Christian Benford, dealing from a position of strength in contract negotiations.

[Beast]

Could the Bills afford a Christian Benford holdout that goes into the season? At least in my opinion, Benford may have the Bills by the short hairs. Even with the draft coming up or even the possibility of bringing in another vet CB or trading for someone, he is the one player, outside of Allen, that may be the most important to any position group on the team.

 

I really like what the Bills have done so far this off-season but, at the same time, if Benford decides to make it all about business, the Bills could be in deep trouble without him in the lineup.

 

Now, I haven’t heard of any potential lockout but according to https://overthecap.com/player/christian-benford/10230 , Christian Benford is ranked 170th out of 231 CB’s in the NFL. That’s pretty low for the production he has given the team.

 

This contract extension needs to get done. If not, the Bills will still pay for it….but in a different way.

 

 

[Goin Breakdown]

Funny. WGR was just talking about this like a half our ago. He does seem to hold the cards right now 

[mannc]

4 minutes ago, Beast said:

Could the Bills afford a Christian Benford holdout that goes into the season? At least in my opinion, Benford may have the Bills by the short hairs. Even with the draft coming up or even the possibility of bringing in another vet CB or trading for someone, he is the one player, outside of Allen, that may be the most important to any position group on the team.

 

I really like what the Bills have done so far this off-season but, at the same time, if Benford decides to make it all about business, the Bills could be in deep trouble without him in the lineup.

 

Now, I haven’t heard of any potential lockout but according to https://overthecap.com/player/christian-benford/10230 , Christian Benford is ranked 170th out of 231 CB’s in the NFL. That’s pretty low for the production he has given the team.

 

This contract extension needs to get done. If not, the Bills will still pay for it….but in a different way.

 

 

Wait, are they saying there are 169 cornerbacks in the league who are better than Benford?  If so, that might be the dumbest ranking I have ever seen.  He's a top 10 CB...probably the best player on the Bills' defense.

[Simon]

2 minutes ago, mannc said:

Wait, are they saying there are 169 cornerbacks in the league who are better than Benford?

 

Guessing from the site's title, I'd imagine it's more about salary than ability.

[jkeerie]

8 minutes ago, Beast said:

Could the Bills afford a Christian Benford holdout that goes into the season? At least in my opinion, Benford may have the Bills by the short hairs. Even with the draft coming up or even the possibility of bringing in another vet CB or trading for someone, he is the one player, outside of Allen, that may be the most important to any position group on the team.

 

I really like what the Bills have done so far this off-season but, at the same time, if Benford decides to make it all about business, the Bills could be in deep trouble without him in the lineup.

 

Now, I haven’t heard of any potential lockout but according to https://overthecap.com/player/christian-benford/10230 , Christian Benford is ranked 170th out of 231 CB’s in the NFL. That’s pretty low for the production he has given the team.

 

This contract extension needs to get done. If not, the Bills will still pay for it….but in a different way.

 

 

Beane addressed this in his presser.  He said that right now, they are tight on the cap.  They love Benford and said they've got this year and will address a potential extension when the time is right, either before the season, during the season, etc.

[mannc]

1 minute ago, Simon said:

 

Guessing from the site's title, I'd imagine it's more about salary than ability.

Ahhh, yes...I guess it was the word "ranked" that made me think there was some sort of judgment being exercised...

[Beast]

4 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

Guessing from the site's title, I'd imagine it's more about salary than ability.

That’s what I took out of it since the site is about player salary.

7 minutes ago, mannc said:

Wait, are they saying there are 169 cornerbacks in the league who are better than Benford?  If so, that might be the dumbest ranking I have ever seen.  He's a top 10 CB...probably the best player on the Bills' defense.

Right. It’s his salary rank. The site is strictly about cap numbers.

[Aussie Joe]

The longer it goes the more he will get paid …

 

If they don’t get a deal done in the off-season. …might as well wait and see if they struck gold on their rookie before paying Benford 

 

Edited March 14 by Aussie Joe

[Governor]

There’s many teams that would have no interest at all since he’s strictly a zone guy. Let him test the market. Hes pretty overrated and had major concussions.

