If Peters doesn't show

[cody]

Like seeing a player on your team that is getting payed as a TE even though he is playing Tackle. So you re-negotiate his contract and pay him what you both thought was fair at the time. Yeah, the Bills really should have done this.

 

What exactly should the Bills do here. Go to his house with a bucket of money, get on there knees and beg him to come back, maybe give him a happy ending as a gesture of good will. He's a grown man(I think). Grown men go to work. He should honor his contract(like what any of us would do) and go to work.

 

I think the Bills should have opened talks as soon as they knew Peters was unhappy. I will even give the Bills the benefit of the doubt and say they did not know until Peters skipped mini-camp. (Parker probably wanted to wait until after the draft to ensure the Bills had no real backup LT)

 

Aaron Schobel's contract was renegotiated after his 1st probowl when he had 3 years left on his contract.

 

Once Peters missed the 1st day of minicamp, the Bills should have been on the phone. In May and June, the Bills should have had talks that would have laid the groundwork for a contract. When people negotiate at that level, there is a fine line. This is the 1st NFL holdout for whoever is calling the shots at OBD. I think the Bills handled the Schobel situation much better.

 

 

 

 

Peters is an NFL player, he is not a grown man. Never in his life has he been teated like a grown man, it is unreasonable for fans to ask him to act like a grown man.

 

If a "normal" person were in Peters' situation, he would be stupid if he didn't quit his job and go to work for someone willing to pay fair market value for his services. Peters does not have that option.

 

 

 

 

 

I am still waiting for an example of an NFL team winning a holdout dispute.

[SwampD]

There were numerous reasons why we weren't dominant on offense last year and able to run left on every play. It included the offense they were playing, the QB problems, the rookie running back, the actual plays called, the WRs cocnsistently unable to get open, the lack of any semblance of a TE.

 

The play of Jason Peters was about reason #114 as to why our offense sucked last year.

I agree with all of that, too. And I know we can't run to the left on every play. But with the same RB, QB and receivers as last year, how is it a direct relationship that Peters = Playoffs? I think the other additions on the line and on D will have a bigger effect on our season(in a good way).

[cody]

i wont blame anyone for trying to get paid. but the logic behind "i had a good year, throw away my contract that is not even half way finished" is flawed.

 

I completely agree with that statement. Unfortunately, there are many NFL GMs who didn't. Because GMs were willing to throw out contracts after one good year, the NFL has holdouts.

 

No one in the Bills front office has any experience being the head guy of a modern NFL franchise. I am not comfortable with them being trendsetters in contract negotiation philosophy. It looks like there stance on Peters will cost the Bills a win on September 7.

 

the only person in the Bills' orginization, this year, that has earned the right to be inovative is Bobby April.

[SwampD]

I think the Bills should have opened talks as soon as they knew Peters was unhappy. I will even give the Bills the benefit of the doubt and say they did not know until Peters skipped mini-camp. (Parker probably wanted to wait until after the draft to ensure the Bills had no real backup LT)

 

Aaron Schobel's contract was renegotiated after his 1st probowl when he had 3 years left on his contract.

 

Once Peters missed the 1st day of minicamp, the Bills should have been on the phone. In May and June, the Bills should have had talks that would have laid the groundwork for a contract. When people negotiate at that level, there is a fine line. This is the 1st NFL holdout for whoever is calling the shots at OBD. I think the Bills handled the Schobel situation much better.

 

 

 

 

Peters is an NFL player, he is not a grown man. Never in his life has he been teated like a grown man, it is unreasonable for fans to ask him to act like a grown man.

 

If a "normal" person were in Peters' situation, he would be stupid if he didn't quit his job and go to work for someone willing to pay fair market value for his services. Peters does not have that option.

 

 

 

 

 

I am still waiting for an example of an NFL team winning a holdout dispute.

There is nothing written anywhere that says Jason Peters has to play football to make money(unless, of course, you count the contract he already signed with the Bills). These are the rules in place. If he doesn't like them, he can take his talents elsewhere, say, the corner bar as a bouncer. Or maybe the grocery store collecting carts. He has other options.

[Kelly the Dog]

But with the same RB, QB and receivers as last year, how is it a direct relationship that Peters = Playoffs?

Because he's their best player. Playoff teams rely on their best player(s) or they are not playoff teams. Without him, I fully expect Trent to be abused, the entire line, not just the LT, to be 33% worse (because Peters gone means the LT's play is worse and hence the LG's play is worse, the RT's play is WAY worse and hence the RG's play is worse). I also expect other teams to be able to do all kinds of things like crowd the line because we won't have time to throw, so Marshawn will be dramatically affected. I also think the addition of Hardy with be dramatically lessened because he won't have as much time to clear the field for Evans or get to the endzone from outside 10 yards. Without Peters, IMO, Jauron and in turn Shonert get way more conservative because they cannot do what they want and need to do.

