New England Patriots entered a deal with the Seattle Seahawks to trade a 2011 fourth-round pick to them in exchange for Deion Branch, as they scrambled to find a replacement for Randy Moss who was traded to the Minnesota Vikings.
Branch has been with the Patriots in the past when he helped them win their second and third Super Bowls and this encouraged the Patriots to bring him back into the team. Branch left the Patriots in 2006 in what was publicized as a dispute over finances.
The pick offered to the Seahawks will be one of the current Patriot players or the one that they acquire from Denver in the Laurence Maroney trade.
Branch has a total of 13 catches for 112 yards and one touchdown this season, which are not at par with Moss's performance. He is, however, a good pick given his offensive skills and his ability to play every receiver position.
Branch had previously expressed his openness to a deal offer by the Patriots and talked about his special chemistry with ace quarter back Tom Brady; he was Brady's go-to-receiver during his previous stint with the Patriots.
Branch drew a base salary of $5.47 million this year, and will earn $5.95 million next year as per his current contract with the Seahawks. The Seahawks acquired him from the Pats in a six-year, $39 million deal; they traded 2007 first-round pick, safety Brandon Meriweather, in return. Branch has sustained many injuries in recent years and some say that he does not have the same charisma that he had during his first stint with the Pats.
