Clayton: Bills had NFL's worst off-season
by Brian Galliford on May 19, 2010 2:44 PM EDT
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintESPN's John Clayton has written a story naming five NFL teams that he declares have had the worst off-seasons this year. Continuing the media trend started yesterday by Yahoo's Jason Cole, Clayton puts our Buffalo Bills at the top of the worst off-season list.
Which is fine. As I said during my reaction to Cole's column, it's tough to argue with heavy doses of media skepticism at this point. But it'd be nice if Clayton got some of his facts straight.
No team had a greener offensive line last season than the Bills, which had rookies Demetrius Bell at left tackle and Jonathan Scott at left guard. All the Bills did to help the line was sign 33-year-old tackle Cornell Green.
Well, first and foremost, Bell wasn't a rookie. For all intents and purposes, I suppose you could argue Bell was a rookie last year, but he was drafted in 2008, and had been in the league for a year. Jonathan Scott was not a rookie, nor was he the left guard; our left guard, Andy Levitre, was, however, a rookie, so Clayton's got that going for him. I have no idea why another rookie, Eric Wood, wasn't mentioned; likewise with Brad Butler's retirement.
To make things even more challenging, the Bills switched to a 3-4 defense even though they didn't have a legitimate 3-4 outside linebacker or a nose tackle. They drafted nose tackle Torell Troup in the second round and hope that Broncos castoff Andra Davis and seldom-used Aaron Maybin can handle the tough outside linebacking jobs.
I haven't paid close enough attention to Davis' full NFL career to comfortably claim that he's never played OLB; if he did, it didn't happen recently. Davis is a classic inside linebacker, and has spent the vast majority of his career in that role. It's what he did a year ago in Denver. It's what he did in Cleveland. It's what he'll do in Buffalo.
Oh, and this is also probably a good time to mention that fortifying the front seven of the 3-4 is the one thing that the Bills did focus on doing this off-season. That doesn't invalidate Clayton's point that the transition could be difficult, but it doesn't exactly credit the effort they did put in, either. Green and Davis are brought up, but the team's best free agent signing, end Dwan Edwards, is completely ignored.
Again - it's tough to argue Clayton. His inaccuracies don't really invalidate his claims. But a little fact-checking would lend some credence to those claims, would it not?
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I don’t follow every other team out there, so I can’t say Buffalo was the better then any given team, but this article just kind of seems more like I have to fill a page with something and everyone thinks Buffalo is horrid, so let’s jump on that band wagon…
I was born in Buffalo, and NO, it's not a suburb of New York City
as far as the 3-4 switch goes
i think the bills did a terrific job in preparing themselves for the change next year. the only thing that is a question mark (and albeit a biiiig question mark) is the OLB situation. that said, they have a young guy in maybin, and may (no one knows for sure yet) have schobel…. add in the best secondary in the league (yea i went there) and i think the 3-4 will be fine. not dominate by any stretch, but i expect the defense to be ranked about 15-20 next year. which will be fine.
the offensive line is really ONE player from being considered good. two great rookies in wood and levitre. a servicable center, a servicable RT (with good developmental backups). really if they trade for gaither (still a possibility right?) then this line will be more than fine…..
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
by silverstreak3k on May 19, 2010 2:50 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Given our pass defense being relatively intact (and maybe eventually getting more pressure generated from the front 7 without a safety in the box), how could the switch to a 3-4 make our run defense worse? I don’t really think it can. I think they’ll have their growing pains, but by the end of the year, at least from a yards allowed stand point, the Bills will be statistically superior on defense.
(a tangent)
Does anyone know why they use yards allowed for the ranking when they say “# 1 defense” and “#1 Pass defense” instead of the real factor – points allowed? Sure, giving up yards in bunches does indicate a potential weakness, especially going into a playoff run, but if you still manage to keep teams off the board, that should be included in the “We’re #1” discussion.
(end tangent)
I wholeheartedly agree with you sir
Point 1: I can’t imagine the Bills run defense sucking anymore that it did last season. Having larger obstacles in the path can only help. I wouldn’t automatically assume that the pass “D” will be great. It may, but it’s not a lock. Many teams simply ran on Buffalo because they could, particularly late in games. A more stout front 7 may actually force teams to challenge the backfield more often.
Point 2: The Bills of 1993 boasts the epitome of the “stopping them when it counts” defense (27th in yards but 5th in points against). Any single stat is a limited measure in a complex sport like football (see QB rating). You can combine the metrics to get a better picture, or simply rely on the uber-stat: wins-losses. As Parcells used to say: “You are what your record says you are”. We’re #1 in this or that is only a data point…nothing to stick one’s chest out about..
"They're Killin' Me Whitey. They're Killin' Me" -- Lou Saban
Given our pass defense being relatively intact (and maybe eventually getting more pressure generated from the front 7 without a safety in the box), how could the switch to a 3-4 make our run defense worse?
Because you’re taking a 220 pound LB off the field and replacing him with a defensive lineman.
