Negotiations between the Patriots and Ty Law on a contract extension have taken a turn for the worse, which is to say they aren't going anywhere, other than in circles. Now Law would like to exit the rotary, so to speak. He wants out of New England.
"Right now, it's not about money," Law said this week. "That bridge is burned. I no longer want to be a Patriot. I can't even see myself putting on that uniform again, that's how bad I feel about playing here."
Citing "irreconcilable differences," Law, one interception from tying Raymond Clayborn's franchise record, said he has expressed to Patriots coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli his desire to play elsewhere after being "lied to" about their intentions.
Belichick declined comment last night.
Law, who last month called the Patriots' four-year, $26 million offer "an insult" and "a slap in the face," said this week he thought discussions would continue until the Patriots informed his agent, Carl Poston, of their plans to carry Law's $10 million salary cap figure for this year, the penultimate of a seven-year, $51 million contract that included a then-record $14.2 million bonus. "They told me they didn't want to insult Ty anymore, so they're not going to submit any more offers," Poston said.
Talks of a new deal began when Law visited Belichick at his Gillette Stadium office upon returning from the Pro Bowl. Law, 30, wanted to discuss his uncertain future. That was the first of two meetings with Belichick. Law said he's also spoken with Belichick and Pioli by phone regarding a new deal. But when Poston made Pioli a seven-year, $63 million counteroffer that included $20 million to sign and $28 million over the first three years, Pioli, according to accounts, responded with something to effect of "We can't do that. Save the paper."
"They told me one thing and did another," Law said. "They said we were going to talk. All of a sudden, negotiations are off. `We're just going to keep it the way it is for this year.' No. It ain't going to be `for this year.' I don't want no `just for this year.' I don't want no years at all. Actually, I don't want a contract extension anymore because I no longer want to be a New England Patriot. I'm drop-dead serious about not wanting to be a part of this organization anymore."
This is not the first time Law has asked to be let go. Law said he asked Belichick to place him on the 2002 expansion list, which was due days after New England's Super Bowl XXXVI victory.
