Bills say holdout Peters charts ‘a road map of silence’
PITTSFORD … Jason Peters was a holdout from Buffalo Bills training camp today as the team hit the field for its first practice.
Nevertheless, the Bills made it clear Thursday that Peters will have to be patient … and present … if he has any hope of getting a new contract.
That was the message from Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon on the eve of camp at at St. John Fisher College.
Brandon said talks on a new deal for Peters haven't even gotten out of the starting blocks. He also said, in so many words, they are not on the team's immediate agenda.
"To be very honest with you, it's really been a road map of silence to date," Brandon said regarding dialogue over Peters' situation.
"He hasn't been here to date," Brandon said, "and it's difficult to have discussions with someone who's not here and has elected to not participate in what we're trying to do."
Peters is determined to get a new deal because he has outperformed the one he signed just two years ago. By holding out of camp, Peters will incur a fine of $15,116 a day, which amounts to more than $105,000 a week.
The Bills still had one rookie unsigned as of Thursday evening … first-round pick Leodis McKelvin. Second-round pick James Hardy reached a contract agreement on Thursday.
While Peters' agent, Eugene Parker, also is the agent for Hardy, Brandon said the two sides barely have discussed Peters' deal.
"Very briefly with Eugene," Brandon said. "Everything's really been focused on James to date."
Peters, who made the Pro Bowl last season, stayed away from Bills practices all spring, including the three-day mandatory minicamp, due to displeasure over his contract. In July 2006, he signed a five-year deal worth a maximum value of $4 million a year. He still has three years left on that deal. However, he's now the third-highest paid lineman on the Bills' team. Peters is due to make $3.3 million this year.
"He opted not to participate in our mandatory minicamp .‚.‚. and has not been here during a majority, if not all, of our voluntary practices," Brandon said. "We made a commitment to Jason two years ago. We expect him to honor that commitment."
The lack of dialogue makes a holdout by Peters particularly surprising. But it's a sign of his displeasure.
Tennessee this spring signed left tackle Michael Roos, who is not Peters' equal, to an extension that pays him an average of $7.1 million a year.
Brandon did not rule out considering a new deal for Peters, but made it clear nothing is happening anytime soon.
"You never say never," Brandon said. "We have conversations with our guys all the time, and I think we have a proven track record of trying to get guys done and extend guys out. We've done it already this offseason with Kyle Williams and Brad Butler. We've done it with [Aaron] Schobel in the past and Terrence McGee. It's a long line of guys that we've done it with. But it's very difficult to have those conversations when the individual is not participating in your work."
Brandon said he has not talked to Peters since January.
"The last time was right after the season concluded and Jason was in to have a quick checkup coming off his surgery," Brandon said. "It was very cordial, like it always is with Jason. He's a wonderful individual."
Peters was fined $8,638 for missing minicamp.
"We feel we have something special going on here," Brandon said. "We play the ultimate team sport. It's not about individuals, it's about the team. We expect Jason to be here and to honor his commitment to the organization."
