Tweet
The ripple effect from the big contract receiver Larry Fitzgerald signed with Arizona last week will be felt in Buffalo.
Fitzgerald, a two-time Pro Bowler, became the highest-paid receiver in the NFL by signing a four-year, $40 million deal. Fitzgerald, 27, gets $30 million guaranteed. That eclipsed the extension New England gave to Randy Moss, who will get an average of $9 million a year over three years.
Fitzgerald’s deal is the latest escalation of the receiver pay scale, and it’s going to make it harder for the Bills to work out an extension with their No. 1 wideout, Lee Evans.
Bernard Berrian, who isn’t as good as Evans, got $16 million guaranteed from Minnesota on a six-year deal that averages $7 million a year.
Evans’ contract in effect runs out after the 2008 season. (He has the ability to void the last year of it, 2009, which he certainly will do.)
Put yourself in Evans’ shoes. He’s in a pass offense that has ranked in the bottom six in the NFL five years in a row. Would you really want to hitch your wagon to the Bills for another five or six years without seeing some concrete evidence — on the field in some regular-season games — that the Buffalo attack is going to escape from this black hole?
Wouldn’t you want to see some more evidence that Trent Edwards is “The Real Answer” at quarterback? Edwards showed promise as a rookie, for sure. But if he takes a step back this year, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel for the offense.
The Bills no doubt will try to convince Evans that this team is on the cusp of winning; that the head coach has great respect among the players; that the front office showed its commitment by making moves to bolster the defense; that new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert will make a big difference; that a draft choice (or two) will be the final piece of the puzzle.
Still, if I’m Evans, I’d want to wait until at least October to see some proof on the field.
This is one of the reason why signing guys is not as easy as some think it is.
Fitzgerald, a two-time Pro Bowler, became the highest-paid receiver in the NFL by signing a four-year, $40 million deal. Fitzgerald, 27, gets $30 million guaranteed. That eclipsed the extension New England gave to Randy Moss, who will get an average of $9 million a year over three years.
Fitzgerald’s deal is the latest escalation of the receiver pay scale, and it’s going to make it harder for the Bills to work out an extension with their No. 1 wideout, Lee Evans.
Bernard Berrian, who isn’t as good as Evans, got $16 million guaranteed from Minnesota on a six-year deal that averages $7 million a year.
Evans’ contract in effect runs out after the 2008 season. (He has the ability to void the last year of it, 2009, which he certainly will do.)
Put yourself in Evans’ shoes. He’s in a pass offense that has ranked in the bottom six in the NFL five years in a row. Would you really want to hitch your wagon to the Bills for another five or six years without seeing some concrete evidence — on the field in some regular-season games — that the Buffalo attack is going to escape from this black hole?
Wouldn’t you want to see some more evidence that Trent Edwards is “The Real Answer” at quarterback? Edwards showed promise as a rookie, for sure. But if he takes a step back this year, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel for the offense.
The Bills no doubt will try to convince Evans that this team is on the cusp of winning; that the head coach has great respect among the players; that the front office showed its commitment by making moves to bolster the defense; that new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert will make a big difference; that a draft choice (or two) will be the final piece of the puzzle.
Still, if I’m Evans, I’d want to wait until at least October to see some proof on the field.
This is one of the reason why signing guys is not as easy as some think it is.
Comment