Don't Panic
04-25-2007, 04:35 AM
http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2007/04/bills-couldacquire-larryjohnson250407.html
Given his all-world credentials, it won't be easy for the Bills to pluck Johnson from the Chiefs' roster. One thing the teams would no doubt look to is the 2002 Ricky Williams trade between the <ACRONYM title="New Orleans Saints News">New Orleans Saints</ACRONYM> and <ACRONYM title="Miami Dolphins News">Miami Dolphins</ACRONYM> . That deal saw Miami send its '02 first-rounder and an '03 third-rounder (which would have become a first-round pick had Williams accumulated over 1,500 rushing yards during the season) to the Saints. Ultimately, the 228-pounder fell short of the 1,500-yard mark, gaining 1,372, so the price the Dolphins ended up paying wasn't exorbitant.
Buffalo -- which has another major need at the linebacker position -- can ill afford to simply surrender its first-rounder (12th overall) straight up this year for Johnson. However, what G.M. Marv Levy could do is send the Bills' 12th pick (where the Chiefs could draft ex-Cal RB Marshawn Lynch), one of the team's two third-round choices (either No. 74 overall or the 92nd selection), and a conditional first-day pick in '08 to Kansas City for its first-rounder this year (No. 23) and Johnson.
In all honesty, that deal would be fair both sides. The Chiefs would lose Johnson and come away with three day-one draft picks in the next two years, and the Bills would receive arguably the game's second-best RB and could still grab a good linebacker in the first round, 11 picks later than they'd be able to now.
That's a deal I'd be willing to do... we could still have a shot at a guy like Beason (or Timmons) and the Chiefs would be able to get fair compensation, possibly earning a 1st next year if LJ blows it up again. Beason + LJ is better than any of the LB/RB combos we've seen proposed yet... even Briggs/Turner.
Given his all-world credentials, it won't be easy for the Bills to pluck Johnson from the Chiefs' roster. One thing the teams would no doubt look to is the 2002 Ricky Williams trade between the <ACRONYM title="New Orleans Saints News">New Orleans Saints</ACRONYM> and <ACRONYM title="Miami Dolphins News">Miami Dolphins</ACRONYM> . That deal saw Miami send its '02 first-rounder and an '03 third-rounder (which would have become a first-round pick had Williams accumulated over 1,500 rushing yards during the season) to the Saints. Ultimately, the 228-pounder fell short of the 1,500-yard mark, gaining 1,372, so the price the Dolphins ended up paying wasn't exorbitant.
Buffalo -- which has another major need at the linebacker position -- can ill afford to simply surrender its first-rounder (12th overall) straight up this year for Johnson. However, what G.M. Marv Levy could do is send the Bills' 12th pick (where the Chiefs could draft ex-Cal RB Marshawn Lynch), one of the team's two third-round choices (either No. 74 overall or the 92nd selection), and a conditional first-day pick in '08 to Kansas City for its first-rounder this year (No. 23) and Johnson.
In all honesty, that deal would be fair both sides. The Chiefs would lose Johnson and come away with three day-one draft picks in the next two years, and the Bills would receive arguably the game's second-best RB and could still grab a good linebacker in the first round, 11 picks later than they'd be able to now.
That's a deal I'd be willing to do... we could still have a shot at a guy like Beason (or Timmons) and the Chiefs would be able to get fair compensation, possibly earning a 1st next year if LJ blows it up again. Beason + LJ is better than any of the LB/RB combos we've seen proposed yet... even Briggs/Turner.