according to chris brown, bills will not franchise johnson

[NOT THE DUDE...]

chris brown says bills will not franchise johnson...

question- do the bills have to spend 95% of their cap?

could this mean nix like vincent jackson more? or maybe someone else?

also fred jackson said the team front office told him pass rush was the top priority, no suprise there...

im praying for cliff avril and we cut kelsay... and then draft coples...

[YardRat]

They shouldn't. Hell, depending on results of conversations they may not be interested in bringing him back at all.

There is no cap floor for the first two years of the new CBA.

Bringing in Jackson would be great...keeping Stevie and pairing the two of them would be better.

I like Avril also, but would still hang on to Kelsay for another season or two.

[HAMMER]

Johnson can take his tired act and beat it down the road. We need people that are about the team, not themselves.

[Luisito23]

Yet another player we develop, and are gonna let go...

Buffalo = Mediocrity at its best.

[JCBills]

chris brown says bills will not franchise johnson...

question- do the bills have to spend 95% of their cap?

could this mean nix like vincent jackson more? or maybe someone else?

also fred jackson said the team front office told him pass rush was the top priority, no suprise there...

im praying for cliff avril and we cut kelsay... and then draft coples...

I wouldn't get picking up Avril to play RE then drafting Coples for LE. With the amount of early DL picks they've already taken, I don't think that is very likely. If Carrington slims back down to 4-3 LE shape, he'd be back at his natural spot where he can hold up against the run and provide some pressure. If we had a solid RE already, I'd look at OLB (4-3 if this is the route they're headed) and CB for the defensive side. A pickup like Avril expands what they could do in the draft.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

I wouldn't get picking up Avril to play RE then drafting Coples for LE. With the amount of early DL picks they've already taken, I don't think that is very likely. If Carrington slims back down to 4-3 LE shape, he'd be back at his natural spot where he can hold up against the run and provide some pressure. If we had a solid RE already, I'd look at OLB (4-3 if this is the route they're headed) and CB for the defensive side. A pickup like Avril expands what they could do in the draft.

maybe they do pick up avril for the rde blind side pressure and start carrington. i have a feeling that nix is done with merriman and kelsay and both will be cut like stroud. take johnsons money, give it to avril. and then draft alshon jeffrey or michael floyd... hmmm, plus easley should be allowed to develop with jones and nelson. maybe draft maze from al in the 5th to replace the depth of parrish...

avril will command top 5 money, but if we are serious about it, we need to go after him, i dont think the lions will be able to afford him...

[NOT THE DUDE...]

it might make more sense to go after avril then to draft a questionable pass rusher who is probably not what we are looking for... we need outside pressure to make qbs step up. avril would cost lots. but i think he is probably the best out there.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

one thing is for sure, we are not going to win a championship with kelsay and merriman supplying our pressure.

[baalworship]

If the Bills let Stevie walk and don't replace him with a Vincent Jackson or someone in FA, then I cannot watch this team next year. I will always be a Bills fan but I just won't have any interest until this team can pretend it wants to win.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

If the Bills let Stevie walk and don't replace him with a Vincent Jackson or someone in FA, then I cannot watch this team next year. I will always be a Bills fan but I just won't have any interest until this team can pretend it wants to win.

I agree! if we dont resign stevie or sign a big time wr to replace him along with being active in signing at least one big time pass rusher, im done!

kelsay offers no impact, he sucks. hes old, hes slow, hes getting worse. merriman gets hurt when you barely touch him. as far as im concerned we have one de, thats carrington, and thats very very sad...

if we go 43, we need 3des, and two olb...

nix simply can let johnson walk and draft his replacement. thats not getting better, thats getting worse...

if johnson walks, im convinced this team cant win until ralph leaves. there is literally no excuse, we have plenty of cap room...

[elltrain22]

If they let Stevie walk, I'm gonna freakin lose it!!

[mrbojanglezs]

if they don't want to pay him 7.5 million a year why would they pay him more with a franchise tag?

[Raptor]

Good idea, keep letting talented players go. Its been awesome game plan and gotten us to the playoffs......

