Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

[ghz in pittsburgh]

UPDATE MONDAY 6:21 PM EST

Free agent WR Bryant Johnson wants to sign with the Buffalo Bills but at the moment, it's not a mutual feeling. A team source told Scout.com that there are personnel evaluators with the club that aren't convinced that he's the best fit for the team. Despite that, it's not out of the question that he eventually signs with Buffalo.

Johnson is expected to visit the Washington Redskins and possibly the Chicago Bears later this week. A league source notes the Tennessee

The Bills are in phase II of their plan. Can we guess what's the difference between phase I and II?

My take is that "must haves", the ones they need but won't be available from the draft, should be the guys they target in phase I.

Phase II are guys they'd like to fill but maybe able to get from the draft. It would not be far fetched that they can draft a WR who will be eased into the #2 spot, kind of like Evans when he was drafted.

I felt maybe Bryant Johnson is in that category: the Bills are not all convinced that he's the guy.

If they sign a #2 receiver, you can bet the #1 pick will be a corner. They need a true #1 there.

I'm still bummed that they haven't addressed the center position yet. Yes they addressed the OL last year (and DL this year), but some work left unfinished at the center position.

[raphael120]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

If the Bills didnt want him to begin with then why would they bring him in?

It's not that they dont want him, they probably want him but arent willing to pay the price.

[Tatonka]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

i dont care if we sign johnson at this point to be honest.

[Mitchy moo]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

If the Bills didnt want him to begin with then why would they bring him in?

It's not that they dont want him, they probably want him but arent willing to pay the price.

Like I said, he maybe looking for a big hit.

[don137]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

I have not seen enough video of the guys to form an opinion one way or another. I know he should be paid like a #2. I think he may be one of the best options out on the market and I am sure his price has dropped since the opening of free agency.

[ghz in pittsburgh]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

That's my understanding of Phase II: you negotiate to protect yourself. For Phase I guys, yu try to get them signed, period.

[Ultra Chimp 1]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

It all depends on who the Washington Redskins think is better...DJ Hackett or Bryant Johnson.The good news is theres a good chance of either Hackett, or Johnson finding himself Buffalo. So that's not all bad.

OBD can afford to let Johnson wait. Washington can as well. Thing is though, I havent really heard Hackett visiting with any team. But I do know Ive read Washington wants Hackett or Johnson. The skins need a big WR as bad as we do.

Worst case scenario (I hope) is we end up with Hackett.

Like Ive said before, Hackett is by far a superior wide receiver than Bryant Johnson. When he is healthy, he is a streaky mutherf ucker.

Evans and Hackett would make a far far greater tandem than Johnson and Evans ever would.

I suspect thats why the Bills let him walk. It doesn't answer Hackett has not visited with us or the Skins yet.

I'd be happy with Johnson as long as we still drafted WR in the first (hopefully James Hardy, Limas Sweed or Malcom kelly) I think thats a must move from us regardless if we sign Hackett or Johnson.

If Hackett or Johnson don't pan out, we 'd have covered our asses by selecting a WR in 2008.

[raphael120]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

I say we just get Evans signed long term and draft a guy who will probably in the long run be a better #2 than Johnson or Hackett ever will be. But the downside is that WR we draft is not going to make a huge impact from the get go. Johnson or Hackett have a better chance of impacting in Week 1.

[Mski]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

I say we just get Evans signed long term and draft a guy who will probably in the long run be a better #2 than Johnson or Hackett ever will be. But the downside is that WR we draft is not going to make a huge impact from the get go. Johnson or Hackett have a better chance of impacting in Week 1.

why can't we do both?

[raphael120]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

why can't we do both?

Well it's a hypothetical....we most likely couldn't do both because of money issues. Which is why I think it's taking so long for us to hear something.

All these other teams are locking up their own guys, we need to do the same with Evans (maybe Crowell) and really see how much we can spend once that is accounted for.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

Screw it.

See what Hackett wants for money. If he takes less than Johnson wants, we sign him. Otherwise we just draft Kelly or Sweed in the first, John Carlson in the 3rd, and sign Ben Troupe.

Stop with this back and forth BS.

[kernowboy]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

Why are people so up on James 'I beat my girlfriend and infant son' Hardy, Limus 'I have a dodgy wrist requiring a number of surgeries' Sweed or Malcolm 'I'm scared I'm slow so won't run the combine' Kelly?

I'd rather look to draft one of the top 3-4 corners in R1 which is another need and then draft a WR later.

[DraftBoy]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

Why are people so up on James 'I beat my girlfriend and infant son' Hardy, Limus 'I have a dodgy wrist requiring a number of surgeries' Sweed or Malcolm 'I'm scared I'm slow so won't run the combine' Kelly?

I'd rather look to draft one of the top 3-4 corners in R1 which is another need and then draft a WR later.

Your Berman needs some work

[Dr. Lecter]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

I'd be happy with Johnson as long as we still drafted WR in the first (hopefully James Hardy, Limas Sweed or Malcom kelly) I think thats a must move from us regardless if we sign Hackett or Johnson.

If Hackett or Johnson don't pan out, we 'd have covered our asses by selecting a WR in 2008.

I will disagree here just because WR is so deep this year. If the sign either guy (And I prefer Hackett too, but understand the injury concern), then WR can be selected in the 2nd or 3rd while taking a CB in the 1st.

[Ultra Chimp 1]

Re: Maybe the Bills are not that convinced about Bryant Johnson

A cornerback in round one?

No thanks, I'm sick and tired of drafting secondary guys only to give them away once they get too good. It'd be a waste of a draft pick.

Besides, I liked our secondary last year. They won us some big games in 2007 and prevented us from getting blown out in some.

Like I said, CB is a waste of a round one pick.