 

If you take a look at the Steeler's game. Trent led that terrific drive the first time we had the ball for a TD. The second drive, at the goalline, Walker gets abused and Trent gets tomahawked from behind. In what hasn't been brought up much here, Edwards makes an extraordinary play to cradle the ball in his gut and not fumble. IMO, 90+% of the times a DE gets a clear hit and able to absolutely clobber the QB's throwing arm from behind it's a fumble. Trent just made an amazing play to hang onto it. If he doesn't, the ball is free in the endzone and it's likely a 7-7 game instead of 14-0. And TBD is not so giddy about our OL without Jason Peters.

[eball]

You mean like how they handled contract negotiations with Aaron Schobel last year? The Bills practically fell over themselves handing over the cash to a much overrated player in Schobel. But you don't seem to want to take that into account regarding this current situation. Maybe this is about Schobel's deal and how he was handled and why there appears to be a double standard all of a sudden with Jason Peters. You're a year late in your concern about future negotiations of Bills players. They not only showed Schobel his renegotiated money, they ran it over to him with flowers and candy. It's only fair that they would do the same with a player that is so much better and much more important to the future of this team.

How many days of training camp or mandatory OTAs did Schobel miss?

[apuszczalowski]

Fixed.

Actually Sen, its more like this

 

There is nothing to communicate. 29 days ago and counting:

 

Parker: Jason won't play without a new contract this year. How about it?

 

Brandon: No, Not until he shows up to camp and honors his current deal that we just gave him

 

Parker: Call me if you change your mind.

 

Parker isn't returning calls from the media. I am reasonably confident he would return any call from Brandon. The reason their is no communication is, simply, because there is nothing to communicate. Not yet anyway.

[apuszczalowski]

How many days of training camp or mandatory OTAs did Schobel miss?

I also don't remember them running out and initiating the negotiations to give him the money. If I remember correctly, he asked the Bills for the contract, stayed in camp and only made mention that he could hold out and negotiated with the team while attending camp, which is exactly what the Bills are telling Peters, Show up or we won't talk contract.

[cody]

There is nothing written anywhere that says Jason Peters has to play football to make money(unless, of course, you count the contract he already signed with the Bills). These are the rules in place. If he doesn't like them, he can take his talents elsewhere, say, the corner bar as a bouncer. Or maybe the grocery store collecting carts. He has other options.

 

People have different professions. There are Cops, construction workers, ranch hands, sailors, and indian casino workers. Every profession has different rules and customs when it comes to contracts and compensation.

 

Peters is a football player. There are rules that restrict his ability to play wherever he wants. Because NFL contracts are not guaranteed and players are not free to join other teams while under contract, the NFL allows holdouts. It's just the way the contract game is played. I don't like it because I think it hurts teams. The Bills, by themselves, are not going to change or stop the holdout game. If the Bills were serious about preventing holdouts, they should propose changes to the CBA.

[cody]

How many days of training camp or mandatory OTAs did Schobel miss?

 

I think he missed 4 voluntary workouts. He reported because there were talks between his agent and the team that made him feel confident a deal would be made. Although his contract was not finialized until Aug 24, 2007.

[John from Riverside]

I keep getting visions of him picking up his paycheck with Lee Evans and while Lee's has this ridiculous amount of money on it Peters reads someting like $5.00 then he does a Greer inpersonation.

[apuszczalowski]

I think the Bills should have opened talks as soon as they knew Peters was unhappy. I will even give the Bills the benefit of the doubt and say they did not know until Peters skipped mini-camp. (Parker probably wanted to wait until after the draft to ensure the Bills had no real backup LT)

 

Aaron Schobel's contract was renegotiated after his 1st probowl when he had 3 years left on his contract.

 

Once Peters missed the 1st day of minicamp, the Bills should have been on the phone. In May and June, the Bills should have had talks that would have laid the groundwork for a contract. When people negotiate at that level, there is a fine line. This is the 1st NFL holdout for whoever is calling the shots at OBD. I think the Bills handled the Schobel situation much better.

I'm guessing you have never had to negotiate a contract before?

 

The Bills would be giving up the majority of their leverage if they open the negotiations. They have no reason to open the negotiations, they already have Peters under contract for the next 3 years, he is the one that wants the new deal, not the Bills. If Peters wants the new deal, its his job (well his agents job) to contact the team and start the talks with them. Thats the difference between this situation and Schobels, and why Schobel got his deal. He showed up to camp and honored his current deal, like the Bills had asked him and asked Peters to do, and let the team know he wanted a new deal that payed him more.