[BertSquirtgum]

Johnson can take his tired act and beat it down the road. We need people that are about the team, not themselves.
brilliant! :rolleyes:

[DrGraves]

how are so many people against resigning stevie???? he is our second, maybe best player on our team next to freddie.

there are so many rapists, murders, drug addicts, and ****ing criminals in the league... this guy wants to write dumb things on his t-shirt. if the bills have to give up 15 yards on a kick off once in a while so be it. id rather have this 1000 yards and td's than our WR's looking like: roscoe, hagan, roosevelt, jones, nelson. puke.

[Philagape]

how are so many people against resigning stevie???? he is our second, maybe best player on our team next to freddie.

there are so many rapists, murders, drug addicts, and ****ing criminals in the league... this guy wants to write dumb things on his t-shirt. if the bills have to give up 15 yards on a kick off once in a while so be it. id rather have this 1000 yards and td's than our WR's looking like: roscoe, hagan, roosevelt, jones, nelson. puke.

Agreed. Stevie's good way outweighs his bad. If they let everyone go who took dumb penalties, the team would fold.

[Wally The Barber]

At some point the Bills KEEP drafted players just like the best NFL teams.

One day the fans will not except excuses for losing players to free agency.

The depth problem will disapear and the world will be saved.

We might actually make the playoffs

Some day........

[RedEyE]

I don't mind resigning him, I just don't think he's done enough to be worth using the Franchise tag.

[RedEyE]

He's currently very immature but I think he could really develop into a stable productive part of this team.

[better days]

I don't mind resigning him, I just don't think he's done enough to be worth using the Franchise tag.

I think he is definitely worth the non exclusive franchise tag at least. I don't understand why they would not use that on him & try to trade him if he can't be resigned.

[Ickybaluky]

I think he is definitely worth the non exclusive franchise tag at least. I don't understand why they would not use that on him & try to trade him if he can't be resigned.

The only problem with that is they would then be negotiating off the franchise tag. Last year the franchise tag was $9.5M, so his agent will use that as a basis of his value. I think that makes it harder to trade him as well, because any team has to give him a new contract based off that number.

Still, given the cap room the Bills have available, I would think tagging him would be a consideration if they don't plan on signing him. They might be willing to overpay him for one year if they are willing to let him go, allowing them to transition to other players.

Them not using the tag makes me think they want to keep him, but want him to go to the market to set his value. They probably feel he won't get what he is looking for on the market, so he will end up back with them for less money. Not a bad strategy, but the risk is you lose the player because he is free to sign anywhere.

If they did tag him, he would sign the tender right away. That would guarantee it, and for a guy like Johnson who has never had a big contract that is pretty good money.

[trapezeus]

again, it's not stevie or nothing else....the solution is stevie AND.

The bills routinely don't get this and then acted surprised when we have a plumber as our back up. Come on. Other teams get injuries. they find players to fill out the 53 spots.

This team is so tiring. it's hard to even care.

and waiting for "leave the fan wagon man, only die hards here!" comments.

[OpIv37]

again, it's not stevie or nothing else....the solution is stevie AND.

The bills routinely don't get this and then acted surprised when we have a plumber as our back up. Come on. Other teams get injuries. they find players to fill out the 53 spots.

This team is so tiring. it's hard to even care.

and waiting for "leave the fan wagon man, only die hards here!" comments.

I think neither the Bills' FO nor most of the fans here understand this. We are not going to win with Stevie as our #1 WR. He needs to be a #2, or at least needs a 1b to take some pressure off of him.

If this team wants to win, there are two options: Re-sign Stevie and sign a 1/1b to compliment him, or let Stevie walk and find two WR's to be 1/2 elsewhere.

The Bills' FO, and many posters here, seem to think there is a 3rd option: re-sign Stevie as the #1 and go with what we have. Technically this is an available option, but it's not one that will lead to winning.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

I think neither the Bills' FO nor most of the fans here understand this. We are not going to win with Stevie as our #1 WR. He needs to be a #2, or at least needs a 1b to take some pressure off of him.

If this team wants to win, there are two options: Re-sign Stevie and sign a 1/1b to compliment him, or let Stevie walk and find two WR's to be 1/2 elsewhere.

