Bills, Schobel Agree to 7 Year Extension

by Brian Galliford on Aug 25, 2007 6:49 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

The Buffalo Bills locked up one of their most productive defenders in club history Friday night by reaching a contract extension with defensive end Aaron Schobel. Schobel, who has emerged as one of the best statistical defensive ends in the league, will have the final three years of his old deal wiped out with the new deal. Len Pasquarelli is reporting that the new deal is for 7 years, a maximum of $50.5 million with $21 million in guarantees.

The deal will likely allow Schobel - who turns 30 in a few short days (September 1) - to finish his career as a Buffalo Bill. Schobel amassed 14 sacks last season to finish near the top of the league, and it was that production and Schobel's commitment to the Bills organization that landed him what probably is his final NFL contract extension. His deal comes about five months after his running mate, Chris Kelsay, received a hefty new contract in the off-season - a contract that rivaled the more productive Schobel's. Aaron is now one of the highest paid defensive ends in the NFL.

Schobel was quoted after the Bills lost to the Titans Friday night:

"Well obviously I had three years left on my deal so they didn't have to do anything," said Schobel. "So I appreciate what Mr. Wilson and the organization did. It's good for both of us."

Jim Overdorf, the man responsible for sealing the extension, had nice things to say as well:

"We're trying to keep our good players, and one of the ways you do that is you go to them early and work out deals in order to keep your own," Overdorf said before Buffalo played Tennessee in a preseason game. "Hopefully, Aaron finishes his career as a Buffalo Bill. That was one of his objectives in this, too."

My Take: This deal is confusing to me. Yes, Schobel is one of the most productive defensive ends not only in the NFL right now but in Bills team history. And yes, after the deal that Kelsay received earlier in the off-season, Schobel probably deserved a pay raise - though it didn't necessarily have to be this soon. The gesture shows just how highly the Bills' coaching staff values Schobel. The $21 million in guarantees is $7 million more than Kelsay received.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the deal - not because I don't like Aaron Schobel, but because it cripples the amount of future money the team can pay to defensive linemen. In my mind, Aaron Schobel is not an elite pass rusher - he's very good, but he's not a guy that will give offensive coordinators nightmares, like Julius Peppers or Dwight Freeney. The Bills' Cover-2 defense needs a guy who can get to the quarterback on any given play; Schobel is not that talented. He gets sacks on hustle and never quitting. We need a guy who can get there on talent play in and play out. How are we supposed to get one now that the team has $74.5 million tied up in Schobel and Kelsay? And does a deal like this cripple what we can do at defensive tackle in the future as well?

Please leave your thoughts on the Schobel extension in the comments below. I'd love to hear what everyone has to say about this latest development.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Perception

First of all, you guys who watched the game need to put down your reflections soon, so those of us in Bills exile known what went down. I'm dying for some analysis!!

I like the Schoebel deal in the sense that it helps morale to know that the organization values the players that have given a lot.

I also think Schoebel is gaining a reputation as a elite or close to elite pass rusher. Now, whether that is in fact the case, is one for debate. But what it means is that if the perception filters out there, it creates problems for game planners. Should we double or not? Schoebel is good enough that on any one play he can beat anyone and that's what makes him dangerous. It is conceivable that the opposition may surmise that they can handle him one on one, yet at a crucial point in the game, the risk of isolating him with one OLineman, given AS' perception as one of the better rushers out there could given the opposition heartburn and force them to modify strategy. And that, already, is a minior victory.

His definitely worth keeping around and being paid as an elite. I think at the end of the day, we'd be happier having him with us than letting him go.

by Onoekeh on Aug 25, 2007 10:09 AM EDT reply actions

At work

I've got my analysis mostly written; expect it later this afternoon. Stupid real-life job's getting in the way of what's really important... :)

Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Aug 25, 2007 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Not sure where it stops

'Schobel probably deserved a pay raise - though it didn't necessarily have to be this soon.'

I am also a bit baffled why this deal couldnt have waited another year, or really even 2. Was he agitating for a new deal and threatening to hold out (or be a locker room cancer, or whatever)?

Nothing to do with Schobel one way or another. The basic facts remain for any deal like this.

Every year the salary cap will go up*. Every year anyone who doesnt sign their deal that year, will be underpaid.

Pretty much every real player 'deserves' a raise, every year. By the nature of the salary cap.

Every year, every player can make an argument to renegotiate his contract.

Its a very slippery slope to walk down. Once you start handing out new contacts, where do you stop? The more you do it, the more that players on existing contracts who dont get new ones will be pissed off.

And you cant hook up all your existing contract players, because then you cant compete for with teams who dont for the free agent du jour.

by Thronsen on Aug 25, 2007 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

Too much money

for an inconsistent pass rusher. He piles up the sacks, but very rarely gets consistent pressure on the QB. I would also add he's average at best against the run.

I don't understand $21M in guarentees and a deal worth $50M overall. Is this guy an elite pass rusher? I don't think so.

I too wonder why this deal had to be done now, as well as why it was for so much. We're giving out monster deals for guys who aren't even superstars. But at least Mr. Wilson is being willing to spend money to keep some of our key guys, I can't complain about that.

I'm still completely baffled/surprised by this one, but oh well. Hopefully, Schobel will build on last year and become a more consistent player. I can't argue with 14 sacks, but I want to see more pressure applied on the opposing QB. I don't want to see him disappearing for long periods of time.

by Kurupt on Aug 25, 2007 3:32 PM EDT reply actions

The age factor

I'm always leery of long-term deals given to players that will extend until the time they can no longer be productive players. If Schobel was 27, I could see the logic of the deal. At 30 it doesn't make as much sense.

I do agree with Onoekeh that it can help overall morale and can go a long way towards making the Bills once again a franchise that the best players would want to play for in the long term. If that was in Wilson's and Levy's minds when they negotiated the deal, then I applaud them for it.

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Aug 26, 2007 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

Schobel extension

I think they overpaid. The team's problem right now is the O line and D line. That said, Schobel is worth a decent amount to the team because of his skill level at his position, but he's not worth THAT much. Like the original post said, he's not Freeney or Peppers.

by gabefarkas on Aug 26, 2007 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

uncalled for

This extension was just not smart in my opinion. I mean how do you justify it? How do you just give a guy this money with 3 years left on his deal? Deals like that should be going to JP and Evans not to Aaron Schobel? I mean I like him but like people have already stated....HE IS NOT ELITE!

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Aug 26, 2007 10:00 PM EDT reply actions