I think the Bills will definitely have a worse year on D than they did last season. The Bills finished one FG away (for the year, not per game), from having the 12th best scoring defense in the league. The Bills actually finished 14th in yards given up per game. And they did that with zero offense. No way can the Bills repeat their pass D success from last year. They were the 2nd best unit statistically and were closer to the Jets than they were to the 3rd best pass D. The Bills had 19 INTs from the safeties last year and 28 total. They gave up an entire yard per pass attempt less than they did in 2008.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
by kaisertown on May 19, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Because you’re taking a 220 pound LB off the field and replacing him with a defensive lineman.
wait what? dont you mean taking a 300 lb lineman and replacing him with a 250- 275ish pound linebacker?
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
by silverstreak3k on May 19, 2010 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions
yea, he confused me.
" A wise man once told me, never argue with a fool, becuase from a far, you can't tell who is who" - Jay-Z
by SouthBuffaloNDgrad on May 19, 2010 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Not in the Bills' case
Last year they had Stroud and Williams inside, and Schobel and Kelsay on the outside. Let’s assume Williams starts at NT, Stroud at one of the DE positions and Schobel/Kelsay play OLB now. Those players are the same. Poz will still be on the interior, and Andra Davis on the inside is about Kawika Mitchell’s size on the outside last year. The only difference now is taking the 230 lb Ellison off the field and replacing him with the 315 lb Dwan Edwards.
Kaiser was right in who was being replaced. I don’t agree that that will make our already putrid run defense any worse. It should be better this year, and could even be a solid unit by year’s end.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
rec'd
agreed too.
IF we could have Schobel and Gaither, I would be real excited to see how we look.
Either way, I think the run defense will be much improved and our overall d solid. Even if we aren’t stocked with multiple natural pass rushers (please Schobel come back), I think the hybrid d and stock of capable blitzers will generate sufficient pressure for the secondary to do what they do.
"Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they're bigger than everybody else, and that's what makes them the biggest guys on the field."
- John Madden
I agree with you Brian, but do you think anyone outside of Buffalo cares Clayton missues the facts?
Until we win something (like beating the Patriots, or a winning record, or possibily a division championship), anything. I think it is doom and gloom for any one who has the chance to be in the media nationally.
It is sad to read/watch/hear as a fan and we’ve been really resilient over the years, especially the last 10. As Nix says, winning cures everything. Hopefully having green OL’s and worst QB situations, Nix knows something more than the rest of us.
I think people who care about good reporting should care about Clayton’s miscues.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on May 19, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I cared enough to post it on Tim Graham’s blog. Getting facts wrong, no matter how small, still reflects very poorly on the reporter. How much did he really study the Bills’ off-season if he didn’t even know who played on the line?
by BuffaloBrewed on May 19, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I think this is more an indictment of the current roster and our homerism than it is of clayton’s reporting.
I think the argument could be made that the rest of the football world outside of buffalo thinks so little of schobel, kelsay, et. al that they have no choice but to assume that davis was brought in to play the outside. Also, he did us a favor in not mentioning levitre (despite how well he played), wood, and meredith to show just how much of a green laughingstock our offensive line really was.
also, bell was never on an active game-day roster in 2008, i’d say that pretty much made him a rookie last year.
that being said, yes, he got some things wrong, but lets be honest – the bills are an afterthought to national minds for a reason.
by quantumuprising on May 19, 2010 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
John Clayton’s job is to accurately cover the NFL. He did not do so here. I don’t care if the Bills are an afterthought, and if that status is warranted – it’s still his job.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on May 19, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed.....maybe you should email Clayton and offer to do a little fact checking for him on Bills matters ;-)
Show me the baby CHIX, and it better not look like the pool boy from our vacation at Club Jauron!!!!!
"I’m not sure if I disagree with this being the logic behind Nix’s decisions or if I disagree with this logic if it is what lead Nix to address the positions he did, but I definitely disagree with something." - kaisertown
maybe someone posted this already..
but in just read clayton’s article and he changed it so Bell is now a ‘young veteran’ …. that’s right clayton you better check rumblings to make sure your straight! he’s a joke by the way just like all these other cookie cutter journalists with nary an original opinion
He's getting pretty lambasted on the comments section of the article post...
Not that he or his bosses probably reads them anyway or remotely cares… but it is funny to see what fans of the other teams mentioned bust on him about.
I dont this Brian...
Again – it’s tough to argue Clayton. His inaccuracies don’t really invalidate his claims. But a little fact-checking would lend some credence to those claims, would it not?
But you’re stating its important in the posts…I agree, it’s important, how can it not be? If he doesn’t know who played what, and he glosses over other important facts, how can he say anything worth-while? He can’t, it was obviously a poor attempt at being an NFL sport-writer who has a column to write. Clayton has no credibility with me, I like and watch the Niners too, he wrote a column a few weeks ago that filled with innaccuracies (I will check to find the link)…he called a 49ers rookie a “young veteran”, he mentioned their Oline only briefly, with no sort of back-up to verify his thinking (no stats, no rankings, just opinion), and he also got the starters wrong there and some of their positions…he said Chilo Rachal played RT (he was a RG). I doubt Clayton even watches football, the testosterone makes him uncomfortable.
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on May 19, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
*dammnit...I dont get this
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on May 19, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
It seems to me that if your only job is to be an EXPERT on the NFL, a league currently in down-time, the least you could do is read around a little and fact-check to earn your salary. It’s OK to file your work from your iPhone or Blackberry or whatever from Barbados, as long as you make an appearance of thinking about the work your doing.
