Bills move on despite distraction of Peters’ holdout
PITTSFORD — The Buffalo Bills insisted the absence of the one Pro Bowl player on their offensive unit was no distraction on the first day of training camp.
At least until the Bills start playing games, that probably will hold true at St. John Fisher College. Left tackle Jason Peters began a holdout from camp due to the fact he wants a new contract.
“I think it will take care of itself,” said Bills guard Derrick Dockery, who plays next to Peters. “If you let it become a distraction, it will be. I look at it as an opportunity for the guys who are here to perfect their game and to get reps they wouldn’t normally get if Jason was here.
“I believe when Jason gets back, he’ll be ready. He’s one of the elite tackles in the game.”
Peters was one of three players absent from the first day of camp. Also missing were defensive tackle Kyle Williams, whose wife just had a baby, and first-round draft pick Leodis McKelvin, who remains unsigned.
“He’s definitely a key player,” Kelsay said of Peters. “He’s a Pro Bowl player. He’s a guy we’re expecting to be here. But it’s his business right now.”
There appears no quick end in sight to the holdout. The Bills do not want to negotiate with Peters unless he is participating with the club. Peters, who has three years left on a contract worth a maximum value of $4 million a year, wants to be paid like an elite tackle, not like the third-highest paid lineman on the team (his current ranking).
“We’d love to have him here, but from my perspective, I deal with the players that are here only,” said Bills coach Dick Jauron. “I wish he was one of them, but he’s not. I don’t have anything further to say about it. I don’t think it’s the right thing for a coach to be talking about guys who aren’t here, when all of these other guys are here and they’re working, they deserve my concentration.”
Said quarterback Trent Edwards: “I guess I’m too caught up in what I need to do to let that be a distraction. There are so many other issues that I have to face this season than to be concerned with an issue like that. Obviously, he’s a great player, he’s very talented, and hopefully he’ll be here.”
Peters is subject to a fine of $15,116 a day for holding out.
Asked if he felt angst over the absence of his big lineman, Bills Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon said: “There’s always angst. There’s angst every day with all of your guys. And Jason’s a big part of what we’re trying to do. But if he’s not here, then we’ll work around it and move on.”
Meanwhile, McKelvin was one of 14 first-round picks who remained unsigned as of Friday evening. However, both the player taken before and after McKelvin reached contract agreements. McKelvin was the 11th player taken overall.
The 10th pick, New England linebacker Jerod Mayo, signed a five-year deal worth a reported $18.9 million. It included a reported $13.8 million in guaranteed money. The 12th pick, Denver tackle Ryan Clady, signed for five years and $12.5 million. His reported deal includes $11.5 million guaranteed.
