Peters may be willing to sit all season

[Mickey]

The franchise's second-all-time leading sacker skipped a week of OTAs. He was there for every mandatory minicamp, and reported to SJF on time.

 

One of these things is not like the other ...

Please read above quote from Brown's blog quoting Schobel, the extension was done before camp hence that is why he was there. Obviously, if a deal was done with Peter before camp he would be there too.

 

Lets see:

 

Were both coming off of pro bowl seasons? Check.

Were both underpaid compared to others on the team at similar positions who aren't as good? Check.

Did both have siginificant time left on long term contracts? Check.

Did both keep their mouth's shut in public? Check.

Did the team have no worthy player backing either up? Check.

Had both recently signed extensions? Check.

Are both vital to the teams success? Check.

Are both young with long careers ahead of them worth securing? Advantage Peters.

Are both rated among the elites at their position? Advantage Peters.

Are both going to get better or worse? Advantage Peters.

Did both miss offseason works out to send a message? Check.

 

Lori, for each difference you can reference in favor of better treatment for Schobel, I can come up with one in favor of Peters. Of course the situations aren't absolutely exactly alike. No twp contract situations ever are. But in this league, it is beyond dispute that the player values are determined relationship to other players similarly situated. Its even written into the rules such as in the case of franchised players. That is why we all looked to what players picked ahead of Hardy and behind him got to figure out what he should get.

 

It is not my argument that the situations are exactly alike. The situations between Schobel and Peters are easily alike enough for the outcomes to be expected to be similar. Instead, we have drastically different outcomes. Peter's agent is simply doing what any agent would do, compare his client's contract with his performance and that of others in the league and on the same team. If his agent didn't try to get a new deal for him this year he ought to be fired and if Brandon doesn't find a way to get a deal done that team can live with and that keeps our best, most promising player fat and happy, then he isn't doing his job either.

[Dawgg]

Please read above quote from Brown's blog quoting Schobel, the extension was done before camp hence that is why he was there. Obviously, if a deal was done with Peter before camp he would be there too.

 

Lets see:

 

Were both coming off of pro bowl seasons? Check.

Were both underpaid compared to others on the team at similar positions who aren't as good? Check.

Did both have siginificant time left on long term contracts? Check.

Did both keep their mouth's shut in public? Check.

Did the team have no worthy player backing either up? Check.

Had both recently signed extensions? Check.

Are both vital to the teams success? Check.

Are both young with long careers ahead of them worth securing? Advantage Peters.

Are both rated among the elites at their position? Advantage Peters.

Are both going to get better or worse? Advantage Peters.

Did both miss offseason works out to send a message? Check.

 

Lori, for each difference you can reference in favor of better treatment for Schobel, I can come up with one in favor of Peters. Of course the situations aren't absolutely exactly alike. No twp contract situations ever are. But in this league, it is beyond dispute that the player values are determined relationship to other players similarly situated. Its even written into the rules such as in the case of franchised players. That is why we all looked to what players picked ahead of Hardy and behind him got to figure out what he should get.

 

It is not my argument that the situations are exactly alike. The situations between Schobel and Peters are easily alike enough for the outcomes to be expected to be similar. Instead, we have drastically different outcomes. Peter's agent is simply doing what any agent would do, compare his client's contract with his performance and that of others in the league and on the same team. If his agent didn't try to get a new deal for him this year he ought to be fired and if Brandon doesn't find a way to get a deal done that team can live with and that keeps our best, most promising player fat and happy, then he isn't doing his job either.

 

Well said.

[keepthefaith]

Please read above quote from Brown's blog quoting Schobel, the extension was done before camp hence that is why he was there. Obviously, if a deal was done with Peter before camp he would be there too.

 

Lets see:

 

Were both coming off of pro bowl seasons? Check.

Were both underpaid compared to others on the team at similar positions who aren't as good? Check.

Did both have siginificant time left on long term contracts? Check.

Did both keep their mouth's shut in public? Check.

Did the team have no worthy player backing either up? Check.

Had both recently signed extensions? Check.

Are both vital to the teams success? Check.

Are both young with long careers ahead of them worth securing? Advantage Peters.

Are both rated among the elites at their position? Advantage Peters.

Are both going to get better or worse? Advantage Peters.

Did both miss offseason works out to send a message? Check.

 

Lori, for each difference you can reference in favor of better treatment for Schobel, I can come up with one in favor of Peters. Of course the situations aren't absolutely exactly alike. No twp contract situations ever are. But in this league, it is beyond dispute that the player values are determined relationship to other players similarly situated. Its even written into the rules such as in the case of franchised players. That is why we all looked to what players picked ahead of Hardy and behind him got to figure out what he should get.