The Bills' FO, and many posters here, seem to think there is a 3rd option: re-sign Stevie as the #1 and go with what we have. Technically this is an available option, but it's not one that will lead to winning.

i was thinking about this along with getting a real impact pass rusher... in reality, there isnt a game changing pass rusher in the draft outside of coples, and he is somewhat of a question. coples has all the talent to be great but for some reason he is just good. on the other hand we could pick up cliff avril and plug him in right away on the right side opposite kelsay... avril would make merriman a pass rush specialist and possibly make him last longer next season... dline would be...

avril/merriman
williams/troup
dareus/edwards/heard
keslay/carrington

the pickup of avril would allow us to take the bpa and be comfortable taking alshon jeffrey, who imo is the next calvin johnson...

to me cliff avril is the key to giving us the biggest jump in win production.

he allows us to increase the chances merriman stays healthy, he then gives us a great outside pass rush to make qbs step up into our great dts. and then he also allows us to draft a stud number 1 wr in jeffrey.

[justasportsfan]

Add weapons for Fitz. Stop subtracting.

[OpIv37]

Add weapons for Fitz. Stop subtracting.

Subtractions get us nowhere, but we are also not going to win with what we have.

Subtractions are bad.
Upgrades are good.

The Bills' FO doesn't seem to realize this.

[OpIv37]

i was thinking about this along with getting a real impact pass rusher... in reality, there isnt a game changing pass rusher in the draft outside of coples, and he is somewhat of a question. coples has all the talent to be great but for some reason he is just good. on the other hand we could pick up cliff avril and plug him in right away on the right side opposite kelsay... avril would make merriman a pass rush specialist and possibly make him last longer next season... dline would be...

avril/merriman
williams/troup
dareus/edwards/heard
keslay/carrington

the pickup of avril would allow us to take the bpa and be comfortable taking alshon jeffrey, who imo is the next calvin johnson...

to me cliff avril is the key to giving us the biggest jump in win production.

he allows us to increase the chances merriman stays healthy, he then gives us a great outside pass rush to make qbs step up into our great dts. and then he also allows us to draft a stud number 1 wr in jeffrey.

Counting on Merriman would be a huge mistake.

[justasportsfan]

Subtractions get us nowhere, but we are also not going to win with what we have.

Subtractions are bad.
Upgrades are good.

The Bills' FO doesn't seem to realize this.

getting rid of Lee in favor of Jones was a horrible idea.

[better days]

getting rid of Lee in favor of Jones was a horrible idea.

Agreed & some people WANTED to get rid of Lee, calling him a one trick pony, now some people want to get rid of Stevie calling him an immature #2 receiver.

This team will never improve by getting rid of GOOD players.

[justasportsfan]

Agreed & some people WANTED to get rid of Lee, calling him a one trick pony, now some people want to get rid of Stevie calling him an immature #2 receiver.

This team will never improve by getting rid of GOOD players.


it's not like Fitz could hit Lee in stride going deep anyways but he would have at least commanded more respect compared to Jones.

[justasportsfan]

Dwayne Bowe is there to be had and he played for Gailey :scratch:

[WeAreArthurMoates]

I remember Buddy saying during the season that they would either sign Stevie or tag him, it's weird they wont now.

[DraftBoy]

I think Stevie has frustrated this organization to no end. I think Gailey has had it and I think Ralph is done too.

I think it won't go over well in the locker room if they let Stevie walk. He may not be a team player but there is no doubt in my mind that his teammates love him.

[OpIv37]

I remember Buddy saying during the season that they would either sign Stevie or tag him, it's weird they wont now.

the big drop and the stupid penalties hurt him. Some teams may be good enough to overcome that nonsense, but we certainly are not

[ServoBillieves]

Prepare to be disappointed folks.

If the Bills don't want to pay him 7.5, he'll step in to FA and Buddy will think he can land a big name. They won't want to come here, and we'll get a Ruvell Martin equivalent for our #1.

PROVE ME WRONG BUDDY, PROVE ME WRONG

[OpIv37]

Prepare to be disappointed folks.

If the Bills don't want to pay him 7.5, he'll step in to FA and Buddy will think he can land a big name. They won't want to come here, and we'll get a Ruvell Martin equivalent for our #1.

PROVE ME WRONG BUDDY, PROVE ME WRONG

We need 1 WR if Stevie stays and 2 if he goes.

I have zero faith that Buddy will get it done.

[ServoBillieves]

Dwayne Bowe is there to be had and he played for Gailey :scratch:

I would honestly gladly take Dwayne Bowe over Stevie any day, but that just won't happen...

