YoloinOhio Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 it tripled his salary from the previous year. !@#$ I bust my balls at work and would love a 5% raise, let alone a 300% Different scenario, buddy.
nucci Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 This was a hefty contract for a bottom tier OG. PFF had him in the 70's out of a possible 81 I think. Not a good move. A 4 year deal with just over $5M guaranteed is a hefty contract? it tripled his salary from the previous year. !@#$ I bust my balls at work and would love a 5% raise, let alone a 300% I suggest you switch careers and become a professional athlete.
RyanC883 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 (edited) If he ends up as the starter then we have issues. I am hoping the FO looks at him as a versiatle backup, and still plans to draft 1-2 starting caliber OL. We still have done nothing in FA to reduce the areas we must draft. Lets get Spikes locked up. (still need: ILB, CB depth, OL starter, WR, TE). Edited March 12, 2014 by RyanC883
John from Riverside Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 All of Doug and Buddy's positive work in the offseason last year was done on the defensive side of the ball. I'm just saaaaaaying that Mike Pettine might have had A LOT to do with making those guys look better than anyone expected. He's gone. Enter a career mediocre DC with an entirely different background wrt scheme and aggressiveness. Offensively......the offeason was an abject failure. They failed to upgrade ANY position. They created a crater of a whole at LG. Granted, the hope is that Mauel, Woods and Goodwin play MUCH better this year than last, but they were no better than Fitz, Nelson and Donald Jones and Buddy and Doug did the offense no favors. Bringing a rookie QB into a diminished OL was a big mistake and the running game suffered because of it as well. I present that Schwarz is NOT a mediocre defensive coordinator.....he is a very good DC who did well enough (like Pettine is now) at getting a shot at being a head coach.....a head coach that took his team to the playoffs which is an upgrade over where we have been. As a defensive coordinator? He has fielded very good solid run stopping defenses. I loved Pettine.....but the fact is we sacrificed run stop for sacks last year
Kelly the Dog Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 Agreed across the board. But he still can nail another draft. And it mainly comes down to EJ. If he stays healthy and progresses, we wll be in good shape. Even after losing Byrd, I think our overall team talent level is the highest it's been since 2002. You agree? Well, we had more talent last year. We lost a substantial element in Byrd, and so far lost Chandler (although I want an upgrade there) and have added Chris Williams who does little for me as of now. So even if this answer is yes, it's like saying we have the second most talent since 2002 and last year with more talent we were 6-10. I like a lot of this team, and yes, pretty much everything hinges on EJ. That's about a 50-50 to 40-60 proposition to me.
C.Biscuit97 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 A 4 year deal with just over $5M guaranteed is a hefty contract? I suggest you switch careers and become a professional athlete. Fans just hear 4 years for $15 million and just assume he is getting all that money. The media doesn't report NFL contracts right.
3rdand12 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 (edited) Whaley's really good offseason improved the Bills from 6-10 in 2012 to... 6-10 in 2013. I have a feeling he'll have another really good offseason this year, and we'll wind up pretty close to 6-10 again. I think the 2 things that bother me the most about this Chris Williams signing are: 1.) He was at least a full-time starter last year, which is something. But while the Rams allegedly had some interest in bringing him back, they also allegedly wanted an upgrade. Does that sound like a guy who deserves a big raise? The Bills more than tripled his salary from last year, and gave him about 5x the value of his last contract in guaranteed money. Sure, sign Chris Williams, but sign him to a 1-year deal for $1.5 million or something. 2.) This goes hand-in-hand with the last point, and in fairness, could be invalidated if the Bills surprise me: At the money & length of deal Williams signed, he is 100% definitely our starter next year unless he's an absolute train wreck. And if he gets beat out in 2015 or beyond, he will be cut. Anyone talking about a "depth signing" in this thread is way off base. Geoff Hangartner, Langston Walker, and Cornell Green were all signed as starters, none for huge money. (Walker was the closest at about $5mil/year.) All of them got cut when they lost their starting jobs, 2 in training camp and 1 in mid-season. Williams' guarantees pretty much make him cut-proof this year, but it might be open season next year. I'm getting way off track, but my point is that I don't expect the Bills to do anything else to address the interior of their line this offseason, except maybe a mid or late round draft pick. I think we'll be fed a line about "competition", and the Bills will keep talking up their existing backups like 'Unga and Asper, but that's it. And if Williams turns out to be worse than the Bills think, we're headed for another season of garbage at LG. every one should want to upgrade !in regard to the pay raise , If the Bills wanted to lock him in early for not quite huge money and then carries a sensible contract ( something Whaley and Co are improving on )thats fine by me I agree with alot of your second point excepting the last sentence. Bills cannot allow another season of garbage at LG this year whether it's the player Or the coaching/es Edited March 12, 2014 by 3rdand12
C.Biscuit97 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 If he ends up as the starter then we have issues. I am hoping the FO looks at him as a versiatle backup, and still plans to draft 1-2 starting caliber OL. We still have done nothing in FA to reduce the areas we must draft. Lets get Spikes locked up. (still need: ILB, CB depth, OL starter, WR, TE). Not a Spikes fan. If I was playing a team with Spikes on the field, I'd audible to a passing play every time. No a fan on one dimensional players but he is a solid run stuffer even if he is a d bag.
