Agent For Stevie Johnson Says No Recent Talks With Bills
by Brian Galliford on Jan 10, 2012 12:15 PM EST
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintIn a well-publicized press conference with local media on Monday, Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix said that the team had re-opened contractual dialogue with the representation for free agent-to-be receiver Stevie Johnson in the week since the close of the 2011 regular season.
Johnson's agent, however, denies that there has been recent dialogue about a potential contract for the fifth-year wide receiver.
"There have been no talks with Buffalo regarding Stevie's contract since months ago when they made us their 'final' offer," C.J. LaBoy told WKBW's Jeff Russo on Monday evening.
LaBoy's emphasis of the word "final" seems to suggest that the Bills cut off negotiations mid-season, while Nix said that it was Johnson's wish to temporarily end negotiations so that he could focus on the season. LaBoy, however, told WGR 550 almost two weeks ago that it was Johnson's wish to suspend negotiations after the team made another proposal following Ryan Fitzpatrick's extension. It appears to be something the two sides agreed upon mutually.
Johnson won't be a free agent for another two months, but this is just the latest blurb in an unfolding situation starring two sides that don't seem to be on the same page. What does remain clear, however, is that both sides want to get a deal done.
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Reminds me of students in middle school.
.
When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.
by Buffalo for Eternity on Jan 10, 2012 12:22 PM EST reply actions
To me, this really shows us the futility of listening to any of these reports, and that includes the press conference by Nix. Of course he said all the right things. The question is, will he do what he said? Same with Johnson.
Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!
Exactly.
They are interesting, but not very reliable usually. As with everything in the NFL, you just have to be patient and wait to see what happens.
I do look forward to the next 34 updates on Stevie’s negotiation status though ;)
"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop
I can not think of a reason talks have not started up yet. Obd deciding if they want him back despite what nix said at the press conference. For all we know nix just said what he thought people wanted to hear on about stevie
"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus
by matthew62 on Jan 10, 2012 12:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions
If they dont bring in stevie
They better do whatever they can to get V. Jackson.
"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-
They better keep Stevie...
but youre right. Although, he’ll cost more because hes better IMO, but without Stevie, we need a big FA aquisation and a big time WR prospect in the draft.
I hate that I love Buffalo.
yeah,
if your gunna hitch to Fitz, you better gove him some steller WR’s
"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-
Exactly.
The WR’s are going to make Fitz look better, not the other way around.
I hate that I love Buffalo.
The ones with ten-foot arms to catch some of Fitz’s more Tragic passes?
by PineWoodsBillsFan on Jan 10, 2012 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
Yep
That’s why they are going after receivers with big wingspans and a good high jump, like chandler. Dig out thos fitztragic throws from the dirt or over the head or behind the receiver.
Girls use hair spray, Men don't.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GROW UP BY NOT USING HAIRSPRAY MALES!
Don't be a Paully!
by The Buffalo Kid on Jan 10, 2012 7:34 PM EST up reply actions
what makes you think they will be willing to pay V Jax
if they aren’t willing to pay Stevie? Stevie has had back to back 1,000 yd seasons, wants to be here, and has a good relationship/chemistry with Fitz. His asking price of about $7.5 seemed pretty fair.
Now if Nix and the Bills are trying to play hardball and make him accept way less or walk, what makes you think that they would be willing to pay the large amount V Jax will most likely demand in F.A. and need to be convinced to even come to Buffalo.
That’s why I don’t like this situation. Get the Stevie contract done first THEN try to sign either V Jax or another guy, or of course draft a guy. Stevie’s contract wish seemed quite reasonable so I’m not sure why it hasn’t been done yet.
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
Resign him Please!
Just meet in the middle of what each side wants and get the deal done.
by SpiderWeb Sleeves on Jan 10, 2012 12:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I could see SJ not wanting to “settle”. If the Bills offer is $5.5MM and he wants $7.5MM (reported during season), why would he settle for $6.5MM? A team like the Steelers, for example, might be looking to replace Hines Ward who’s 33 and is in the last year of a $22MM contract. I could see several teams willing to part with $7.5MM, and despite what Stevie says about Fitz, that team might have a QB capable of making him a better deep threat, i.e. more yards, more exposure, bigger market, more image building all around. They might throw in a box of t-Shirts and some Sharpie’s, too.
"a play in which nothing happens, that yet keeps audiences glued to their seats". -Vivian Mercier - a description of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot"
According to Beckett, Godot was a metaphor for the Buffalo Bills :-)
I doubt the sticking points are a per year average myself.
It’s going to primarily be about the guaranteed money and the bonus structure along with the first 3 years of the deal average.
Look at Fitz’s contract as an example. Everyone reports it at the 10M per year average, but the Bills can walk away from most of it including most of the “guaranteed” money as early as this off-season.
Stevie’s camp is probably looking for more guaranteed money similar to Santonio Holmes deal (all of his salary is guaranteed next yr leaving the Jets in a pickle if they cut him).