 

It is not my argument that the situations are exactly alike. The situations between Schobel and Peters are easily alike enough for the outcomes to be expected to be similar. Instead, we have drastically different outcomes. Peter's agent is simply doing what any agent would do, compare his client's contract with his performance and that of others in the league and on the same team. If his agent didn't try to get a new deal for him this year he ought to be fired and if Brandon doesn't find a way to get a deal done that team can live with and that keeps our best, most promising player fat and happy, then he isn't doing his job either.

 

We should all relax. Peters will be in camp at some point. Don't forget that the Bills are negotiating with Evans now (who is in camp) and might want to get that done before addressing Peters. Really the Bills hold all the cards with Peters. Peters has nowhere to go. He'll be the first to crack in the stare-off. He has no choice.

[Mickey]

No, that's not speculation, that's fact as stated by the front office. They do not negotiate if you do not show up. They do not negotiate if you do not communicate. You merely choose to ignore the fact the the player in question, Jason Peters, IS WRONG. If he wants more money the brass has stated how he can get it: show up. Not too hard. If he wants to pout and not chat with them in person, then he will lose a lot of money. And if he's fine with that, that's on him.

You were speculating about Schobel, do you have any idea at all what was discussed between him and the team after he skipped those OTA's and then showed up for later off season work outs? And do you know for a fact

 

Where have they committed to paying him a significant extension if he attends camp?

 

Brandon hasn't ruled out a new deal if he shows but he also said:

 

"We expect Jason to be here to honor his commitment to the organization because we made a substantial commitment to him two years ago."

 

How do you get, "show up and we will pay you more money" from that?

 

That sounds an awful lot like they aren't going to extend him again. Brandon has spoke publicly on the issue criticizing Peters but Peters, to his credit, hasn't done the same. Two sides to every story we don't know Jason's. If Brandon wanted to talk to Peters or his agent, all he has to do is pick up the phone.

 

Did you think Schobel was "pouting" when he didn't show up for those OTA's?

 

Really, all this Pollyannish weeping and whining about Peters around here is silly. You'd think no player ever held out of camp to get more money before Jason Peters. "Elite pro-bowl left tackle getting paid like a long snapper holds out" Shocked I am, shocked, shocked, shocked.

[Bill from NYC]

The franchise's second-all-time leading sacker skipped a week of OTAs. He was there for every mandatory minicamp, and reported to SJF on time.

 

One of these things is not like the other ...

 

Lori, how do you think Peters ranks in terms of the Bills all time LTs?

[Lori]

No, that's not speculation, that's fact as stated by the front office. They do not negotiate if you do not show up. They do not negotiate if you do not communicate. You merely choose to ignore the fact the the player's agent in question, Jason Peters Eugene Parker, IS WRONG. If he wants more money the brass has stated how he can get it: show up. Not too hard. If he wants to pout and not chat with them in person, then he will lose a lot of money. And if he's fine with that, that's on him.

Wanted to fix one thing. From what I've heard of Peters' personality ... while I'm sure he wants to get paid for his performance, I'm thinking Parker is the one playing hardball and telling him not to report. Just my opinion.

 

Heck, at this point, I wouldn't mind an Angelo Wright-style outburst. Whether or not they agree with the holdout, I think everyone on this board knows Peters has a valid argument for a raise, which makes Parker's radio silence all the more puzzling.

[Mickey]

We should all relax. Peters will be in camp at some point. Don't forget that the Bills are negotiating with Evans now (who is in camp) and might want to get that done before addressing Peters. Really the Bills hold all the cards with Peters. Peters has nowhere to go. He'll be the first to crack in the stare-off. He has no choice.

Fair enough and I agree, the Bills ultimatey hold the cards but you have to consider the question of whether or not you want this guy until the end of his career manning the LT spot or do you want to guarantee that he finishes his career blocking like a mad man for someone else? Play hard ball with him now and you can kiss him good bye, maybe not this year but soon.

 

Frankly, after the Mike Williams debacle, I'd rather have to replace a good, non-pro bowl WR than a great, pro bowl LT.

[Lori]

Lori, how do you think Peters ranks in terms of the Bills all time LTs?

After one full season? C'mon, Bill. Does he have the potential to be at or near the top of that list? Absolutely. Do I think he has a legitimate beef? Damn straight. But even Bruce and Thurman, for all their negotiating through the media, knew they eventually had to show up in Fredonia to get a deal done.

