Archives for March 14, 2004

The Bills got the best bargain guard, Chris Villarrial, the former Bear who might be the best of the three. He got a four-year deal that averages $2.82 million, which is relatively mild compared to the other two deals. But even $2.8 million is a lot to pay for a guard. They should be developed, not acquired in free agency. And if you do want a veteran, sign that player to a two or three-year deal with a minimal signing bonus and an average of about $1 to $1.5 million. They’re guards after all.

2004 Players Signed: Chris Villarrial; 2003 Players lost: Ruben Brown, Sam Gash, Keith McKenzie, Dave Moore, Sammy Morris, DaShon Polk, Dainon Sidney, Antoine Winfield

‘But the Bills have been reluctant, and wisely so, to overpay for the sake of quickly closing the deal. Signing the best player available to an excessive pact, becoming a buyer in an overinflated market, amounts to compromising the future for the benefit of immediate gratification.’

‘In Buffalo, the Bills have decided to follow the Patriots’ approach to free agency. They released Pro Bowl guard Ruben Brown and didn’t make an offer to retain corner Antoine Winfield because they were no longer “value players.” They were both solid starters, but neither played to the level of his contract. Off they went. Brown, still unsigned, was scheduled to count $5.8 million on the Bills’ salary cap. Winfield signed with Minnesota for $35 million over six years, including a $10.8 million signing bonus. Replacing Winfield will be difficult because he did play well. But with only one interception in the last 37 games, the Bills felt that their money could be better used in other areas.’