He’s a NFL Expert sports reporter – it can’t be that hard, especially when submitting what is more opinion than fact.
by syrbillsfan on May 19, 2010 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
haha right?!
Its very hard to mess up an opinion piece… and he did it. hahaha
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
His points aren’t bad ones. Buffalo’s line was green. The OLB spot is a huge question mark. I suppose you could chalk that up to luck, but his points were good ones, even if the explanations for them were horribly lacking.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on May 19, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
its not just the facts being wrong
his points have some validity, but when you look at how we could have fixed these problems then his points start to look foolish IMO.
1. If a green O-line is the real problem then drafting an OT early this year would have only compounded our problems. In fact he should have written about the quality of our OT’s not their youth.
2. If Maybin had been drafted to come into a 3-4 defense last year we would have been praised for addressing such a glaring need. Instead he is mentioned as being seldomly used. What would he have us to do draft another OLB this year and leave Maybin on the bench.
This reaks of poor reporting, and is why I get my BILLS info from the experts at this site. Even when I may disagree with a point made by you or one of your staff I at least know that the facts are right, and there was some thought put into the post.
Agreed. His claim that we have one of the worst, if not the worst offseason in the NFL this year may be right (I don’t think so, but still). But a good reporter or journalist needs to fact check anything he writes. Clayton didn’t even try in this article. Thats the problem.
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 19, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with Brian, fact checking is a FACT of life for a GOOD reporter
Have some professional pride John and actually bone up on the people of a team’s roster before making claims about who and where they play! If your paid a good amount of money to do a job where you are supposed to pay attention to the details, like a sports columnist, then do it properly. I do not disagree on his point, but he needs to do a better job of doing it PROPERLY.
Nix and Chan, the new Cheech and Chong of the Bills, hopefully they will be as successful in business as they were, and not so much the drug fueled comedy act....
I would think that a guy who has been an the beat as long as Clayton would a have a contact or two with each team. A guy not to un-similar to Brian who he could just call up and shoot some thoughts off of to see how good, or as is this case, bad his up coming article is. I imagine how incredibly difficult it would be to try and be on top of every team. Getting in touch with a fanatic fan of a certain team just so you sound like you have more of a clue would seem prudent IMHO.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
and in turn allow press and reporters to present information for the reader to make their own decisions
it’s basically ethics in journalism… have some. stop slandering individuals or organizations by presenting only enough information to force the reader’s opinion to result in their own slanderous view. rhetoricians.
FS Jairus Byrd aka the Buffalo Bills' Silver Lining
I think John Clayton had a bad offseason
He didnt improve on certain areas of his that are in dire need of revamping. His lack of chin is glaring, and so is his awful combover. He could have switched to plugs, a toupee, or jusy shave it, but he decided that his current hairstyle is acceptable.
I generally like listening to what Clayton has to say about things. He sounds like hes reporting without a specific agenda, which is a good change of pace from some other anylists. He does need to check his facts though.
"What wins the majority of the time is blocking, tackling, throwin', catchin' and kickin" - Chan Gailey
by dragonwag0n on May 19, 2010 2:55 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
He can do whatever he wants
He’ll still look like a lightbulb.
Go Rockies! First and only member of the Manuel Corpas fanclub right here! :/
Everyone's favorite Buffalo Rumblings Anti-Tebow blowhard!
THIS IS BUFFALO NATION GODZILLA HAS AWAKEN - abayarde
by UZ on May 20, 2010 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I was encouraged when I read that article..
Because I remember last year I saw him talking about what a great offseason the Bills had by signing T.O.
My thought exactly!!!
2010 Bills' truth in advertising: "Look out Cleveland, this year we score 6!" - bluecollarbuffalo
by thefourwinds on May 19, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I actually like the last three sentences of the ESPN article
The real off-season was to target jake locker and andrew luck. Throw in C.J. Spiller and maybe the worst off-season in the league turns out to be one of the best if that line doesn’t give up rushing yards.
If ESPN Ran a Team
…it would resemble the Washington Redskins. How’s that working out?
I would throw the ‘10 New York Jets in as well… so let’s see.
Thou isth now selling thy KoolAid...
You went VERY easy on him
I think Mr. Clayton needs a well-deserved verbal beating. It’s cookie-cutter reporting that does not warrant a read. He’s a very knowledgeable guy but he completely sh!t the bed on this one.
True Grit Tebow. How could you not want this kid on your team?
by Scrumtrulescent on May 19, 2010 3:28 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
second that...
i was sincerely hoping that you would rip him a new one.
30 for 30 has been a really well done series overall, but espn’s reporting is for sh*t these days. nothing creative, nothing in-depth, nothing but hyping the same stories they always write.
30 for 30 is the only reason to watch ESPN now a days.
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
ESPN is still on?
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on May 19, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
lol. Well where else would go for up to the second info on “LEBRON WATCH 2010?”
“OMG Lebron was seen today wearing a blue shirt. We think he might be leaning towards signing with the Knicks!!!”
