Multiple reports indicate the Patriots and Brian Waters are at an impasse over money, putting the veteran guard's availability for the season in jeopardy.
The Boston Herald was the first to report the Pats wanted to cut Waters' salary from 1.4 million to the veterans' minimum of 900,000, which also counts as only 450,000 against the salary cap. The Pats planned to award Waters per-game bonuses for being on the 46-player active roster, "allowing him to make 1.4 million - if not more . . . "
Both the Herald and Boston Globe reported that Waters has strong family ties in the Dallas area, which has him contemplating retirement. The Pats are said to have agreed to let Waters skip training camp but apparently expected him to report this week, prior to the season-opening game. When he did not, said the Globe, the team "may have hardened their stance" and may have dropped the per-game bonuses from contract restructuring.
The Globe also reported that Waters wants a raise, "making the emotional stress of being away from home worth it financially".