Dan

Seriously? Hole created at TE? I think it's definitely time for us all to take a step back from the ledge. We could cut every TE currently on the roster and still not create any larger hole than what already exists. Quite honestly, I'd just prefer they did cut all our TE's and use the roster spot on some other position all together. We haven't had a TE worth a damn on this team in years, why even pretend anymore?

I guess it depends... is it the line's fault if Trent checks down on 3rd and 9 while TO is streaking down the sideline? If the LT is getting blown by all game long and Trent has no time to think, let alone read the defense; then yes I'll give him a pass. However, if the line plays as well (or bad) as it did last year and Trent still looks lost and confused... well.

Of course, I haven't talked to Peters. I did meditate several nights, but his aura was unreceptive. But seriously, anyone that holds out until the day before the first game has clearly said, with his actions, that he doesn't care about team success and by default that implies that he thinks he's more important than the team. Perhaps, I'm reading too much into his actions. I'd acknowledge that. Regardless, the lines were drawn. Peters, by his play, appeared to go through the motions this season. And as quickly as possible, he left again with no word other than pay me. Seriously, after seeing how quickly he, himself, went to Phili to talk about a deal is it such a stretch to think that maybe he just didn't want to be here. It doesn't necessarily make him a bad guy. It does, however, imply that perhaps Brandon had fewer options than we've been thinking, i.e. paying Peters probably wasn't an option. Regarding the communication. I wouldn't say there was zero communication. However, Brandon has repeatedly said there was no communication. Tim has even said that 30 or 40 voicemails were not returned. So that's 2 independent sources saying that neither Peters nor Parker were communicating. Until I see evidence that Parker was indeed trying to call the Bills' FO, I think it safe to conclude that they were the ones not communicating - perhaps because they were hoping to force a trade. If that is the case... then I'll change my assessment on Parker. He's a great agent, becacause he got his client exactly what he wanted - out of a multi-year contract and out of Buffalo.

I'd just like to say that, Tim, you rock! It's truly a priviledge to get your input and "insider" info like this. Thanks for all! Ya know what's really odd... we all just believe what you say and I don't even know what kind of car you drive. That, in and of itself, says something. Not sure what, but something.

I would agree; however, we can not discount that sometimes people change. Perhaps something over the last couple of years - signing Dockery and Walker - left a sour taste in his mouth and he's slowly rotted on the line, so to speak. Eventually, it all escalated into last season's holdout. Precisely. Someone has to give a little. To bring in another real world scenario... I currently have an employee that is doing just that. He thinks he's grossly underpaid, I offered him more compensation based on what I think is fair, he doesn't like it, it's been a week and not a word from him on the offer. Result: Monday at 8am I begin interviewing replacements. True he let them know he was unhappy as my employee has. However, there's a line between saying, "I'm underpaid and want/deserve a raise" and saying. "-----" as you walk out the door. Bottom line is this, the lines were drawn in the sand last summer. Peters thinks he more important than the team and they can't win without him. The FO thinks they can find (or have) a suitable replacement and don't really need him. IMO, money had little to do with this. I suppose we'll see sometime later this fall who's right.

You want 10. The team says 8.5. So, you hang up the phone, refuse to talk to anyone, and wait. Sounds fairly obvious to me that he wanted out. The only other option is the $25mill in guaranteed cash. Maybe the Bills wanted that to be in the $15ish range and that was what made them hang up the phone. Don't really know. But, on the surface, it just seems like it was over between the two.

I think that quote does indeed say it all. For a year and a half he and his agent said next to nothing to the FO. In one afternoon, Peters - no agent - is sitting down talking about a deal. For whatever reason, he just didn't seem like he wanted to be here the last year or so. Paying him may have made him stay, but would it have made him play hard or would he continue to sit with the slightest injury? It appears more and more that Brandon may have had few options afterall. For me, the jury is out on this trade until I see 2 things. 1. What we do on draft day with these picks. 2. What type of player Peters becomes over the next year or 2.

Agreed. Watching Total Access on NFLN yesterday, they had a segment explaining how the schedule is made each year. One of the guys involved said, and I paraphrase... The 1st Monday night game is great because you have Brady's first game back and then when Buffalo acquired TO... well the matchup just got a lot more entertaining. So, yeah, for better or worse, TO brings the national spotlight with him and the schedule makers abide.

Where's the.. "anyone Buffalo picks" options?

Good point. Perhaps it's just the rosy shades of my memories, but Evans getting re-signed always seemed like such a sure thing. Maybe it was seeing him in camp and OTAs, saying no worries. I'd tend to agree with a few others here on the draft deadline. Either you're absolutely certain you can get him signed before OTAs or you make a move and draft a LT, IMO. But, to not draft a LT and not be certain you can close the deal, means Chambers is your backup plan.

