Pride
04-30-2003, 03:25 PM
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
POSTED 6:42 a.m. EDT, April 30, 2003
MCGAHEE, BILLS ALREADY FLIRTING?
Three days after the Bills shocked the NFL world by picking Miami RB Willis McGahee in round one of the draft, it sounds like both sides already are maneuvering toward a contract.
According to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Bills G.M. Tom Donahoe says that the team won't use McGahee's knee injury as leverage. "We’ll be fair to Willis," Donahoe said. "We hope his agent will be fair with us."
McGahee's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, also is sounding reasonable, indicating that he's willing to work "something out with them relating to [McGahee’s] progress and rehabbing of the injury."
In our view, there's no reason for the Bills to offer anything more or less than that which the 23rd overall pick should receive -- and McGahee likewise should expect nothing more or less in return.
After all, the injury factor already has hit McGahee in the wallet by causing him to drop by 20 spots in round one. Regardless of his knee, he still was the 23rd guy off of the board, and he should be paid that way.
And for the Bills, this is hardly a short-term arrangement. Donahoe drafted McGahee not because the team wants extra depth at the tailback position in 2003 and 2004, but because the franchise considers McGahee to be their next Thurman Thomas.
Tom Donahoe is a smart guy. Even if McGahee contributes this season (and we think his long-term interests are served by not playing until '04), Donahoe surely was impressed by the ambition, drive, focus, and maturity that McGahee displayed as he put his face into the grindstone and worked through a tough rehab with no self-pity or complaints.
In the rookie evaluation process, the one tool that no NFL team has is a window into a guy's heart. And McGahee showed Donahoe -- and anyone who bothered to notice -- that, over the long haul, he's willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.
Although we've taken our share of shots at Drew Rosenhaus over the past month or so, we've been very impressed by the level of loyalty and support that Rosenhaus has displayed for his client. The guy believes in and fights for his clients. Sure, those qualities will tend to piss off from time to time the front-office types who don't want to pay Rosenhaus's clients the amount of money that Rosenhaus wants. But even the things that some folks have labeled as goofy -- such as making an in-house phone call to McGahee in order to create the impression that he was on the horn with an NFL team -- are proof positive that Rosenhaus has a true passion for his clients' interests.
In the end, everyone wins on this one. McGahee gets a first-round deal and a long-term home. The Bills have a budding Hall-of-Famer to go with Bledsoe and Moulds.
And we think it'd send a great statement to the rest of the league if both sides get a deal done ASAFP.
POSTED 6:42 a.m. EDT, April 30, 2003
MCGAHEE, BILLS ALREADY FLIRTING?
Three days after the Bills shocked the NFL world by picking Miami RB Willis McGahee in round one of the draft, it sounds like both sides already are maneuvering toward a contract.
According to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Bills G.M. Tom Donahoe says that the team won't use McGahee's knee injury as leverage. "We’ll be fair to Willis," Donahoe said. "We hope his agent will be fair with us."
McGahee's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, also is sounding reasonable, indicating that he's willing to work "something out with them relating to [McGahee’s] progress and rehabbing of the injury."
In our view, there's no reason for the Bills to offer anything more or less than that which the 23rd overall pick should receive -- and McGahee likewise should expect nothing more or less in return.
After all, the injury factor already has hit McGahee in the wallet by causing him to drop by 20 spots in round one. Regardless of his knee, he still was the 23rd guy off of the board, and he should be paid that way.
And for the Bills, this is hardly a short-term arrangement. Donahoe drafted McGahee not because the team wants extra depth at the tailback position in 2003 and 2004, but because the franchise considers McGahee to be their next Thurman Thomas.
Tom Donahoe is a smart guy. Even if McGahee contributes this season (and we think his long-term interests are served by not playing until '04), Donahoe surely was impressed by the ambition, drive, focus, and maturity that McGahee displayed as he put his face into the grindstone and worked through a tough rehab with no self-pity or complaints.
In the rookie evaluation process, the one tool that no NFL team has is a window into a guy's heart. And McGahee showed Donahoe -- and anyone who bothered to notice -- that, over the long haul, he's willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.
Although we've taken our share of shots at Drew Rosenhaus over the past month or so, we've been very impressed by the level of loyalty and support that Rosenhaus has displayed for his client. The guy believes in and fights for his clients. Sure, those qualities will tend to piss off from time to time the front-office types who don't want to pay Rosenhaus's clients the amount of money that Rosenhaus wants. But even the things that some folks have labeled as goofy -- such as making an in-house phone call to McGahee in order to create the impression that he was on the horn with an NFL team -- are proof positive that Rosenhaus has a true passion for his clients' interests.
In the end, everyone wins on this one. McGahee gets a first-round deal and a long-term home. The Bills have a budding Hall-of-Famer to go with Bledsoe and Moulds.
And we think it'd send a great statement to the rest of the league if both sides get a deal done ASAFP.