Edited March 14 by Governor

[Brand J]

1 hour ago, jkeerie said:

Beane addressed this in his presser.  He said that right now, they are tight on the cap.  They love Benford and said they've got this year and will address a potential extension when the time is right, either before the season, during the season, etc.

I got the feeling the two sides aren’t all that close. I expect an infusion of youth and speed in the secondary during the draft, let’s hope the newcomers can play. 

[Pete]

I disagree.  His concussions make me nervous to donate 10+% of salary cap.  Benford is in contract year, and will play his best proving he’s worth big money.  We can Franchise him.  And trade him for high draft pick if it gets ugly.  Beane holds all the cards IMO

[Beast]

19 minutes ago, Pete said:

I disagree.  His concussions make me nervous to donate 10+% of salary cap.  Benford is in contract year, and will play his best proving he’s worth big money.  We can Franchise him.  And trade him for high draft pick if it gets ugly.  Beane holds all the cards IMO

OK, so who is going to play our #1 CB position if he decides to hold out?  He went out in the 1st quarter of the Chiefs game and KC went on to score a season high in points.

 

Any coincidence?

Edited March 14 by Beast

[Mr. WEO]

He’s a solid CB….in comparison to the rest of room.  
 

Bills know this 

[NoSaint]

He’s a good player but not a generational guy - so both sides have some leverage here and hopefully each side will behave reasonably regardless of whether the dollars line up 

42 minutes ago, Beast said:

OK, so who is going to play our #1 CB position if he decides to hold out?  He went out in the 1st quarter of the Chiefs game and KC went on to score a season high in points.

 

Any coincidence?

how long will a guy that’s not seen a pay day take fines and/or risk poor film when he returns? 

[H2o]

He's a good player. The concussions so close to one another at the end of the season were scary and make you wonder if it will ne a recurring theme. One hopes not.

 

If he is looking to squeeze every penny out of an organization he possibly can, it won't happen here. They pay their players here in Buffalo, but they don't tend to really overpay for their players here in Buffalo. I'm sure they have a number that they are willing to go to, but not exceed. If Benford and his agent push for more than that, they will let him walk. 

Edited March 14 by H2o

[Beast]

15 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

He’s a good player but not a generational guy - so both sides have some leverage here and hopefully each side will behave reasonably regardless of whether the dollars line up 

how long will a guy that’s not seen a pay day take fines and/or risk poor film when he returns? 

I don’t know…..as long as it takes to come back, get the minimum amount of games in to credit an NFL season and then bet on himself?

 

I’m not even saying he will hold out but I am for sure saying that with the Bills CB situation the way it is as well as his paltry salary, I definitely could see it happening. Better to hold out when you’re not making a lot than when you are.

[Mike in Horseheads]

Maybe the suspensions of the two new noob players will free up enough cash to sign him.

[NoSaint]

16 minutes ago, Beast said:

I don’t know…..as long as it takes to come back, get the minimum amount of games in to credit an NFL season and then bet on himself?

 

I’m not even saying he will hold out but I am for sure saying that with the Bills CB situation the way it is as well as his paltry salary, I definitely could see it happening. Better to hold out when you’re not making a lot than when you are.

that last bit relative, right?
 

50k per day fines that can’t be waived suck when you’ve maybe put less than $1m in your pocket post taxes/agent fees, etc… 

 

and coming back in November often results in mediocre play and/or soft tissue injuries. 
 

If it was all upside to push the issue it would happen more. 

[HardyBoy]

1 hour ago, Brand J said:

I got the feeling the two sides aren’t all that close. I expect an infusion of youth and speed in the secondary during the draft, let’s hope the newcomers can play. 

 

And drafting and having a season where hopefully it is someone they could see wanting to extend and doing it after year 3.

 

Benford not signing yet makes me think he's going to want to risk not signing and playing the year and cashing in if it goes well. I'm not sure the Bills can afford it, but if beane is saying it's a cap issue and they're planning on getting it done when the cap lets it happen, I could see it happening next season at market value or halfway through when it's impossible for some of the incentives from being possible...maybe even earlier with two players facing a six game suspension

 

 

[VW82]

Benford is really good in his role, but...I may be in the minority here...are we sure it's worth 20M+ AAV investment in a zone corner?