CHRIS KELSAY: “Hopefully it won’t be too long before he’s on the field”
Peters ends long holdout
But All-Pro tackle won’t play Sunday
Cooler heads finally prevailed in the confounding Jason Peters affair.
The Buffalo Bills’ Pro Bowl left tackle informed the organization Friday that he will report for work today and end a 43-day holdout.
Peters will not be in uniform for Sunday’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. However, his return eliminates the biggest cloud that has been hanging over the organization all summer.
“It is our understanding that Jason has filed a reinstatement letter with the National Football League and that he is reporting to One Bills Drive tomorrow morning,” said Russ Brandon, Bills chief operating officer, in a statement.
The announcement is an emotional lift for the team just 72 hours before the season begins.
“We’re excited,” said Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay. “Obviously, it has been a difficult time for the organization and for Jason. But he’s coming back, and we’re excited to have a player of his caliber back with us. Hopefully it won’t be too long before he’s on the field.”
The NFL is likely to grant the Bills a two-game roster exemption for Peters. That means the Bills will have a two-week window in which to let him practice without having to release someone from the 53- man roster to make room for him. Barring a physical setback Peters could be in the lineup for the Week Two game at Jacksonville or the Week Three home game against Oakland.
Peters’ return ensures that he will not automatically forfeit his first game check. Peters is due to receive $3.25 million in base pay this year. That is paid out in 17 installments of $191,176 throughout the regular season.
Peters is rejoining the team without any contractual concessions from the Bills’ front office, according to league sources. However, it’s expected both the Bills and Peters’ representatives will conduct dialogue throughout the season on extending his contract, which still has three years remaining. Peters’ signed a renegotiated deal with the Bills that pays him a maximum value of $4 million a year in July 2006.
Peters has held out because he wants an increase on that deal. He is the third-highest paid lineman on the team, behind guard Derrick Dockery ($7 million a year) and tackle Langston Walker ($5 million a year).
Had his holdout stretched into the regular season, it’s believed Peters would have been the first NFL player to hold out with three years remaining on his contract since the salary cap era started in 1993. Only one veteran player since then has held out the entire regular season. That was Sean Gilbert, who stayed away from the Washington Redskins in 1997.
Peters forfeited a $50,000 workout bonus by skipping all offseason conditioning work. He also was fined $8,638 for missing mandatory minicamp. He was subject to a fine of $15,116 a day since the start of training camp. That would total $649,988 in fines for the 43 days he has missed. However, it’s doubtful he would be fined that amount. It’s common practice for teams to negotiate a significant settlement on fines with holdout players.
The Bills are short-handed at tackle for the opener. Walker is taking Peters’ place at left tackle. Kirk Chambers will make his second career start at right tackle. Behind them at tackle is rookie seventh-round draft pick Demetrius Bell. Chambers will line up across from Seattle’s left defensive end Patrick Kerney, who was second in the NFL in sacks last season with 14.5.
With Peters, however, the Bills believe the offensive line is one of the strengths of the team. While the Bills’ offense struggled throughout last season, the team did improve in rushing yards from 27th to 15th in the NFL. And the Bills improved in protecting the quarterback — in sacks allowed per pass attempt — from 30th to 13th.
Had Peters held out the entire season, he still would have had three years remaining on his contract.