Bottom line is no one has the details of the proposals. If someone did have those details and released them then they are doing so with an agenda which makes the info suspect at best. We just have to wait and see…As The World Turns: NFL…
"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop
tea leaves
If I had to wager on how this ends, I’d predict that Buffalo lets Johnson walk and spends the 10th pick of the draft on Jeffery or Floyd. Both sides can say all they want about wanting to reunite, but the lack of communication this late in the game says much more. I don’t think Johnson is happy being under the radar in Buffalo and I don’t think Nix believes he’s worth the asking price. I’d hate to see Buffalo use the 10th pick on simply replacing a player rather than upgrading the roster, but it would be typical of them to do so and that’s how I predict this will play out.
"There's only one C.J. Spiller." -Buddy Nix
by Port Royal on Jan 10, 2012 1:09 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Completely agree
The other question: does Buddy even know what the daily or weekly dialogue is? It was stated before that the Overdorf (?) does most of the negotiations. Has anyone asked Buddy how much input he has over FA, re-signs, etc..?
I'm positive Nix has been updated on the status of talks with all FA's by Overdorf.
Just because he doesn’t handle the negotiations himself doesn’t mean he isn’t kept up to date on them. He’s a General Manager which means, as with most managers, he keeps tabs on all aspects of the business even though he won’t be directly involved in each one, there’s simply too much to be done.
"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop
@Port Royal
It’s not late in the game. Late in the game is when the calendar turns to March. There is plenty of time to do a deal.
by phaze1 on Jan 10, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back...
Boatloads of money available under the salary cap. One of the lowest payrolls in the National Football League. One of your best players who has an outstanding rapport with the QB you just gave millions to is a free agent. Let him walk.
This is why Buffalo is a perpetual basement dweller folks. Is Stevie a diva? Yes. He’s a talented wide reciever, almost all of them are divas. You don’t find many Hines Ward’s out there. Is he immature? Yes. He’s young and he’s trying to make a name for himself. Is he a bad teammate? Is he a TO-style cancer in the lockeroom? Absoluetly not! He bleeds Buffalo blue, he’s a leader in the lockeroom, and by all account his teammates love him.
None of this matters, though. This is Buffalo, we don’t pay our stars. We haven’t done so in over a decade and until either Ralph dies or the salary floor kicks in (next season, is it?) that is not going to change.
At least it’ll work out for Stevie. Come this time next season he’ll be suiting up a 49ers uniform for his first NFL playoff game while Bills fans are discussing who will be our new GM and coach are going to be and who we should draft in 2013 to replace Stevie Johnson and kickstart our offense.
Is Stevie a diva?
Stevie Johnson is in NO WAY a diva. Divas complain and whine, SJ does comedy routines.
by PineWoodsBillsFan on Jan 10, 2012 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
Forward, Than Two Back
Typical Bills franchise move. Why delay if SJ’s the man? Playing hardball with the little talent we have! How so old! RW came out and said we need TE’s and WR’s that can catch. Meaning “go away SJ were not gonna pay for any talent any time soon”. Hence build thru draft and sign only low level talent, perfect.
Alll Things Considered Bill's Franchise Is Consistent:)
by buffalobacker on Jan 10, 2012 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
Hate to say it, but I hear ya bro. Right on, but under Nix it seems like some work is actually getting done in regards to keeping our good players locked up. Either way, past is past…if they don’t bring Stevie back then I’m with ya. Wait and see, if they aren’t able to lock up Stevie – it will be a big blow to the progress this regime has/will make.
I thought Nix was a straight shooter?
Everything about this situation on both sides is fishy in my mind. Especially the agent coming out and saying he’d sign for $7.5m.
Limited time only! Spend $50 & get free S/H w/ code "SHIPFREEUS"
Who says he's not? The agent with an agenda even larger than Nix's
I don’t know if I’d call it “fishy”, but I would just call it static. There will be all kinds of info released that ultimately will matter nothing.
I will only care what is reported when he signs a deal, with us or another team. The rest is standard, and silly, negotiating tactics by both sides.
"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop
by lonestar_ak on Jan 10, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Which if this is actually true...
Especially the agent coming out and saying he’d sign for $7.5m.
… and we have no reason to believe it isnt, since hes gone on radio saying it…
Then it would be an absolute shame if he isnt re-signed. Thats not that much when you think about what WR’s make in the NFL that have done way less than him. Back to back 1000 yards seasons, get it done OBD.
I hate that I love Buffalo.
Everything about this situation on both sides is fishy in my mind. Especially the agent coming out and saying he’d sign for $7.5m.
And the bean counters say $5.5 mil……..otherwise draft another one.
Girls use hair spray, Men don't.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GROW UP BY NOT USING HAIRSPRAY MALES!
Don't be a Paully!
by The Buffalo Kid on Jan 10, 2012 7:38 PM EST up reply actions
Stevie's not going anywhere
I just can’t see them letting a talented up and coming WR walk when they have already admitted they need to add more to the position with him on the team.
Nix doesn’t seem like a smoke blower and I billieve him when he says they are trying. I don’t trust Stevies agent’s comments I feel like he is just trying to gain some leverage on the situation, a classic Rosenhaus (did I spell that right?) tatic, agent 101. Also most of the FAs they have let walk have all said they don’t want to be in Buffalo and had piss poor attitudes, Stevie doesn’t and has repeatedly said he wants to stay.