No doubt about that. For me at least, that's what is so frustrating about this whole thing - why play hardball with a player you know is deserving of the money. It almost has to be Peters' agent. The Bills' FO have shown they can be completely had at times (Schobel, Kelsay). They spoke very highly of Evans last year and all but assured everyone that the deal was done - even though it took several more months to be finalized. They never said much of anything about Stroud (or at least that I read); they just got it done relatively quickly. Yet, with Peters there's all this posturing and hard ball stances. It puzzles me. I can only surmise that his agent has completely misplayed the Bills' FO. Drew walks in and gets TO a deal in 2 days and Parker's been at it over a year and they seem no closer than when they started.

Sounds to me like things are going nowhere fast. Nothing positive said, nothing negative said. Just the standard.... we like him, we want him here, we'll see how it goes. Not at all reassuring in my mind. If anything I'd say the rumors are close to be accurate - Bills made him and offer and Parker said we'll talk when you get serious; and there's been nothing since.

Yes.

There's no way that could be the official logo. Vomitous is the word that comes to my mind.

That's all about what I was thinking. It's gonna be a blast, so I'm not worried at all.

That's exactly what I said! Like there's not a parking lot in the whole darn town!? I think he was just mad because we spent half as much by not doing the package deal.

Quick question for those that have been there and done it.... what about parking for the game? I've been told there's no parking and we're screwed for not buying the package deal. I find it hard to believe, but thought I'd ask.

I'd agree... I'm not sure he really lost any money because the Bills made it quite clear that he wouldn't get a new deal for the 2008 season. However, I'm not sure at all that we can say he's going to gain any money from all the holding out. So, what's the point then? The Bills' FO was certainly going to rework his contract. Had he come in and played hard, I have little doubt they would have reworked his deal ala Schobel, Stroud, Evans this off season regardless of the holdout. IMO, all he's done with the hold out is hurt his stock with the team and the fanbase. Not that many LT are product sponsors, but I'd be really surprised if he even has that option now. And if he holds out for any length of time this off season and has another average year; that great 2007 season will be a really distant memory and almost certainly cost him some money. I still don't understand the logic behind holding out. How can you demand more money when you're not there earning what you're currently being paid? Like I said before, though, that's probably why I'm not running a franchise.

Got mine! Northside, Section 8, Row U, Seats 1-4. Woo hoo!!

I hear ya... there's still plenty of time to work a deal. But still, if I'm in Parker's shoes, me and Peters are walkin to the gym in Buffalo, gettin lattes or whatever big time agents drink, calling Brandon daily... hey, guess where we're at. No way I sit patiently and wait to see what the FO wants to do.

I'd agree. You'd have to be nuts to risk turning down $10mill/yr because you're holding out for 11. However, I think the devil is always in the details. How much money upfront, guaranteed, length of deal, incentives, etc. that's what will ultimately get the deal done... or not. You'd think an agent with this much money at stake would practically be living in Buffalo the last few weeks. If I had a potential $10mill deal in the works, I promise you Brandon and I would become the best of friends. He'd wake up with me getting him coffee. I guess that's why I'm not a big time agent.

I see him more like a Hines Ward type year. Solid, dependable, blocks well, gets in the other guys face, draws the flag, keeps people fired up.

Yeah got them quite a bit back. We went straight through the HOF website as I recall that Monday/Tuesday after they announced the inductees. They had all sorts of package deals, but we just got the tickets and figured we'd wing it (as several posters here suggested) as far as all the festivities go. My sister got the tickets, so I don't' have the exact price. It's my turn to buy the game tickets... then we make up the difference in beer.

I agree with and understand your statements regarding his history. However, you have to consider that even as a RT with a decent raise, he was still playing for the big payday. Why rest on your laurels as a RT making $4mill/yr when you know you could move to LT and make $10mill/yr. I'm not suggesting Peters WILL become complacent with a new mega contract. But, he's definitely dialed it back a notch since becoming a ProBowl LT. There can be little doubt that he looked very average in 2008 in comparison to 2007's play. Certainly a lot of factors come into play, but he took one hell of a bad time to miss the entire offseason, show up to work a little out of shape, and then get injured again at the end of the year. So, I'm sorry. But I do have doubts about his play if he gets a $10+mill/yr contract. If for no other reason than he's ended 2 consecutive seasons on the sideline. Either the added weight on his frame combined with the extra work to become a top flight LT is causing himself to get injured more easily or he's sand bagging it when it's apparent we're no longer in the playoff hunt. Either way, it should be a cause for concern especially when combined with the attitude of pay me now (before my body completely gives out). Excellent point and very likely.

The induction ceremony and the game are different tickets. You may be able to buy the induction ceremony as a walk up, but I was told they sell out quick. So, I bought mine the day Bruce and Ralph were announced. I'll be calling at 10:59am tomorrow to get the game tickets and hopefully complete a great weekend of Bills and family. There were several good threads back at the time they announced this year's inductees. If you're going, it might be worthwhile to search and read through them. Lots of good advice. I think the biggest problem is hotels. Apparently they fill up quick (or at least the cheap ones do). We're staying in a Holiday Inn in south Cleveland - coulda gotten better but several family members already booked there, so we decided to stay close to them (probably a mistake ).