 

Did I throw in that sack reference to send a message to those who persist in calling Schobel overrated? You make the call ...

[Ramius]

You were speculating about Schobel, do you have any idea at all what was discussed between him and the team after he skipped those OTA's and then showed up for later off season work outs? And do you know for a fact

 

Where have they committed to paying him a significant extension if he attends camp?

 

Brandon hasn't ruled out a new deal if he shows but he also said:

 

"We expect Jason to be here to honor his commitment to the organization because we made a substantial commitment to him two years ago."

 

How do you get, "show up and we will pay you more money" from that?

 

That sounds an awful lot like they aren't going to extend him again. Brandon has spoke publicly on the issue criticizing Peters but Peters, to his credit, hasn't done the same. Two sides to every story we don't know Jason's. If Brandon wanted to talk to Peters or his agent, all he has to do is pick up the phone.

 

Did you think Schobel was "pouting" when he didn't show up for those OTA's?

 

Really, all this Pollyannish weeping and whining about Peters around here is silly. You'd think no player ever held out of camp to get more money before Jason Peters. "Elite pro-bowl left tackle getting paid like a long snapper holds out" Shocked I am, shocked, shocked, shocked.

 

As Lori said, Schobel skipped voluntary OTAs. That hardly qualifies as pouting, particularly for a vested 6 year veteran who has more than proven his worth to this team. When push came to shove, and the mandatory OTAs rolled around, schobel was present. When training camp rolled around, Schobel was present. When it all came down to it, even though schobel wanted a new deal and more money, he nutted up like a professional does, showed up at his job, and got down to work.

 

Peters skipped all OTAs, inculding the mandatory ones. He's also skipped training camp. The guy looks to be an elite up and coming LT, but he's not there yet. The Bills could have let him play for his ERFA tender a couple of years back and he would have made like 300K. Instead, they recognized his potential, and rewarded him with a contract that paid him 10 times what he would have gotten. Now, after 1.5 good seasons, he wants more money. But the difference is that peters isnt being professional. He's decided to not show up for anything, clearly pointing out that the team is second to him, and he's not willing to put 100% effort to making this team better.

 

In the words of DC Tom, things that are different are not the same.

[Bill from NYC]

After one full season? C'mon, Bill. Does he have the potential to be at or near the top of that list? Absolutely. Do I think he has a legitimate beef? Damn straight. But even Bruce and Thurman, for all their negotiating through the media, knew they eventually had to show up in Fredonia to get a deal done.

 

Did I throw in that sack reference to send a message to those who persist in calling Schobel overrated? You make the call ...

 

It went over my head because I never thought that Schobel was overrated.

[richNjoisy]

Wanted to fix one thing. From what I've heard of Peters' personality ... while I'm sure he wants to get paid for his performance, I'm thinking Parker is the one playing hardball and telling him not to report. Just my opinion.

 

Heck, at this point, I wouldn't mind an Angelo Wright-style outburst. Whether or not they agree with the holdout, I think everyone on this board knows Peters has a valid argument for a raise, which makes Parker's radio silence all the more puzzling.

 

 

This thread has simply gotten too long to know what is being repeated - but my (addition?) take on this is this: With three years remaining on his contract,Jason simply cannot win this game of chicken. In order to

reach free agency, he would have to report for the last 6 games for each of the next three years. No one doubts (even Ralph I am sure) that Peters is being underpaid but he has no leverage. None. His only

option is to report and voice his complaints and say things like "I will never sign a new contract with the Bills again". Better , is to report, and play well and privately complain (and threaten). At 15k in fines every day,

he won't be able to afford this for long. Peters will cave and come in. I doubt this will go much past the first preseason game - if that. Or, he can retire on principle.

 

eh, it's only millions of dollars.....

[rockpile]

It's always easier to be cavalier with someone else's money.

 

 

Can I borrow $100?

 

I will gladly pay you Tuesday....l

[Mickey]

Let's stay with the dishwasher theme again, as your post is certainly evocative of that type of a response, ie commenting on ongoing negotiations basing your opinion on words printed in the news, rather than on a first hand account. How do you know that the Peters/Schobel situation is identical, other than both asking for more money? What types of negotiations were happening between the parties during this time? What were the opening offers on both sides? What conditions? Threats to hold out? Health of both players? Until you provide answers to each of those, your speculation is useless, other than to let us know that you like Peters more than Schobel. Goodie.

