Wishful thinking
The end of the holdout by St. Lous Rams running back Steven Jackson in no way has any connection with the holdout of Bills tackle Jason Peters, aside from the fact they're represented by the same agent, Eugene Parker. The Rams back in July had offered Jackson a massive new contract, so the two sides never were very far apart in the holdout. The Bills aren't even at Square One in negotiations with Peters, which is to say they won't negotiate until he shows up (and they don't intend to give him new money this year at all). So the stare-down continues.
---Mark Gaughan
IT'S MY MONEY...... AND I NEED IT NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!
Posted by: CrybabyPeters | August 24, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Isn't anybody else mad at Peters? I know I am! This childish no call, no show tactics is backfiring on him. It reminds me of just how much a premadonna these players are and thier crybaby tactics wanh wanh wanh I want more money. Holding teams hostage for a kings ransom in the process. Now, if he switched positions to a more lucrative one, why wasn't there a provision in his contract to nullify the agreement of said contract to be negotiated had this occured? Why would he sign an agreement for five years if he didn't like it? Why wasn't it looked over by a lawyer, isn't that standard procedure. Don't blame the Bills for his stupidity. But, I do blame him for not living up to his end of it. Yes, he is underpaid, but if he wanted to send a signal, he has sent the wrong one! Does he think he is Bruce Smith? It will take many more years of solid performance and consistency for me to even mention him in the same hierarchy. He needs to get his butt in camp, he is letting down his team, his teamates and fans by holdng out. Not only that, he is doing himself a disservice by not getting in reps he needs and in game form. Even if he does come back tomorrow he won't be ready to play. This is a joke and so is he for not being a man. I have lost all respect for him. I say let him rot. Don't sign any deal this year and make him prove his self for the money he deserves now. If he had came to camp and been a trooper he probably would allready have a deal or in the works. Forcing the issue and making owners and the coaching stafff angry proves nothing except that your all about the money. Well Mr Peters, it's up to you to right the ship but continuing on in this fashion is mutiny. You are not the captain so stop acting like Tenile.
Posted by: MadBillsFan | August 24, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Don H. needs a lesson in Journalism. Reporters can call athletes and agents til the cows come home, but that doesn't mean the athletes and agents will answer their phone or return phone calls. Besides, it does neither side any good to negotiate in public. You didn't hear Steven Jackson talking to the St. Louis media during his holdout, did you? Don H., instead of bashing the News, you should bash Peters and his agent for their silence.
Posted by: Jake | August 23, 2008 at 02:50 PM
The longer Peters is not with the team, the more concerned I am. I feel the Bills should have done more to engage Peters in renegotiation talks. I know they like for players to be in camp to discuss renegotiation, but I think they should have made an exception at this current time. This is a critical year for the Bills. This is Jauron's 3rd year at the helm. Many of the players who were on IR last season are back. New offensive coordinator. Nationally respected NFL analysts are looking at the Bills as a surprise team in the AFC and could make the playoffs. For that to happen, they need all their weapons in the right mind and in the right physical condition. What makes Peters' situation weird is that he hasn't been heard from publically. The Cards' Anquan Boldin is having his contract squabbles right now and he has been vocal about his disappointment. You can't say that about Peters. The Bills open the season against the Seahawks. They finished with 45 sacks last season. They have one of the best defensive ends in football in Patrick Kerney, who had 14.5 sacks in 2007. The Bills' offensive line strength in '07 was their pass protection and Peters was at the heart of that. I can't see Langston Walker at LT being able to hold up to a defensive end the caliber of Kerney for an extended period of time. They need Peters back soon.
Posted by: abdul | August 23, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Don H,
I'm still not sure what you expect the News to do: ask who? Peters and his agent aren't talking. That's just a fact. You think media outlets aren't trying to contact them? Local media has tried. National media has tried. Parker and Peters are not talking, that's their strategy and it's not all that unusual.
On the other side, Jauron and Brandon are peppered with questions about Peters every time they speak to the media and they always say the same thing: "We wish he were here," yada, yada, yada. That's also not a coincidence, that's how these types of standoffs and negotiations often work. These things are seldom (more accurately, never) above board. This is an obvious point, but you don't seem to consider it.
Despite all this, there have probably been a half dozen articles about the Peters holdout since it began and each one is as dull as the last because there's nothing to report: Peters and his agent won't talk and the Bills organization has stuck to its message.
Adam
Posted by: Adam | August 22, 2008 at 10:34 AM
What would be nice is if he "actually showed up and honored his contract" before any negotiations take place! The real question is.....
#1) Has he recovered from offseason surgery to even be able to play?
#2) Is he in game shape?
#3) Why wasn't there a provision in his contract that if he switched positions on offense to a more lucrative position that he be paid accordingly or entitled to a new contract being drawn up if this occured.
I can see his reasoning, but it's not the Bills fault that he has not made a reasonable attmept to conatct them. They are in the right here and if he is to get a new contract he must prove himself a man and show up first. The season is 17 days away and he needs to be here ASAP!
Posted by: Kevin S. | August 21, 2008 at 09:45 PM
If the only issue with Peters is money, I would think he would want as much publicity as possible to put his case before the public and generate more heat on the Bills. That's why he would want to talk to the media. Something else seems to be going on here. All we're getting is silence from Peters and the Bills. It would be nice if the NEWS started asking more questions.
Posted by: Don H | August 21, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Peters and his agent haven't been talking to anyone. Peters has hardly talked to his teammates since the season ended. This has been well reported. What do you expect the Buffalo News to do?
Posted by: Adam | August 21, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Peters and his agent haven't been talking to anyone. Peters has hardly talked to his teammates since the season ended. This has been well reported. What do you expect the Buffalo News to do?
Posted by: Adam | August 21, 2008 at 11:48 AM
If Peters isn't talking to the Bills, why would he talk to the media? What more could he say anyway? He wants more money... what other kind of "digging of facts" could there be? Any questions would be the ones both the media and Bills would want answered.... since he wasn't participating in offseason stuff, what's his weight, his recovery from sports hernia operation, what in shape he is? Do you think he would pass those along to any media outlet? He wouldn't, as I suspect these are the questions the Bills need answered before they lay any cash down on the one pro bowl year he had.
Posted by: BuffaloGal | August 21, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Why hasn't the NEWS contacted Peters or his agent to get more information on this holdout? I thought good news reporting involved digging out the facts and passing them along to readers.
Posted by: Don H | August 21, 2008 at 10:07 AM