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
haha...
serisouly, I grew up watching ESPN night & day…but now, I only turn it there when I plan on dosing off. The Sunday Countdown show is still set to record on my DVR though…best morning football show IMO, sometimesI just watch to check out the “Mayne Event” by Kenny Mayne…the freakin’ “double-raven” was hilarious…and NFL players not being able to able to handle their own water bottles…that was funny too!
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on May 19, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Completely agree. I used to live off ESPN… now… its something to fall asleep to. Sportscenter is a joke. All the other shows on there are pretty bad quality too.
30 for 30 and Sundays football coverage is the only thing that you can count on being a good watch. And yes the Mayne Event is awesome. The water bottle one was a funny one.
And I cant take anymore Lebron talk… I noticed they now have a “Lebron” title on the bottom line now. I mean come on… get off that stuff and talk about sports. Its like TMZ is running out of Bristol, CT now.
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
Favre farted
Says Mort
2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
2010 The Jim Mandich NewsFlash Award Winner.
""It only ends once. Everything that comes before is just progress"
by Patssuck456 on May 19, 2010 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
But he was wrong
Favre actually burped
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Rec'd!
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 19, 2010 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I know if I was covering the NFL
I would sure as hell do my research. That would be a dream gig and to not put in the time is just lazy.
A few things:
1 – The inner homer in me wants to tell Clayton he is a fool and he should get his head out of where the sun doesn’t shine on Peter King because the Bills did just fine. The inner Ben Salem in me wants to scream that he is correct and there is plenty more the Bills could have done. I’m thinking the truth is somewhere in between. I don’t think that the Bills offseason is as bad as the national perception, but it certainly could have been better.
2 – How does Denver not make this list? Ryan Clady messes up his knee playing basketball and then his replacement gets run over by a golf cart ending his career. Ron Fields was arrested also. Oh that’s right I forgot, THEY GOT TEBOW!!!!! They are good to go….
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
Oh that’s right I forgot, THEY GOT TEBOW!!!!! They are good to go….
I think that sentance says it all. It’s bang on. To ESPN a good offseason means being flashy, not making good decisions for the long run, which we have done well.
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 19, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
So last year was great because of TO marketing hype. ESPN is full of middle-management types more concerned with perception and franchise value than true improvement on the field. True rebuilding doesn’t suit the 5 minute news cycle. Bills don’t offer enough flashy stories this year so expect a lot of bitter journalists.
Strap it on!
by Thurman's Helmet on May 19, 2010 8:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
They also dumped Brandon Marshall
Not exactly going to help an already mediocre offense….
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Every time ESPN or NFL Network bad mouths the Bills (and it seems to be a lot cough, Marshall Faulk, cough) I feel like Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore where he stands in front of the pitching machine in the batting cage. I hope & pray that the Bills prove these guys wrong this season. The sad thing is, even if they do, nobody will remember these reports from back in May.
Behold - Ghidrah, the 3 headed monster aka Jackson, Spiller & Lynch!
Re: Faulk
You see hes telling Chris Johnson to hold out now?
How stupid is Marshall Faulk… the man works for the NFL and hes telling an NFL player, a star, to hold out. What a #@!*& moron… how does he have a job?
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
You see hes telling Chris Johnson to hold out now?
I hate to say it, and I really really do hate to say it. But I think that Faulk is right to tell Johnson to hold out. This is the NFL, have you seen how they treat running backs? As soon as you get injured, or slow down or are perceived as being lesser than you once were then they get rid of you. ANd it’s very, VERY hard for RB’s to get decent second chances in the NFL, just look at what happened to Thomas Jones this summer. He had a career year las year, was one of the best RB’s in the league and he was still released. And All he could get in the open market was a two-bit contract that is paying him nowhere near what he’ll produce.
Point is that Johnson was head an shoulders above any other RB in the league last year. And it was only his second year in the league. The guy has nowhere to go but up. Yet he’s only being payed 550K. Lets say that he suffers a career ending injury in the first game next year, then he get nothing of his remaining contract. Now yes his demands are outragious, but I suspect that he’s only saying those num,bers in orde to get a good deal and would be willing to settel for a lot less then what he has asked for.
A running back in this league must cash in whenever he can because it is the position with the most turnover in the league. His rookie contract is rediculously low in both garanteed money and earned money during the season (both together only add up to 550K next year). When taking into consideration the financial dinamics of this league, he has more than earned a LARGE raise. And if he needs to holdout in order to get it, then he deffinatly should.
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 19, 2010 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Jets were stupid...
Got rid of a stud RB and brought in a has-been. This year he will look like O.J. did in a Niner uniform. Washed-up.
"A failure becomes just one time at bat if you refuse to let it defeat you." Marv Levy.
by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on May 19, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. For the first time ever, I’m actually looking forward to playing against LT.
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 19, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions
LT wont be as bad as last year the JETS o-line is the real deal
I think brian could rush for 1000 behind that line
No believe me I agree… Chris Johnson should be getting paid a helluva lot more than he is now. But to have someone like Faulk, tell him in public that thats what he should do… now thats stupid.
If I deserve a promotion at work… a manager at my work shouldnt tell me not to show up to work to show them that I want a promotion lol.
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
Oh true. Faulk should have told him privatly, not publicly. But the fact stands that Johnson should hold out.