John from Riverside Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Texans are interested in free agent G/T Chris Williams. Williams started all 16 games at left guard for the Rams last season, but was overmatched both as a pass protector and run blocker. The former No. 14 overall pick of the Bears shouldn't be looked at as a starter, though the Rams appear to still see him that way and remain interested in re-signing Williams.Mar 12 - 1:29 AM Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch Bills signed G Chris Williams to a four-year, $13.5 million contract with $5.5 million guaranteed. The move is a head scratcher after Williams graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 74 guard among 81 qualifiers in 2013, and finished 76th in pass blocking. The Rams wanted him back, but certainly not at this price. Buffalo ostensibly plans to pencil in Williams at left guard, which was a gaping hole following Andy Levitre's 2013 departure. Williams turns 29 before next season. Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter Mar 12 - 10:44 AM And it does not take away from the fact that he was indeed a starter for those teams.....regardless of what some sports analyst wrote. I will take the word over team talent evaluators then paper pushers any day of the week
Peter Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 I cannot say that I ever recall actually paying specific attention to him when he has played so I cannot comment on him as a player or the amount of his contract with any authority. I love Bill Polian and subscribe to PFF and like their analysis. In the end, I am going to defer to the guy who was largely responsible for us going to four Super Bowls. I hope that Bill and the Bills are correct. I will remain cautiously optimistic until I see him play for us - presumably next to Cordy Glenn. In the end, just about anything is an upgrade over who we had playing left guard last year.
nucci Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 Fans just hear 4 years for $15 million and just assume he is getting all that money. The media doesn't report NFL contracts right. After all these years of FA contracts people should know by now.
YoloinOhio Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 Not a Spikes fan. If I was playing a team with Spikes on the field, I'd audible to a passing play every time. No a fan on one dimensional players but he is a solid run stuffer even if he is a d bag. Not a fan of Spikes as a person but I would be OK with signing him because of his knowledge of the division and his play against the run. There is a need for 2-down LBs still and Pepper knows him well enough to play to his strengths, plus he seems to be a fit for Shwartz's D. We'll see - I won't be terribly upset if he comes here or doesn't come here.
juno999 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 While I haven't seen much in the way of contract details, this signing really doesn't bother me too much. He's not an all pro or anything like that, but still probably an upgrade over anything they have from the perspective of run blocking. From a broader view, I prefer this move to drafting a LG in the 2nd or 3rd round. It leaves the draft more open in terms of drafting players at positions that could have greater impact. +1
C.Biscuit97 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 I cannot say that I ever recall actually paying specific attention to him when he has played so I cannot comment on him as a player or the amount of his contract with any authority. I love Bill Polian and subscribe to PFF and like their analysis. In the end, I am going to defer to the guy who was largely responsible for us going to four Super Bowls. I hope that Bill and the Bills are correct. I will remain cautiously optimistic until I see him play for us - presumably next to Cordy Glenn. In the end, just about anything is an upgrade over who we had playing left guard last year. That's a reasonable post and pretty much where I am. I would trust Polian's opinion on oline over just about anyone. After all these years of FA contracts people should know by now. They should buy for some reason, they don't. Byrd isn't getting all of that $54 million.
Lurker Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 It's hilarious how many posters are o line experts. I fully admit I rarely watch the oline play. It's boring. But the guy was a 1st rounder and just started for a Jeff Fisher coached team. He played in the best defensive division in the NFL. I have no idea how good he is but people need to stop acting like they are experts. They're the same people who cried when we didn't get Tyson Clabo. But that's what makes TSW such an "must read" destination. Like the saying goes, " comedy is hard"
C.Biscuit97 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 Not a fan of Spikes as a person but I would be OK with signing him because of his knowledge of the division and his play against the run. There is a need for 2-down LBs still and Pepper knows him well enough to play to his strengths, plus he seems to be a fit for Shwartz's D. We'll see - I won't be terribly upset if he comes here or doesn't come here. i agree. Not a fan of him but it would fill a need. I just would see Peyton Manning destroying him if he was on the field.
bisonbrigade Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 From ESPN, In their first signing of free agency, the Buffalo Bills overreached by signing former St. Louis Rams guard Chris Williams to a four-year contract. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the deal totals $13.5 million with $5.5 million guaranteed. Williams has done little to prove he should be a full-time starter in the NFL. He was largely considered a bust with the Chicago Bears, who drafted him 14th overall in 2008.
Big C Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 i agree. Not a fan of him but it would fill a need. I just would see Peyton Manning destroying him if he was on the field. Absolutely. If he can be had on the cheap (which I doubt), he would be a good role player, but I'd rather invest in a guy with more versatility, as much as our run D needs help.
Cash Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 And it does not take away from the fact that he was indeed a starter for those teams.....regardless of what some sports analyst wrote. I will take the word over team talent evaluators then paper pushers any day of the week The Bills talent evaluators though that Doug Legursky and Colin Brown were good enough at LG last year. Not 100% the same talent evaluators, but pretty close, thought that Cornell Green was good enough at RT a couple years ago. The Bears' talent evaluators thought that Williams was bad enough to cut him in 2012, even though he was the #14 overall pick a few years prior. The Rams' talent evaluators apparently didn't think Williams was worth the money the Bills signed him for.
maryland-bills-fan Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 I have a different slice. This guy was drafted 14th overall as a projected left tackle. Grabbing a guy that was talented enough to start at LT and sticking him at left guard is fine by me. Reminds me of the Lawson signing. Stop making sense. You will be unsettling to the zoo inmates. Well, we had more talent last year. We lost a substantial element in Byrd, and so far lost Chandler (although I want an upgrade there) and have added Chris Williams who does little for me as of now. So even if this answer is yes, it's like saying we have the second most talent since 2002 and last year with more talent we were 6-10. I like a lot of this team, and yes, pretty much everything hinges on EJ. That's about a 50-50 to 40-60 proposition to me. Did Byrd stop the long passing game used against us? Did Byrd smother the opponents tight ends from running wild on us? Did Byrd snonk teams that tried to run against us?
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