #11 pick isn't an option.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Okay, so who's still available from Canada?

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Or it it could mean they didn't agree to a deal.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

They couldn't agree a deal. If they had agreed a deal publicly New England would be demanding the number 11 pick

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I'm all for getting Butler. But even if we don't, we've still got some picks in the draft. Re-sign Moore (if he's still available) and try to draft quality defensive players.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Keep our picks get our own guys

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I understood that tweet as once the news breaks that Butler has signed his tender - the trade is on.

Naturally I could be very wrong.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I wonder what it would take to get Richard Sherman.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Wasn't he abused a few games last year. Seemed to take a step back from the little i saw.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

We were the first team he met with. He is likely wanting to get other teams into the bidding before announcing any agreement with anyone.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I am not sure he is worth an 11 pick. He made one historic play in a super bowl. A good player, a starter, but don't overvalue him for that. His agent is likely banking on teams doing that. Having said that, secondary is our weakest spot, and football is changing the name of the game to passball.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I am perfectly ok with walking away without Butler... draft a rookie - rookie contract.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Not enough for me to be worried. Think he was playing through a significant injury. Plus..if you want to play defense like the Seahawks...get a Seahawk!

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

B-b-but he's a system CB...

http://www.theweeklings.com/wp-conte...crying-450.jpg

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

It's funny because Sherman gets more safety help in Seattle than Butler in New England.

System CB lol

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I read a story on Bleacher Report just yesterday that the Seahawks would be open to trade talk on Sherman.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...yhbsyEjk7F8WZw

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Everything ha its price...

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Of course it does.

I'm just posting what was already written.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I just don't see us signing vets that are going to strap us down with cap troubles.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Butler?

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Big contracts on guys not QB nor your ironman-type offensive linemen (John Hannah, Steve Hutchinson, Anthony Munoz, Marshal Yanda, Willie Roaf, Zach Martin) are just booby traps to keep teams at Mendoza Mediocre line of 7-9...

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I think we've reached the point where we just have to pick the right suitcase and wait for the banker's offer.

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/...20101015233928

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Brandon Browner

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Not a good sign when a visit ends with no contract.

90% of the time that player signs somewhere else.

I'd absolutely love to have him, but if his price was too high there are other options that will achieve our goals.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

You always make the deal with the last person you visit.. :rolleyes:

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Don't agree with that, although it does happen often.

I'm pretty sure there are many free agents that visited other teams and ended up signing with their original team or a team that offered them more on a previous visit.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

A contract would mean we give up #11. An agreement to sign a contract after signing the tender with the Pats and being traded wouldn't. We DIDN'T want a contract signed when he left. That would have been a bad thing.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I think we still have a strong chance of signing Butler. Once we reach an agreement, the Pats have a chance to match it. If they decide to let him come to N.O. Then we would discuss compensation. I would rather swap back our 3rd and 4th round pics from the Cooks trade, but I wouldn't be mad if they decided to give up the 32nd pic either, that means we basically traded Cooks for Butler. Cooks is too emotional and selfish, Wanna be the man over a good team player. We will get Butler for a deal similar to the one the Pats gave Gilmore, then we just hafta cross our fingers and hope he fits our system and don't go Browner on us . . .

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

**** that. If I'm trading my first pick it's going to be for a young All Pro player. A player that immediately makes us much better. A game changer
. I really can't think of anyone on the market worth that

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Dude, are you paying attention at all? The Saints first pick isn't in play at all. Get with the game.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

I hope not. But no one really knows what's going on. Technically, they could trade that pick. Especially during the draft if Butler signs the tender or a contract with the Pats. The Saints get crazy on draft day.

It's doubtful IMO, but I don't bet on anything when it comes to the Saints and draft picks.

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

We don't truly know. I have no idea if we are going to sign him or not, etc. I guess when he signs his tender we wil have a clue he is about to be traded, maybe lol

Re: Malcolm Butler’s visit with Saints reportedly ends with no deal
 

Another issue with Butler will be his salary cap number which will be between 11 and 13 mil per annum if he gets Top 10 CB money that he said he wants.

Do we want to commit that kind of money to a CB that is only listed at 5' 10" and doesn't cover the taller No. 1 receivers, only exception was Antonio Brown, and still have Del Breaux to extend in a couple of seasons?

Del Breaux is 6' 1" and will still be out No. 1 CB even with Malcolm Butler.

Spend that 32nd pick or more that one pick to get your No. 2 if you don't think PJ can come back healthy...

Hopefully someone in the Saints Front Office will talk Payton out of this madness...