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 19, 2010 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
He was paid
pretty well in his rookie year with Signing Bonus etc and did well but not exceptionally – certainly didn’t earn all he was paid up from for sure ! Year 2 he obviously well and truly outperformed his pay level.
So he’s had 1 year where he was overpaid for his production and 1 year where he was underpaid for his production so far. Seems fair and reasonable to me. Now if he has a good season this year and outperforms his salary – THEN he has a right to hold out IMO.
Secondly it’s almost impossible for the Titans to Re-Do his deal due to the 30% rule which came into effect for an uncapped season. Please see below:
30-percent rule restrictions
The 30-percent rule, found in Article XXIV, Section 8 (b) of the CBA, states that renegotiations/extensions entered into in the 2010 league year may not increase per year from 2009 to 2010 or beyond more than 30 percent of the 2009 salary. For example, if the 2009 salary is $2M, the maximum available in 2010 is $2.6M, in 2011 it’s $3.2M, etc.
Johnson made $385,000 in the second year of his rookie contract last season. Under the rule, he’s limited to an increase of $115,000 this year and each year beyond.
Signing bonus
There is one way around the 30-percent rule, but no team wants to use it. According to Article XXIV (7)(b)(iv) of the CBA, a signing bonus (or a payment that is treated as a signing bonus) does not count toward the rule.
In the event the Titans are willing to give Johnson a five-year, $40-million extension, they could satisfy the 30-percent rule in the salary portion of the deal by giving him roughly $37M in signing bonus. No team wants to structure a deal with 80 percent or more in guaranteed signing bonus, money that is essentially gone the moment the player signs the contract. Teams are much more willing to structure large base salaries that may be guaranteed in the future to allow for the possibility of recovery and forfeiture.
Now would you be comfortable shelling out 37 mill in signing bonus to a RB considering how prone to injury they are – if he gets hurt badly they would be crippled against the future cap (assuming it comes back in – which it’s likely to do) Say he gets hurt in 2011 very badly and the cap is back in. If they’re forced to cut him they’d take a 30 mill cap hit over 1 year (or 2 years depending on the date of the cut) Think 2001 Bills now.
3 AM Monday morning games all 2010 - that's just freakin dandy !
Your right on the 30% rule. But another way around it is to totally scrap the contract. judge it null and void, and then sign him to an entirely new one. If it’s not considered and extention then it is not subject to the 30% rule. I think that thats what Johnson is trying to go for.
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 20, 2010 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions
It doesn’t have to be 37M in signing bonus. They can make roster bonuses and easily attainable incentives part of the deal.
You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on May 20, 2010 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought I read some where here not by you CBF but on this site.
That running backs were a dime a dozen. One of the reason’s I wanted Spiller so bad at #9 was that he would get Johnson kind of future money. I realize that Spiller still needs to perform, but he is also considered as sure a bet as you can get at that spot. We shouldn’t have to worry about bust or dime a dozen type of running back.
YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde
I don’t think that Spiller is a dime a dozen type back. In fact I think that he may actually be the best back on this team. But this is a dime a dozen type league and as soon as a team sees fit to replace you they don’t think twice. Thats why i support Johnson in his holdout, he’s worth a lot more then what he’s getting.
And for the record if Spiller turned out to be another Chris Johnson and would be treated the same way as Johnson is currently being treated by the Titans then I’d support him in a holdout too.
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 20, 2010 3:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Johnson's got an agent
he’ll get paid. I’m sure there’s a deal in the works as we speak. I don’t like it when players hold out. It might be me being selfish as a fan, but hey. But I’m not really worried about that. I just hate how he rips on the Bills all the time or outright laughs at them every time they are brought up. But like someone else said, until they start winning & become relevant again, people will scoff. I guess the truth hurts, & even more so when broadcast on nationwide TV.
Behold - Ghidrah, the 3 headed monster aka Jackson, Spiller & Lynch!
Why is that wrong?
He’s giving his opinion on the subject. I tend to agree with him, though I don’t like the holding out part that much. Chris Johnson is the best RB in the league. He deserves to be paid like it, even if he’s only going into his 3rd year. What if Johnson tried to negotiate a deal like this back when he was a rookie? The Titans would have just laughed in his face. It’s not like Johnson willingly agreed to a long term extension and then the next year threatened to hold out if the Titans didn’t redo his deal. This is a different situation, and it’s at a position where there is a short shelf life. He should tried to get paid as soon as possible, and he has more than proven himself worthy of a new deal.
Is Marshall Faulk only supposed to give the opinion that Johnson shouldn’t hold out? Can’t he have a differing opinion on TV, or does he have to conform with all the other blathering bozos?
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Well said
It is actually good that an NFL network employee is taking a pro-union position. Leave the pro-management blather for the ESPN hacks.
Strap it on!
by Thurman's Helmet on May 20, 2010 3:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No I agree that they should pay the man. I mean look at what hes done since hes been in the league… hes amazing. But an NFL employee shouldnt be out there saying for one of the biggest stars in the league to hold out. If Marshall Faulk wasnt working for the NFL and he said that its not as big a deal with me… But to work for the NFL and say that is wrong IMO.
