Stevie Johnson's Agent: "I'm Very Optimistic"

by Brian Galliford on Feb 24, 2012 6:20 PM EST in Buffalo Bills News

Select members of the Buffalo Bills' front office - headlined by lead contract negotiator Jim Overdorf - met with C.J. LaBoy, the agent to impending free agent wide receiver Stevie Johnson, in Indianapolis at the 2012 NFL Combine on Friday. Though a deal was not struck, LaBoy exited the meeting with encouraging words.

"We had a very productive meeting," LaBoy told Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News. "I'm very optimistic. I'm looking forward to continue talking."

Well, hey now. If LaBoy - the guy who has been floating "hometown discounts," "we haven't talked" and "we're still far apart" through the media - is optimistic, we may as well be, too. There's still no deal, but this is a notable shift in tone to the negotiation. That in itself is progress. The two sides still have a full ten days to hammer out a deal before the Bills are forced to decide whether or not they're going to franchise Johnson.

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Yay!

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Feb 24, 2012 6:26 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Pretty sure it will get done now

It sounds like they are coming closer. They carried over 20 million, restructured McGee’s contract and have all said they want him back. The only way he won’t be in Buffalo is if HE decides he doesn’t want to be back. If I were him I’d run from this franchise, but as a Bills fan of course I wan’t him here.

We look to be making better decisions as an organization and hopefully this is a step in the right direction. This will say a lot to the fans and about the franchise and what they are trying to accomplished if they can get this hashed out.

by csc06258 on Feb 24, 2012 6:31 PM EST reply actions

I approve this message

I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it! LET'S DO IT! - Venkman

by J2 on Feb 24, 2012 6:43 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

me too - welcome news!

This even grates my passive cheese - LeClaire Bill

by poz on Feb 25, 2012 3:52 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

re-sign steve

Get Mario, and draft Floyd.

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Feb 24, 2012 6:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions 5 recs

Who’s floyd

"They’re a very special group of men. Cherish them, you will not see their like again."

by chaucer on Feb 24, 2012 7:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

WR

by Mindbender14 on Feb 24, 2012 7:33 PM EST up reply actions

from ND

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Feb 24, 2012 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

ND is Notre Dame

by Mindbender14 on Feb 24, 2012 7:54 PM EST up reply actions

Who's =)

Please, Buddy Nix, recognize Michael Floyd's talent..

by KileyJ on Feb 25, 2012 1:52 AM EST up reply actions

I would love this

And posted it on another thread. I really hope it happens, however unlikely it may seem, we at least have a chance to make it happen.

"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes

by panekattack on Feb 24, 2012 7:39 PM EST up reply actions

Im down for that.

Lets Go Buff a lo!

by bflo on Feb 24, 2012 10:35 PM EST up reply actions

Giggity

"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 Feb 24, 2012 6:56 PM EST reply actions

sounds good...

but there is still no signed contract. nevertheless i feel more confident now…

by billssupporterfromeurope on Feb 24, 2012 6:56 PM EST reply actions

Liking where this is going.

I still don’t think that there will be a deal before the last week before free agency, but it’s a start!

Buffalo Rumblings
Where shoes are haute cuisine.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 24, 2012 7:06 PM EST reply actions

Still having Poz flashbacks from last year right now.

I’ll believe it (and be HAPPY!!!!!!!) when the deal goes down.

Make it happen Buddy.

"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Feb 24, 2012 7:09 PM EST reply actions

Always good to hear something positive.

The key thing to consider when worrying about the Bills resigning Stevie is that JerMichael Finley is the only really notable re-sign of any NFL team so far. The Bills have probably made the 2nd most significant re-sign so far with Rian Lindell. Things always go slow at first and then speed up as a deadline approaches. I remain confident that this deal gets done. Bell and Chandler are a little bit more of a mystery in my random guess of an opinion.

"You mean @TWHITNER. It’s how he prefers to be referenced." - Jon Harrington

by kaisertown on Feb 24, 2012 7:44 PM EST reply actions

From the beginning I’ve said that the Bills will re-sign Stevie. I think no other team knows what he can do and what he can’t as much as the Bills and I think him and his agent know it too. What he does in Gailey’s offense likely won’t be replicated at this level elsewhere. Also this year’s FA WR class is pretty darn good, top to bottom and I think if he doesn’t re-sign I think he’d be in that middle tier with Mario Manningham and I don’t think he’s getting more than 7 mil a year.

by Renegade23 on Feb 24, 2012 8:19 PM EST reply actions

Everyone procrastinates. If they’re going to get something done, it’ll be at the 11th hour. Same as what happened with the lockout. If the date to sign were moved up, they’d work quicker.

"Son. People can see you!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Feb 24, 2012 9:01 PM EST reply actions

no brainer

I, like most, for the past decade have not been able to understand how the bills do business. This move to me is about as logical as they come. Stevie wants to play for buffalo. If the bills don’t resign him, we easily would need two starting WRs. This move makes me smile and finally my logic has lined up with the bills front office logic. I’m liking buddy nix more and more. Go bills!

by fifbilliever64 on Feb 24, 2012 9:01 PM EST reply actions

after i read my post, i realized it came across as thinking the deal is done. I got too excited after reading this! haha, my bad

by fifbilliever64 on Feb 24, 2012 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

Git 'er done, OBD

Cuz there is a lot more FA wranglin’ to git to this off-season. But getting Stevie re-signed is the right starting point and it’s good to read positive language coming from his agent.

by wpod on Feb 24, 2012 9:26 PM EST reply actions

Sounds good.

