Would the Pats Have Let Johnny Damon Go to the Seahawks?

At this time of year -- as both NFL and MLB are in season -- one is naturally inclined to compare the fortunes of the Pats and the Red Sox. Earlier today, as news broke that Deion Branch had been traded for the Seahawks' first round pick in 2007, I couldn't help but do just that.

Once again, the Pats have been stubborn and stuck to their salary guns. (Though they've made notable exceptions for Tom Brady and Richard Seymour.) And once again, they've been unafraid to let a "star" player walk away. (Incidentally, my quick take on that: In a world where Corey Dillon is worth a #2 pick, surely Deion Branch can't be worth a #1.)

Now, given their success, it's hard to question the Pats' track record with this stuff. And here's where the comparison comes in. In my eyes, the Red Sox have been copying the Pats' personnel playbook -- or at least trying to. They've stuck to their salary guns with players like Johnny Damon and Pedro Martinez, and they've let them walk. The difference is:

1) These days, it's hard not to question the Sox' track record with this stuff.

2) The Pats front office is clearly home to some incredible talent evaluators. But the Sox ... maybe not so much. (Granted, you could argue that the jury's still out on this one, to some extent.)

3) Perhaps most important: There's no salary cap in baseball. So there's no penalty suffered by other MLB teams when (and I'm looking Bronx-ward here) they overpay every single player they sign, and let no players walk. Bottom line difference here: The Pats live in a universe bounded by law, reason, and a weak players' union. The Sox live in a universe of guaranteed contracts and $200 million payrolls.