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
I gotta get tough, only 364 more days until next year's hockey tryouts!
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Proving how dumb ESPN is… one reporter at a time.
anoth E r
S ports
re P orters
N onsense
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
Better than a few years ago when they were the Eastern Seaboard Patriots-only Network
Go Rockies! First and only member of the Manuel Corpas fanclub right here! :/
Everyone's favorite Buffalo Rumblings Anti-Tebow blowhard!
THIS IS BUFFALO NATION GODZILLA HAS AWAKEN - abayarde
by UZ on May 20, 2010 3:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Right or wrong
That’s the way it is when the Bills have been irrelevant for so long… Reporters such as Clayton get sloppy with their research and go by here-say and unfortunately the here-say about the Bills is mostly negative.
We should contact Sean Salisbury——I’m sure he would take some $$$’s to give Clayton a beat down!!!
.
"I believe if Shoeless Joe Jackson were playing today, he’d have a shoe contract."
Don Mattingly, ‘95
Who called Clayton the cryptkeeper?
Was it Hoge? Salisbury? or McShay?
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on May 19, 2010 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Salisbury… right before he sent out the “Salisbury Steak” pics that got him fired. hahaha
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
"Salisbury Steak" pics
Classic—-LOL
"I believe if Shoeless Joe Jackson were playing today, he’d have a shoe contract."
Don Mattingly, ‘95
I read this Clayton article prior to Brian posting it. I toyed with putting it in a FanShot purely for the comedy value. It’s pretty amazing that a guy who covers the NFL had that many miscues regarding the Bills. The Jonathan-Scott-at-LG comment made me laugh giggle like a schoolgirl.
This further diminishes his credibility in my eyes (not that he had a ton to begin with). Additionally, I’m not real concerned with who had the best/worst off-seasons; I’m more concerned with how this team looks in December.
by Jeff Winters on May 19, 2010 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on May 19, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
rec'd....but my concern starts about mid October. By December the Bills usually have very little to be concerned about :-(
Show me the baby CHIX, and it better not look like the pool boy from our vacation at Club Jauron!!!!!
"I’m not sure if I disagree with this being the logic behind Nix’s decisions or if I disagree with this logic if it is what lead Nix to address the positions he did, but I definitely disagree with something." - kaisertown
Not true Joe
We get concerned in December that we might win an extra game and blow out our top pick and miss out on that stud QB. See the Colts game last year and similar in other years.
3 AM Monday morning games all 2010 - that's just freakin dandy !
The man has a point :-)
Show me the baby CHIX, and it better not look like the pool boy from our vacation at Club Jauron!!!!!
"I’m not sure if I disagree with this being the logic behind Nix’s decisions or if I disagree with this logic if it is what lead Nix to address the positions he did, but I definitely disagree with something." - kaisertown
Someone needs to explain to me
Why everyone feels the need to bend over backwards to be apologists for the media’s crapping on Buffalo regardless of if its factually accurate or not. Is John Clayton and Jason Cole our new overlords? Or are they just dudes making guesses and who have been wrong about things in the past?
Its not about him being wrong or right, its an opinion piece… But very shotty on the facts. He just wrote this piece without verifiying anything. Pretty poor journalism… thats why its any deal at all. Well for me anyways. I know some people have a “ESPN hates Buffalo” take on things… but this is more about getting facts straight.
If you’re going to call us the worst… at least be correct about it lol.
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
some facts are wrong
but the sad (true) fact is that, to a large degree, it is a situation the team created and continues to propagate.
Once the town tramp gets the reputation, it’s hard to live down, especially if she continues to boink every guy in town. Eventually, even guys who haven’t had her say they have. Who’s going to check?
And, it’s hard for her to complain about getting $%@#ed when she keeps doing it!
The future ain't what it used to be - Yogi Berra
Clayton's report is like reading a book with spelling errors
The book may have a great story to tell, but you’re wrapped around the spelling errors. I think Clayton is right: our OL and OLB need some help. But his facts are shoddy. Brandon Rodd shoddy.
Starting the official Buffalo "Draft Owen Marecic in 2011" campaign.
Have we had a "bad" offseason? sure, but any rebuilding team will have a bad offseason on their first year of a total rebuild.
What Bugs me a lot about both Clayton’s and Cole’s articles is that they seem to be written in a very tunnel vision manner. That is to say that they started writting the article with a pre-determined goal then just wrote things to back ups their claims. No fact checking, no in dept analysis and very little analisys at all. And then they decided (because I believe that it is a choice) to totally ingore any fact/signing/changes that might go against heir pre-determined opinion.
These guys are supose to be sports journalists and analists, not sports pundits. Articles like these just make me lose more respect for them with every word that they write.
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 19, 2010 4:58 PM EDT reply actions
Well, Clayton can't ride in my Whagon Blaster
until he makes up for this article. To not mention Dwan Edwards is, IMO, the worst part, right after the factual errors. I was neutral on Clayton until now……here’s a little wag of the finger…
So Nix decided to work on the pitiful run defense this off season. Not quite as sexy as an hyped up QB, but that is exactly what Clayton will have to acknowledge when the Bills notch some surprise wins this year. We might look back at these stories with amusement.
