The best example of how to control the market and get full value for a star player even when he’s out of contract was the Buffalo Bills’ handling of WR Peerless Price . Bills GM Tom Donahoe was not about to let a talented young receiver just go free and sign with a new team. He decided to put a franchise tag on him and force teams interested in Price to come forward and surrender a high draft pick for the right to sign him. Atlanta surfaced and eventually gave the Bills the 23rd pick in the first round for the rights to Price. The Bills got value for a player they could have easily kept on their roster. As one GM said to me, "I would have kept Price on my roster with Drew Bledsoe under center, but it was a masterful job by Donahoe of getting great value for him." Teams flirting with Price tried to get away with offering the Bills a second-round pick, but Donahoe held his ground and got what he wanted.