 

What you never do is open the talks with someone just because you think they are unhappy and are not listening to their demands. The Bills handled the negotiations with Schoebel better because he himself handled the situation better, and did what they asked. If Peters showed up to camp like they asked when camp started and he started holding out and opened the discussions with the team, and then they still refused, then you can say the bills front office handled this situation wrong compared to Schoebel

[apuszczalowski]

I think he missed 4 voluntary workouts. He reported because there were talks between his agent and the team that made him feel confident a deal would be made. Although his contract was not finialized until Aug 24, 2007.

Although the teams would love it if they all showed up and had 100% turn out for them, there is a key word in that sentence that means he does not have to show up, and is completly different then not showing up to training camp which is Mandatory and is part of his contract

[cody]

I'm guessing you have never had to negotiate a contract before?

 

Unfortunatly, I negotiate contracts all of the time.

 

Rule #1, do not screw up the deal.

 

In my view, the Bills and Peters have equal bargianing power. The Bills need Peters, Peters needs the Bills.

 

You are right, the Bills give up leverage by being the 1st to bend.

However, the Bills do have something to loose. If Peters doesn't show up and play, they do not get the benefit of his services (which in '06 they estimated would be worth about 3 mil per year). If the Bills loose the 1st two games this season, we can forget about the playoffs. Playoff games mean revenue for the team. And job security for the people calling the shots.

 

If one side takes to hard of a stance, the other side starts to dig in. If I tell someone "I will give you nothing", I know I will be in for a fight. I think the Bills are overplaying thier hand.

Eugine Parker has a reputation for letting contract negotiations get personal and holding his client out. When negotiating, do not discount the personalities of the individuals involved.

[colin]

i still wonder how right his body is. we need to see him play some to know IMO.

 

also, if he holds out and we think we can get our new young 7th rounder to project to be the next peters (not saying he will, but as good as peters is, he never sniffed all pro until he had dock beside him who has made walker look pretty good too, look how much jones out west has fallen off since losing his guard, it all counts guys) we would swap out peters for a couple firsts.

 

as hard as an LT of high quality is to get, the line is about a compliment of talent and skills.

[cody]

Although the teams would love it if they all showed up and had 100% turn out for them, there is a key word in that sentence that means he does not have to show up, and is completly different then not showing up to training camp which is Mandatory and is part of his contract

 

I think I agree with your point. The way Aaron Schobel handled his dispute was smater, makes Schobel look like a stand up guy and was better for the team. I would love it if Peters did the same thing.

 

Peters did not do the same thing. Now the Bills have to deal with it.

[Kelly the Dog]

I think I agree with your point. The way Aaron Schobel handled his dispute was smater, makes Schobel look like a stand up guy and was better for the team. I would love it if Peters did the same thing.

 

Peters did not do the same thing. Now the Bills have to deal with it.

The difference being, the Bills were ready and willing to renegotiate with Schobel. And they didn't have to break the bank for him, they just had to give him a great contract they could easily afford at the time. They are unwilling to renegotiate with Peters, IMO, because they would have to break the bank for him. We don't know this for absolutely sure but those are the reports.

 

There is no way I believe that if Peters showed up, they would pay him 10 million a year, this year, which is what he is worth and asking for. The Bills have to pay Evans and they just spent 100 mil last year on the OL. Schobel was worth and asking for 7 mil a year when they re-signed him. It has been repeatedly reported that the Bills won't do it for Peters. Not this year. I find it impossible to believe, and it defies all logic, that the Bills ARE willing to pay him 10 mil if he just shows up. All they would have to do is tell him that and he'd be there.

[JasoninMT]

If this was answered in pgs 2-3, sorry...

 

Peters will go on the Non-Football Injury list and won't count against the 53 man roster during the season until he reports. (At least that's what I was told - and it makes sense).

 

The money issue has already been discussed. He'll stop racking up fines at the end of training camp, and forfeit game checks after that.

[cody]

The Bills have to pay Evans and they just spent 100 mil last year on the OL. Schobel was worth and asking for 7 mil a year when they re-signed him. It has been repeatedly reported that the Bills won't do it for Peters. Not this year. I find it impossible to believe, and it defies all logic, that the Bills ARE willing to pay him 10 mil if he just shows up. All they would have to do is tell him that and he'd be there.

 

I think you are right. The hangup most likely occured when the Bills looked at thier budget. They do not have enough 2008 cash-to-the-cap space to sign Evans, Crow & Peters. So what did they decide to do?

 

Do they offer him a contract that keeps his '08 pay in the same range but gives him a big roster bonus on March 1, 2009?

Do they offer him easy to reach insentives that would not count against the cap until '09?

 

Or do they let him sit out for a year in the hopes of re-negotiating his deal in '09?

[nero47]

When it comes to injuries and recuperation time I wouldn't use Grant Hill as an example of anything. Great guy to be sure, but he stole almost $100M from the Magic.

My point Exactly.