 

But the two situations aren't identical. The closer parallel is to Darwin Walker, and you see how Bills respond to hardball tactics by agents.

 

It's always easier to be cavalier with someone else's money.

Of course they are not identical. They never are but in this league that is how value is established, by comparison to other players similarly situated despite no two situations ever being exactly alike. The facts I have alluded to showing the similarities are almost all factual. They were both recently extended. They both lots of time left on those contracts. They both were underpaid, etc. The only non-factual opinions I recall listing is regarding whose skills were likely to get better and whose would get worse.

 

I haven't speculated about what went on behind the scenes at all, others did that to "prove" that there were valid reasons for drastically different outcomes. In response, I simply pointed out you could just as easily speculate in Peters' favor.

 

Cavalier with someone else's money??? I want a winning team and you don't have to be a Mensa member to know that you don't improve a 7-9 team by losing arguably its best player. Cavalier was dumping all that money on Kelsay. I am not sure its cavalier to want to keep one of the only elite players we have. I prefer a winning team with a large payroll to a losing one with a lower payroll. I am funny that way. I cheer for football players, not accountants.

 

I am not being critical of Schobel, just arguing that Peters has a good argument for the same treatment. I compared the two, I didn't put down either. The responses about what an angel Schobel is and what a disloyal, greedy git Peters is, those are the people who apparently like one over the other. You didn't see fit to point that out though in responses to their posts. Maybe you're the one with a crush on Schobel?

[Mickey]

This thread has simply gotten too long to know what is being repeated - but my (addition?) take on this is this: With three years remaining on his contract,Jason simply cannot win this game of chicken. In order to

reach free agency, he would have to report for the last 6 games for each of the next three years. No one doubts (even Ralph I am sure) that Peters is being underpaid but he has no leverage. None. His only

option is to report and voice his complaints and say things like "I will never sign a new contract with the Bills again". Better , is to report, and play well and privately complain (and threaten). At 15k in fines every day,

he won't be able to afford this for long. Peters will cave and come in. I doubt this will go much past the first preseason game - if that. Or, he can retire on principle.

 

eh, it's only millions of dollars.....

He does have leverage, long term leverage. The question being considered now isn't "do we want to give him a new contract to get him into camp?" The question is "Do we want this guy at LT for pretty much the rest of his career or are we comfortable with losing him in the next year or two?"

 

Play hardball with him now and you are right, he will end his hold out eventually. That will cost us his services when his current contract is up and the shoe is on the other foot.

 

This is really a win-win situation for Peters. Either he will get the extra money he wants or he will get paid what he would have anyway and will kiss Buffalo good-bye when the time comes. All he risks are fines which are nothing. Teams often waive them as a condition for ending the holdout. I would bet his agent agreed to pay his client back if the hold out doesn't work. It is not a win-win situation for the Bills, quite the opposite. They either have to pay him now or face losing him later when the leverage shoe is on the other foot.

 

Usually, hjaving players want more $ because their performance merits a raise is the kind of problem you want to have.

[KD in CA]

He does have leverage, long term leverage. The question being considered now isn't "do we want to give him a new contract to get him into camp?" The question is "Do we want this guy at LT for pretty much the rest of his career or are we comfortable with losing him in the next year or two?"

 

Play hardball with him now and you are right, he will end his hold out eventually. That will cost us his services when his current contract is up and the shoe is on the other foot.

 

You've negotiated deals before Mickey, so you know the perception is important. If the Bills capitulate to this guy, the inmates will rule the asylum.

 

I don't see this as a win for Peters at all. If he plays hardball and declares he'll never sign in Buffalo, it'll be 3 long years before he sees any add'l money. And if he refuses to play or half asses it for the next 3 years, he's never getting a big contract anyway. The guy needs to grow up and get to work.

[Mickey]

As Lori said, Schobel skipped voluntary OTAs. That hardly qualifies as pouting, particularly for a vested 6 year veteran who has more than proven his worth to this team. When push came to shove, and the mandatory OTAs rolled around, schobel was present. When training camp rolled around, Schobel was present. When it all came down to it, even though schobel wanted a new deal and more money, he nutted up like a professional does, showed up at his job, and got down to work.

 

Peters skipped all OTAs, inculding the mandatory ones. He's also skipped training camp. The guy looks to be an elite up and coming LT, but he's not there yet. The Bills could have let him play for his ERFA tender a couple of years back and he would have made like 300K. Instead, they recognized his potential, and rewarded him with a contract that paid him 10 times what he would have gotten. Now, after 1.5 good seasons, he wants more money. But the difference is that peters isnt being professional. He's decided to not show up for anything, clearly pointing out that the team is second to him, and he's not willing to put 100% effort to making this team better.