I would also guess this ranking would change if the Bills sign Gaither or Brown.
I drive a 2010 WAGON BLASTER w/TINTED WINDOWS & "Baby on Board!" Bumper Sticker
I also laugh at these articles
Its not just the inaccuracies, but its the clear overall lack of attention that the “analysts” put into their so-called predictions; especially when it comes to teams that have been Bills-like. No wonder nobody can ever predict the great turn-around team when they don’t even know who is going to play where.
I love seeing these articles, I don’t need it to temper expectations, but it would now be especially great if the Bills turned it around this year.
With the thugs that the Jets signed and the solid Veterans they let go, they could’ve easily dug their own grave this off-season. There are so many question marks going in, but I think if Schobel comes back, with our solid rotation on the d-line and play making secondary, our d could easily be top 15, and definitely better overall despite the switch to the 3-4. And if you play good d and run, there’s always a chance to win.
CHIX went out and got players they thought would help out right away, and are clearly placing faith in some younger players who haven’t really shown what they’ve had yet. I don’t think it was a great offseason, but surely not one of the worst.
Def can’t wait to watch the D this year at least, especially after seeing the article about Stroud getting fit for end, and, of course, all the Byrd highlights during the revote.
"Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they're bigger than everybody else, and that's what makes them the biggest guys on the field."
- John Madden
The “analysts” are too busy following the NBA, NASCAR, Tiger Woods, Lebron’s meltdown, etc. to focus on a team with lower advertising value. Now bring back OJ as an advisor through a prison work-release program and the Bills will be on the ESPN every day. We’d probably even usurp the Jets for the HBO “Hard-Knocks” series.
"They're Killin' Me Whitey. They're Killin' Me" -- Lou Saban
I think Clayton edited his article...
because every fact that has been called out here was corrected when I just read it.
"I don't agree with a damn thing you say, but I would die for your right to say it."
"If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it all over again."
I don't think it's Clayton making changes
It’s the editors and fact checkers that should have caught these problems in the first place. Some of the blame obviously should fall on Clayton’s shoulders, but there are editors that aren’t doing their job here either…..
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
This is also a good point.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on May 20, 2010 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions
It's become pretty chic to rag on the Bills, huh?
"To borrow a simile from the football field, we believe that men must play fair, but that there must be no shirking, and that the success can only come to the player who hits the line hard." — Theodore Roosevelt
by Chad Henne is Your New Bicycle on May 20, 2010 2:39 AM EDT reply actions
Of corse it has. It’s the popular thing to do right now so we should expect just about everyone to do it at one point or another soon. Let’s not orget, it’s rare that north american media actually thinks for itself. Once one media outlet has an interesting story, all media (including the originating one) repeat it at nausium until someone else has the balls to come up with a new story. Wash. Rince. Repeat.
Washington? Check. Pittsburg? Check. Boston or Philly? Wont be a problem. WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP BABY!!! GO HABS GO!!!!
by CanadianBillsFan on May 20, 2010 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions
RE: Brett Favre
Wash. Rince. Repeat.
"To borrow a simile from the football field, we believe that men must play fair, but that there must be no shirking, and that the success can only come to the player who hits the line hard." — Theodore Roosevelt
by Chad Henne is Your New Bicycle on May 20, 2010 4:29 AM EDT up reply actions
When hasn’t it been?
Go Rockies! First and only member of the Manuel Corpas fanclub right here! :/
Everyone's favorite Buffalo Rumblings Anti-Tebow blowhard!
THIS IS BUFFALO NATION GODZILLA HAS AWAKEN - abayarde
by UZ on May 20, 2010 3:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not sure if you can answer this question or not.
But how does the local Buffalo media paint the team’s current situation? I live in Massachusetts, so I only get vague, national opinions filtered through the pro-Jet/Patriot filters of ESPN.
"To borrow a simile from the football field, we believe that men must play fair, but that there must be no shirking, and that the success can only come to the player who hits the line hard." — Theodore Roosevelt
by Chad Henne is Your New Bicycle on May 20, 2010 4:28 AM EDT up reply actions
it has
and it irks me. Bills fans make fun of their team all the time, but it’s annoying to have outsiders chip in with their two cents. I’m sure Detroit is used to it so I guess I’ll get used to it if we keep missing the playoffs like we have been.
This space held in honor of Robert Royal known to his friends as "Sweet Cream Style Corn" March 11 2006- February 26, 2009
Clayton
Has been coasting for years. I mean really it’s like he doesn’t even care anymore.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
This is the problem with hyperbole...
Brian, I rarely disagree with you, but the lack of attention to detail really does invalidate his point. If you go to the point of making such claims, you have to at least come to the table with your most basic facts straight. The assertions he makes are based solely on his erroneous “facts.” To not even mention a very effective 16 game starter at LG in Levitre, a guy who has never played guard (to my knowledge anyway) in his 5 year NFL career in Scott, a first round pick in Wood, and a guy in Davis who’s spent about 9 years as solely an ILB are pretty egregious oversights if you’re going to go to the trouble of writing an article such as this.
