By Tim Graham
Stevie Johnson was recruiting free agents to join the Buffalo Bills a couple weeks ago.
Now it sounds like he's begging.
ESPN reporter Josina Anderson tweeted a comment from Johnson, who wanted to relay a message to recently released Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.
"Tell DHB come be a Bill," Johnson told Anderson. "He was stepping into that role of playmaker for his team. With me opposite him the game will be simplified a ton so he can ball out. Not that I think he needs that wide receiver opposite him anymore, but given the situation I think it'll benefit us all."
Heyward-Bey, the seventh overall draft choice in 2009, was Oakland's fourth-leading receiver last season with 41 catches for 606 yards and five touchdowns.
His best season was 2011, when he caught 64 passes for 975 yards and four touchdowns.
Johnson told me recently he had given a sales pitch to three players whose contracts were expiring: Kansas City Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe (re-signed with KC), Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings (free agent) and San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson (free agent).
Johnson told the NFL Network last week he also had reached out to St. Louis Rams free-agent receiver Brandon Gibson. They share the same agent. Gibson reportedly has meetings scheduled with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
tagged
2013 free agency | Brandon Gibson | Darrius Heyward-Bey | Dashon Goldson | Dwayne Bowe | Greg Jennings