 

In the words of DC Tom, things that are different are not the same.

Yes, the team could have done that rather than extend him and then he would have bolted when his original contract was up becoming a free agent sooner and some other team would be struggling with the terrible problem of having a pro bowl left tackle. Peters has proved his worth to this team, that is why we are having this discussion and that is why this thread is up to 17 pages, because this guy is very, very good, we all know it and that is why his hold out has everyone in a tizzy.

 

For about the 10th time, Shobel was in camp because his deal was done before hand. I am sure that if Peters had a deal before hand he would be in camp.

 

As for being "professional", hold outs are a part of this profession, they happen every year across the league so lets not pretend that Peters has committed some sort of unspeakable outrage. Whitner held out of camp and missed 14 practices. McCargo held out. Clements held out.

 

I never said the situations are the same, they are similar and ceratinly similar enough for comparison purposes. That is how player values are set league wide, by comparison to other similarly situated players. Of course they are not all exactly the same but pointing that out is meaningless, the comparisons are made. That is absolutely how salaries are determined. When you tag a guy as your franchise man, the rules determine his salary based on comparison to the top players at his position.

 

Schobel and Peters are similar enough for any agent without his head up his brief case to make the comparison and argue, convincingly, that Peters should get a new deal despite all this moralizing about professionalism and committment. If you truly think that matters why not argue that we should release Peters because his non-professionalism reduces his value?

 

The fact is we need this guy and we want this guy because, non-professionalism aside, he is a kick-a$$ LT. If we want him for a year or two, then play hard ball. If we want him for 5 more years or longer, we need to get him signed. What we don't need is our GM calling him out publicly when Peters himself has refrained from doing so. That makes negotiations harder, not easier.

[Ramius]

Yes, the team could have done that rather than extend him and then he would have bolted when his original contract was up becoming a free agent sooner and some other team would be struggling with the terrible problem of having a pro bowl left tackle. Peters has proved his worth to this team, that is why we are having this discussion and that is why this thread is up to 17 pages, because this guy is very, very good, we all know it and that is why his hold out has everyone in a tizzy.

 

For about the 10th time, Shobel was in camp because his deal was done before hand. I am sure that if Peters had a deal before hand he would be in camp.

 

As for being "professional", hold outs are a part of this profession, they happen every year across the league so lets not pretend that Peters has committed some sort of unspeakable outrage. Whitner held out of camp and missed 14 practices. McCargo held out. Clements held out.

 

I never said the situations are the same, they are similar and ceratinly similar enough for comparison purposes. That is how player values are set league wide, by comparison to other similarly situated players. Of course they are not all exactly the same but pointing that out is meaningless, the comparisons are made. That is absolutely how salaries are determined. When you tag a guy as your franchise man, the rules determine his salary based on comparison to the top players at his position.

 

Schobel and Peters are similar enough for any agent without his head up his brief case to make the comparison and argue, convincingly, that Peters should get a new deal despite all this moralizing about professionalism and committment. If you truly think that matters why not argue that we should release Peters because his non-professionalism reduces his value?

 

The fact is we need this guy and we want this guy because, non-professionalism aside, he is a kick-a$$ LT. If we want him for a year or two, then play hard ball. If we want him for 5 more years or longer, we need to get him signed. What we don't need is our GM calling him out publicly when Peters himself has refrained from doing so. That makes negotiations harder, not easier.

 

Whitner, McCargo, McKelvin, and Clements were not under contract with the team at the time of their holdouts. Once they had contracts signed, they were in camp.

 

Peters holds 0 leverage, because he has 3 years left on his deal, plus 1 or 2 years with the franchise tag. He can come out and say tomorrow that he'll never re-sign with the Bills, but if we were to flash him a 60 million, 25 million guaranteed contract, he'd sign in half a second. No one is going to pass up that much and risk injury over 2+ seasons.

[Mickey]

You've negotiated deals before Mickey, so you know the perception is important. If the Bills capitulate to this guy, the inmates will rule the asylum.

 

I don't see this as a win for Peters at all. If he plays hardball and declares he'll never sign in Buffalo, it'll be 3 long years before he sees any add'l money. And if he refuses to play or half asses it for the next 3 years, he's never getting a big contract anyway. The guy needs to grow up and get to work.