I believe there is no excuse for the Bills not to resign him.

by NCblofan on Feb 24, 2012 9:50 PM EST reply actions

Encouraging news to say the least

Get it done and keep ’em coming. Would still like to see OBD pursue another WR in FA and continue to draft well (IMHO last years draft was great). We could start to see this thing turn around yet (hopefully).

by gfbillsfan on Feb 24, 2012 10:07 PM EST reply actions

Odds Maker

Stevie Johnson resigning is a done deal. Our real issue is a #2 reciever. If a trade or solid pick doesn’t pan out then we are left with a Peerless Pricetrade situation. Yeah he is.good but not so good.as to double team him and still north about our other wide outs.

by UConnMRB on Feb 24, 2012 11:31 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Johnson "Signing"

I’ve resorted to “I’m very optimistic”being words that have made my week,as,I’m a Bills fan.I’ll take it ANYway I can get it,I’m a Bills fan!lol.SJ#13 is staying a Bill.VERY Good news!I have a feeling,that this is THE year we make a run.Let’s resign the rest of our boys,take Floyd,then load up on pass rushers in following rounds.Oh,does anyone see us taking a shot at Avril?Anyway,ya look at it,the positives are out weighing the negatives,so far.Lol..I feel good to be a Bills fan tonight!It IS a NeW year!Go Bills!

by billsguy34 on Feb 25, 2012 12:50 AM EST reply actions

The official Agent-Speak Translator.

Stevie Johnson’s Agent: “I’m Very Optimistic”

Translation: After further negotiations, the Bills upped their counteroffer into the minimum range my client (S Jackson) is willing to accept. I will prove my worth to my client by improving these numbers over the next two weeks.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Feb 25, 2012 2:25 AM EST reply actions

AKA My client and I have not had much interest from other clubs so Stevie should stay with Bills at a discount price and remain with Fitzy and Chan.

by Joshroxx on Feb 25, 2012 5:44 AM EST up reply actions

Well, at this point in time, there wouldn’t be much interest from other teams for Stevie. If they did, it would be considered tampering.

Are we drafting Dino's now?
"6'6" monster receiver with a Terradactyl wingspan "....... Keysh67

by Billsfanstuckinthesouth on Feb 25, 2012 7:22 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

"I'm very optimistic...

…that my client will find better employment somewhere willing to pay for his services."

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Feb 25, 2012 9:30 AM EST up reply actions

Lou Saban

Where there is talk there is hope!

One of my Favorite Lou Saban qoutes…

“We’re at the crossroads…there’s no doubt about that. But you can get it done…you can get it done…what’s more you’ve GOT to get it done.”

It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you got to have is faith and discipline when you're not a winner.

Vince Lombardi

by Goose22 on Feb 25, 2012 8:59 AM EST reply actions

Great

SJ agent is optimistic, sounds like we’ll overpay and regret this great contract that we all wanted, except me.

I'm my most interesting man in the world. That Dos Equis dude is my valet. And the Bill's will win SB in my lifetime:) I Believe!

by buffalobacker on Feb 25, 2012 3:16 PM EST reply actions

Not sure if anyone else watched any combine today

but……..

Egnew? WOW.

I thought Cordy Glenn, Stephenson, and Gaddis were standouts to me. Adams lowered his stock (in my eyes) and while Decastro showed that he is a fairly polished product… Almost ALL of the guys out there are potentially capable guards, and a few of them might even have MORE upside.

"He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy."

~Socrates

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 25, 2012 8:34 PM EST reply actions

In which round is Egnew projected? Because if it’s in the 3rd, then I think he’d have a serious shot at replacing Chandler as our TE. I’m also thinking that the chances of Chandler returning to the Bills are decreasing.

Buffalo Rumblings
Where shoes are haute cuisine.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 26, 2012 7:19 PM EST up reply actions

he has bounced around some

because no one really knows how to value TEs.

The position is changing so much, that each team seems to regard them differently. It is really hard to say- but no matter what round (2-4) he just moved himself up at least some amount, because he was far and away better than many from a measurable standpoint.

I agree that Chandler is probably going to the highest bidder, no matter who that is. He wants at least ONE big payday, and might not get it here.

I would definitely think about him in the third, but we use so little of the TE position (hopefully that would change with a very good one, but I though Chandler played pretty well.)…

He is a steal in the later rounds (5-7)

His production is a bit of a question mark, but the TE (blocking/catching/H BACK) role changes so much throughout college and the NFL, that they seem to go where the team that wants them, is willing to take them. Anyone’s guess, is my guess.

"He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy."

~Socrates

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 26, 2012 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

seen him mostly as a third

and actually his production isn’t terrible. about 700 yards and 5 tds as a senior I think.

"He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy."

~Socrates

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 26, 2012 7:41 PM EST up reply actions

That's actually decent production as a College TE.

I’d consider him in the 3rd, but put a priority on DE if we didn’t nab Curry or Mercilus in the second.

And i personally don’t blame Chandler for going to the highest bidder. He’s already been cut by 4 different teams, and has only had one decent season in the NFL. This might be the only shot he gets at big money. I don’t blame him one second for taking it.

Buffalo Rumblings
Where shoes are haute cuisine.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 26, 2012 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

i agree on all points

not bad productivity (why i added to my post) and MAYBE in the third though for all we know Onunom/Brock could be very good TEs with some knowledge in our playbook already.

I don’t blame Chandler one tiny bit either.

"He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy."

~Socrates

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 26, 2012 8:13 PM EST up reply actions