COMMENTARY
Bills have upper hand with Peters
The message sounded all too familiar, a filthy rich athlete whining about not making enough money. Jason Peters’ protest over his contract with the Buffalo Bills didn’t exactly startle an organization that spent years listening to Bruce Smith’s annual blather about feelings of disrespect.
Bruce’s general approach was complaining about his contract, reminding everyone he was the best defensive end in football, finding reasons to skip large portions of training camp and reporting back to the Bills for the start of the season. It was Bruce being Bruce, greedy and selfish, always taking care of No. 1 before donning No. 78.
Ralph Wilson has been around the block a few times, knows every pothole on the street. He’s owned the franchise for nearly 50 years. He transformed the Bills from a $30,000 risk into a $760 million empire. He’s had terrific teams and terrible ones. But he always, always, did business on his own terms.
Obviously, Peters doesn’t know Ralph the way we do. He’s not a man with whom you want to play chicken, especially when he’s driving a tractor-trailer and you’re in a Pinto. Peters isn’t Bruce. He has neither the leverage nor the credentials to bully around the Bills.
If the intention is sending a message, Peters is going about it the wrong way. If he’s looking for a fight, he picked one of the toughest kids in the neighborhood. Clearly, the Bills aren’t backing down. If they buckled to him, players looking for new deals would be lining up along Jim Kelly Boulevard.
Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon made that perfectly clear last week when he stood firm going into camp. It doesn’t take a COO, a CEO, a CFO or a GOOF to see the Bills have the upper hand. If he plans to make another NFL dime, Peters best get his fanny to camp.
He should also redirect his anger. His contempt should be for his former agent, Vincent Taylor, who unlike management failed to see the potential in his client. The Bills should be given credit for locking up a prospect and molding him into a Pro Bowl left tackle.
Peters’ current agent, power hitter Eugene Parker, isn’t doing Peters any favors either by advising his client to stay home. Peters can sit and pout, but he’s not helping himself or his team. Every day away from training camp is another day of silence, another opportunity for someone else and another $15,000 down the drain. Today, he’ll move past $60,000 in fines for unexcused absences from training camp.
He’s not going to get much sympathy from people who would be thrilled to make $60,000 a year, let alone the $4 million he could collect this season if he hits his bonuses. The fact he’s willing to throw that much money away should be an insult to every person who socks money away just to watch him play.
Remember, too, that the Bills were the team that signed him out of college as an undrafted free agent and gave him an opportunity. Peters did his part, but where would he be without them? Perhaps he would be playing on another NFL team. It’s also quite possible he would be nowhere.
Nobody is asking for loyalty. Management is well-aware that Peters’ deal is well-below market value. My guess is the Bills would be willing to restructure his contract, give him a new deal commensurate with his ability.
Aaron Schobel’s contract was restructured when it had three years remaining. Terrence McGee signed a new deal. Brad Butler and Kyle Williams had previous contracts ripped up and replaced with better ones. None made a stink before reaching agreements.
Peters wants a new deal? Fine. Talks can begin when he shows up for camp. Until he arrives, the Bills can keep collecting from him.
