BillsVet

Got a link? I don't recall any outlet saying 30m guaranteed, just 30m over first three years.

And how much of it was guaranteed? NFL contract details mean almost nothing without knowing the guaranteed amounts.

Guess Donald Butler is out. Another Parker client. I think UFA 2014 will resemble last year. Two perhaps 3 low level signings like Lawson and Kolb. I don't see them spending the money despite listing Byrd either.

Why do the Bills need so many starters in year 2 of their most recent rebuild? Especially if they added all these solid players and evidently found a couple of players in UFA last off-season? And why do the Bills so desperately rely on rookies every year? They just can't seem to build an entire roster or at least enough pieces to compete.

When it's too tough for Russ it's just right for Eugene. Isn't that what Marv said a few years ago?

When was the last time this team filled 3-4 needs in the draft in one year with quality players? The last time they drafted 3 bonafide starters who played most of their rookie season was 2009. One of those three starters just walked out the door today and another hit UFA last year without even an offer. You make it sound so easy and yet it's not. If it were wouldn't the Bills have figured it out by now after 14 years in the NFL wilderness?

Good thing Watkins will never wear a Bills jersey. Even if he's available at 9, his agent happens to be...Eugene Parker.

I had to laugh when Brandon talked about them not keeping score with EP. Hey, maybe Russ doesn't, but it's twice in 5 years that Parker has gotten exactly what he wanted for his clients. You've gotta believe that Buffalo will stay away from the clients coming up in future UFA years and the draft that Parker represents. IIRC, Sammy Watkins is one of them. Goodness, what an off-season already and we're 2 months from draft day.

How does that mentality build a winning football team? What it means is you've got to hit on all your top picks because you're recycling players at a really high rate. The Bills had 10 first through third round picks from 2007-09. Six managed to play well and are still in the league. Only two of those six were re-signed. So you've got average at best drafting combined with not keeping your highest picks. The league is too competitive for a team to take that approach and expect to win. The again maybe winning isn't as much of a priority as some think.

Byrd will get what the market pays him, not what his worth is relative to another safety.

I hope Sullivan goes but it'll probably be Gaughan.

Not retaining him long term is an indication things are not good at OBD. Parker is tough in negotiations, but he's come to terms with teams on big deals before. Why then is there a problem with Buffalo and Parker's clients? Is Parker unreasonable or are the Bills. Given Buffalo's inability to sign two of his players and Parker's rep in the NFL community, I think the issue remains with the Bills.

Not much has changed since then. But they've used multiple high picks to replace Posluszny and Greer with varying results.

It is, though based on the state this team finds itself in. 5 straight seasons with double digit losses and a distinct inability to keep their better talent despite plenty of cap room. This, and now dysfunction in the front office as reported last week.

They already look weak to the rest of the league and league observers. Dealing talent like Peters, Lynch, and not coming to terms with Byrd illustrate this.

It would be interesting to see, if ever, how much of the contract was guaranteed. I haven't seen anything saying he'd walk away with 30M in guarantees and what the full terms of the contract were.

Good question. I'm interested to see if they spend in free agency and use a significant amount of that 25M (at this point) they have in cap room. History tells us they won't so we'll see.

Nothing like waving the white flag to Eugene Parker. That'll show potential free agents Buffalo means business.

I doubt he'd resign, hence Graham's story last week which emanates from the coaches and perhaps the front office types who are working with one hand tied behind their collective backs. Yes he did, but I doubt he received permission from Scott Berchtold to make this claim. After all, the tag means the team has to pay 8.4M, which is an expenditure not approved by the rest of the "old guard." This team can't even change out their training staff when they want, so paying the tag value has to probably get Littmann approval, not just the GM.

I'm sure Whaley could listen in if he wanted. But he's not involved in the negotiations. We can continue arguing semantics, but it doesn't make the situation anything but dysfunctional. The Cap guy reports to the Team president, not the GM.

The article that initiated a lengthy thread spells out that Brandon and Overdorf are in the room negotiating. Where the GM is remains unclear throughout the process. http://bills.buffalonews.com/2014/02/23/sources-disconnect-youngsters-lifers-bills-organization/ Per Graham: "Overdorf oversees all player contracts. Overdorf, not Whaley, will handle contract negotiations for Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd. Same as last year. Overdorf reports not to Whaley, but to CEO Russ Brandon." Disagree with Graham all you want. The GM isn't in the room during negotiations, but go on challenging Graham's reporting.

The fact that football people aren't allowed in the room during contract negotiations tells me all I need to know.

Yes. The idea any "cost savings" from not signing Byrd are spent elsewhere is garbage. That money is banked right back to Grosse Point Shores, MI. EDIT: And people wonder why the staff and possibly the football people are not happy. Their hands are tied behind their backs.

Retaining Byrd will very much be a business decision. Made by the two guys in the room negotiating a contract: Brandon and Overdorf.

Perhaps the Bills, as a prerequisite to signing Byrd, should require the player to run a 40 yard dash. If it's not 4.55 or faster they trade him for a pick and tell the world Byrd wasn't fast enough to play safety for them.