If media pundits want to be down on the Bills because they don’t believe in our stable of QB’s or our LT situation, I completely understand that (though I agree to disagree respectfully). This article screams gross incompetence the likes of which is only equaled by Marshall Faulk somehow glossing over the fact that we had a 15 game pro-bowl caliber starter at LT in Jason Peters who’d somehow been replaced by Kirk Chambers as the incumbent.
Yes, Brian, you can argue with his points because they’re based in argumentative fallacy. The title doesn’t even have merit.
you realize
Your arguing with the mascot of Lemonheads. Sure Clayton could bother to do some fact checking, but we are Buffalo, a small team in a small city. He probably doesn’t care how accurate his articles are, he is there to speak in general-isms and collect a pay check, and probably hardcore Bills fans are the only ones who are going to notice.
I think the Bills had an adequate offseason, but a bad one in terms of “big names”. These sports reporters are only concerned with big names because they make big stories.
This space held in honor of Robert Royal known to his friends as "Sweet Cream Style Corn" March 11 2006- February 26, 2009
yes Clayton is off on some of his facts, however he makes a good point if you read his post on espn and not the tid-bits here! it’s crazy how optimistic everyone is on this site! I’ve been a bills Fan for 30 years now and I’m just sick to a point, hell I posted about a week ago about my frustration and no one and I mean no one was on my side! it’s crazy how Clayton, Yahoos sports analysis, and hell just about anyone who professionally has a opinion in sports thinks the bills will blow, but bills fans think we have a team that can actually compete for a playoff spot……now thats funny.. a playoff… if anyone thinks the bills will win more then 4 games you are more of a bills fan then me……
I can only speak for myself – I didn’t refute any of Clayton’s claims. I think ultimately he’s right, which I made very clear in the article.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on May 20, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
That's what being a Bills fan is.........
If there is a time of year to be loyally optimistic and have a ray of hope this is the time. Once the season starts there will be plenty of time to let reality sink in. With the rebuilding that is needed 5-11 sounds about right anything above I would consider an over achievement….
"I believe if Shoeless Joe Jackson were playing today, he’d have a shoe contract."
Don Mattingly, ‘95
Fanatic: a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal. That’s straight from the dictionary, so what if were unrealistic, that’s cause were fanatics
by eze on May 20, 2010 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I disagreed with much of what you said it that post, but I agree that they will only win a handful of games this year. I am okay with that however as they are rebuilding…that proper way this time…hopefully….
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
I would love someone to write a post explaining why this is more true now than in the past
I hope CHIX are rebuilding the proper way this time too, but drawing those conclusions now is “benefit of the doubt thinking” at best. Spiller could end up the RB version of Parrish,Troup could be the next McCargo, and Wang could suck….well, you know. I am in full “Show me the Baby” mode.
Show me the baby CHIX, and it better not look like the pool boy from our vacation at Club Jauron!!!!!
"I’m not sure if I disagree with this being the logic behind Nix’s decisions or if I disagree with this logic if it is what lead Nix to address the positions he did, but I definitely disagree with something." - kaisertown
well I added ….hopefully at the end for a reason. I have no clue if what they are doing will work out in the end, all I have is hope…it’s all any of us have, and some have more then others.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
I know.....it was meant as a general request. You're not the first one to say something close to this.
Show me the baby CHIX, and it better not look like the pool boy from our vacation at Club Jauron!!!!!
"I’m not sure if I disagree with this being the logic behind Nix’s decisions or if I disagree with this logic if it is what lead Nix to address the positions he did, but I definitely disagree with something." - kaisertown
what I said is almost what Clayton said but in different retrospect! and yea….were rebuilding……again!!!!!!!
by canesnbillsn1 on May 20, 2010 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
When were we rebuilding before? What a lot of people want the Bills to do this offseason; make splashy free agent signings, draft players based on need even if they don’t like the players… Doing that non-stop – that’s EXACTLY what has kept the Bills from being competitive and kept them mediocre the last decade. They’ve been desperately trying to avoid rebuilding by patching holes for a decade, which has led to a lot of offseasons where Bills fans have actually felt like the team would win next year… not such this season, and any fan should be OK with that.
Go Rockies! First and only member of the Manuel Corpas fanclub right here! :/
Everyone's favorite Buffalo Rumblings Anti-Tebow blowhard!
THIS IS BUFFALO NATION GODZILLA HAS AWAKEN - abayarde
by UZ on May 20, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Wilsonwants the Bills to be so bad that buffalo fans will wave good bye…. as the Buffalo Bills move off to L.A. and no we havent taken a shot at allot of those players for those who will say buffalo did!
Clayton didn’t say anything like that. You did, and I disagree.
with the 1st overall pick in the 2011 draft the buffalo bill select…..Jim Kelly….WTF!!!
Also WTF would end with question marks like this? not exclamation points.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
thanks for the English lesson, listen yes I’m being hard on the bills I still love them but its hard falling short every year that’s all. I would however feel more resilient if the bills were to sign Jerrod Gaither and try to acquire another QB….. but hey that’s just my opinion. but hey on the bright side we do have C.J.!
by canesnbillsn1 on May 21, 2010 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions
I know what you mean........
but Im never okay with losing.
"If we can put four quarters together, that's the objective. Let's see how somebody else feels playing from behind." (TWCS)
by norcaliangelsfan on May 20, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
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