That would be a sound strategy I guess but not when you already have given in to extensions for top performance regardless of remaining time left on a player's contract.

 

Peters is ony what, 25? 26? Walter Jones is 8 years older than he is and going strong. He was the starting LT for the NFC in the pro bowl and has a $50 Mil. contract. Peters has a lot more than 3 years left in him. No need for him to come in and dog it or to make any declarations about the future. He certainly has been very quiet so far and I don't see that changing.

I am sure he will play as well as he alwasy has. He will probably hold out again in his last year and demand a trade, maybe we will franchise him or maybe he will sit the whole year. Either way, screw him over now and you insure losing him later. Exactly when and how is debatable but we can't expect to pay a guy worth 50-60 million only 15 and expect that he is going not going to get out when he can.

 

So, do you want him for 2-3 years under his original 15 mil contract and then watch him play for the someone else for 7-8 years after that or do you want him for the next 10 at 50 to 60? That is for the team to decide. In my opinion, we should waste no time in getting the best deal we can with him and put this to bed.

[Billadelphia]

Yes, the team could have done that rather than extend him and then he would have bolted when his original contract was up becoming a free agent sooner and some other team would be struggling with the terrible problem of having a pro bowl left tackle. Peters has proved his worth to this team, that is why we are having this discussion and that is why this thread is up to 17 pages, because this guy is very, very good, we all know it and that is why his hold out has everyone in a tizzy.

 

For about the 10th time, Shobel was in camp because his deal was done before hand. I am sure that if Peters had a deal before hand he would be in camp.

 

As for being "professional", hold outs are a part of this profession, they happen every year across the league so lets not pretend that Peters has committed some sort of unspeakable outrage. Whitner held out of camp and missed 14 practices. McCargo held out. Clements held out.

 

I never said the situations are the same, they are similar and ceratinly similar enough for comparison purposes. That is how player values are set league wide, by comparison to other similarly situated players. Of course they are not all exactly the same but pointing that out is meaningless, the comparisons are made. That is absolutely how salaries are determined. When you tag a guy as your franchise man, the rules determine his salary based on comparison to the top players at his position.

 

Schobel and Peters are similar enough for any agent without his head up his brief case to make the comparison and argue, convincingly, that Peters should get a new deal despite all this moralizing about professionalism and committment. If you truly think that matters why not argue that we should release Peters because his non-professionalism reduces his value?

 

The fact is we need this guy and we want this guy because, non-professionalism aside, he is a kick-a$ LT. If we want him for a year or two, then play hard ball. If we want him for 5 more years or longer, we need to get him signed. What we don't need is our GM calling him out publicly when Peters himself has refrained from doing so. That makes negotiations harder, not easier.

 

Don't forget that he ended the season on IR and nobody has seen him since. I think that the injury/offseason surgery, the fact that he has 3 years left, and the fact that he isn't showing up for mandatory camps is enough for the Bills to want to play hardball with him. If it was my money, I'd want to see him perform after that surgery prior to giving him the huge contract that his position historically deserves.

 

He could be a completely different person after the surgery, although it is unlikely. I think the Bills have every right to hedge their risk of losing millions of dollars by telling him that he needs to be at camp prior to negotiations.

[VJ91]

Yeah, and then we could go another 15 or so years with a second rate left tackle and draft defensive backs with our best picks.

This situation is mind boggling.

 

Well said, Bill. I am firmly in Peters' corner since he is grossly underpaid even on his own offensive line, much less compared to other pro bowl type left tackles around the NFL. So fine, Ralph and his new guy Russ can talk up the company line and act as if no other decent player in NFL history has had the audacity to hold out from training camp while under contract. Peters has not established himself as a consistent star yet, so Ralph and Russ have a lot of support.

 

But it makes no sense not to reach out to Peters when your only other viable option is to switch average right tackle and grossly overpaid Walker to left tackle, and replace him with.......nobody. And I mean nobody. You have Kirk Chambers (who?), and a couple of young kids nobody knows anything about to start at right tackle. Oh wait, the Bills did draft a tackle this past April. Some kid in the 7th round, right? I'm sure he's ready to start at right tackle after all, he is the son of Karl Malone, right?

 

And why are the Bills wasting valuable time and practices doing nothing about this problem? If they won't deal with Peters while he holds out, why isn't Walker already starting at left tackle in practice now? And why haven't they tried to trade for a decent tackle yet? They are all cockly about blowing off Peters, yet they can't be delsuional enough to think they can replace him with their current roster and still have any chance of making the playoffs, can they?