My prediction Stevie will be back with the Bills and have a new contract before free agency starts, I think we see a lot potential FA’s signing between the end of the Super Bowl and the begining of FA, but I have been wrong before.
I just can’t see them letting a talented up and coming WR walk when they have already admitted they need to add more to the position with him on the team.
You do realize this is the Bills?
Ted Washington
Eric Moulds
Antoine Winfield
Pat Williams
Nate Clements
Jason Peters
Once bean counter overdorf establishes what the Bills will pay, you either take it, or you are gone.
Girls use hair spray, Men don't.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GROW UP BY NOT USING HAIRSPRAY MALES!
Don't be a Paully!
by The Buffalo Kid on Jan 10, 2012 7:42 PM EST up reply actions
Ok I'll bite
Antoine Winfield- talented corner, sucked he left
Eric Moulds-Over the hill when he left
Ted Washington-Mistake when he was let go
Pat Williams-Mistake to let go
Nate Clements-Horridly overpaid by the niners
Jason Peters-Had already been renegotiated once, and forced his way out of Buffalo.
So by my count 50 percent of the players named were, a mistake to let go. But 50 percent it was a good decision. So lets call it a draw.
flayed ones stealth mode
"Fleshling! Do not shoot! For I am one of you fleshy things. It is I. Your Uncle Stan. Can't you tell by the long strips of fleshy substances covered in bodily fluids? Trust me! I have fleeeeeeeeesh."
I'd add to that list
Ruben Brown, Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher, Lawyer Milloy….all may have not left as F.A.‘s but due to their contracts the Bills just didn’t want to pay them anymore.
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
witch to be fair is a whole different story
.
“….all may have not left as F.A.‘s but due to their contracts the Bills just didn’t want to pay them anymore.”
and how far back is it fair to go when blaming past failures on the current GM.
Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.
by jbbillfan on Jan 11, 2012 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not blaming the current GM
I’m blaming the Bills entire organization as a whole. If Nix gets the deal done and resigns Stevie then great, finally we will have seen some change and the team is actually committed to retaining it’s star players that produce. If not then it’s the same old Bills who keep creating holes that don’t need to exist (and most of that blame would probably go on Ralph the owner who makes the final decisions). But until a deal actually gets done I will remain skeptical because as history shows this team likes to let players who produce walk, and then replace them with a new draft pick. Then we wonder why we haven’t improved and continue to be out of the playoffs year after year.
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
+1 JBB
The only “good” player that have walked since Buddy got here was Poz.
Only because the stupid Jags overpaid.
"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.
by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jan 11, 2012 7:30 PM EST up reply actions
Letting Stevie walk would be stupid. There is no reason they shouldn’t resign him. $7.5m/year is very reasonable. Ralph needs to stop remembering the days when you could buy a zillion acres for a nickel and release his white-knuckle grip from his coin purse.
by SiriusRed on Jan 10, 2012 2:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Is it bad that my 4 year old can act more maturely than this?
Enough with the he-said-i-said BS. JUST GET THE DEAL DONE!
by CanadianBillsFan on Jan 10, 2012 2:37 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Reminds me of the Poz situation
Sure we got the upgrade…in Barnett but..in this case if Stevie isn’t resigned…i may have to depart this franchise for sanity’s sake…i can’t justify creating a gap and filling it again…
Fast forward to March 25th.........
Buddy. “Wahl, we wahnd’t to sihgn Stevie, but we jus coudn’t cum toogather onna fare deel. Dat’s why we went an got dis guye Ray Meachum. I think he will be jus as good an we gottem signed at bottum dollur rate. It whas a win-win for evrbody.”
"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.
by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jan 10, 2012 8:22 PM EST reply actions
he'll be back
might be some drama between now and training camp but he’ll be back. looking at the FA pool at WR I say he’d be hard pressed to get a bigger deal with another team. only place I see him landing is SD and that’s only if they keep jackson. not to mention it would make sense to franchise him if agent plays hard to get. and meachem would look great in a bills uni.
Too many here are giving this franchise too much credit.....
This franchise has eff-ed up so many things since I’ve been following them, it’s unbelievable. To give them the benefit of the doubt in this case…..they simply don’t deserve it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a “new regime” or any other variables you can come up with. It’s still the Bills, it’s still Ralph Wilson.
If they do the right thing, and complete a deal with Stevie, I will acknowledge that they were successful. Until then, I expect the worst……and the history of this team shows, more often than not, that is what will happen.
Leslie Michael Jasper - 2013 All-Pro NT.
by Home Run Throw-up on Jan 11, 2012 12:40 AM EST reply actions
Fixed that for you, no need to thank me. =)
If they do the right thing, and complete a deal with Stevie, I will shut up and quit gripping about everything this team does.
Not inteded as a slam on you. Just a comment in general to the whole negative vibe this site has of late.
Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.
The irony is the fact all this info is being shared with the media means negotiations are going on, even if they aren’t “on-going”. When they say they aren’t talking or they are talking someone is sending a message. We just aren’t at liberty to know the precise context.
I have low expectations. But high hopes.
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