[better days]

I would honestly gladly take Dwayne Bowe over Stevie any day, but that just won't happen...

I would think the Chiefs & their fans would want to keep Bowe as badly as most fans want the Bills to keep Stevie.

[ServoBillieves]

I would think the Chiefs & their fans would want to keep Bowe as badly as most fans want the Bills to keep Stevie.

That's the catch 22. If we keep Stevie, people will be elated but the FO could be pissed, if we lose Stevie, inevitably there's going to be a problem since either we don't keep him nor bring in another top-tier receiver.

Same goes for Dwayne Bowe and his team, sans the front office anger. If we're not paying Stevie, we're not paying Bowe, hence my catch 22 as to how this team will inevitably implode and disappoint me yet I will still be a diehard fan...

Ugh... and yes Op, we need 2, but it's the Bills. I'll just leave it at that.

[Wally The Barber]

The Bills base salary on replacement cost.

Draft a rookie in the 2nd round will cost about 2 mil per season.

[Mski]

i would say we're turning into the pittsburg pirates of the NFL, except they actually trade their good young players when they can get something in return

[Buddo]

Interesting thread.
Mainly due to the lack of evidence that Chris Brown has actually said that the Bills won't tag Johnson.
Has the OP got anything to back up the statement?
I'm not seeing anything about this anywhere but in this thread, not on the boards at BB.com, or Buff rumblings for example.
On bb.com, I feel sure that people would be going apoplectic if Brown had said this, yet, nothing.
While it may be true that the Bills won't actually use the franchise tag on Johnson, it doesn't mean to say they can't use some other tag.
I'd really like to see some evidence that Brown has said this, please.

[The Jokeman]

chris brown says bills will not franchise

im praying for cliff avril and we cut kelsay... and then draft coples...
Avril is probably the most prized UFA when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. I can't see us landing him at all. If the Bills do keep with the 3-4 we'd be lucky to land Anthony Spencer and was hoping for John Abraham but with his late surge he'll probably unattainable and knowing how inept we are we'd instead land Chris Gocong.

[Marvelous]

chris brown says bills will not franchise johnson...



good-god!!!

--Was this even mentioned by anyone? This guy isn't top-tier,,franchise tag type talent.
-IMO Neither is Vincent Jackson f/ San Diego.. And that dude has had an all-pro O-line & Running game, and a top 5 probowl caliber QB his whole career..
---FYI on my OT~ Please know that Vince Jax would struggle here,,or best be like plax in NYJ..
--Clutch over speed is ideal though.. If only Fitz had Moulds!

[better days]

good-god!!!

--Was this even mentioned by anyone? This guy isn't top-tier,,franchise tag type talent.
-IMO Neither is Vincent Jackson f/ San Diego.. And that dude has had an all-pro O-line & Running game, and a top 5 probowl caliber QB his whole career..
---FYI on my OT~ Please know that Vince Jax would struggle here,,or best be like plax in NYJ..
--Clutch over speed is ideal though.. If only Fitz had Moulds!

Yeah, the Bills don't need Stevie, no doubt Donald Jones can pick up the slack.

[mikemac2001]

Yeah, the Bills don't need Stevie, no doubt Donald Jones can pick up the slack.


People are so dumb....stevie made us mad he sucks now

[Bert102176]

If the Bills let Stevie walk and don't replace him with a Vincent Jackson or someone in FA, then I cannot watch this team next year. I will always be a Bills fan but I just won't have any interest until this team can pretend it wants to win.


well I bet they don't sign him or his replacement and they draft a guy in the 5th round to replace him that is more fit for a style offense we don't run

[Bert102176]

if or when we lose Stevie Johnson it sets us back even more

[mikemac2001]

if or when we lose Stevie Johnson it sets us back even more


the people who *****ed about stevie will then ***** about the GM endless cycle of dumb fans/moves

[Bert102176]

the people who *****ed about stevie will then ***** about the GM endless cycle of dumb fans/moves



very true, unfortunitly:thurm2:

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Avril is probably the most prized UFA when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. I can't see us landing him at all. If the Bills do keep with the 3-4 we'd be lucky to land Anthony Spencer and was hoping for John Abraham but with his late surge he'll probably unattainable and knowing how inept we are we'd instead land Chris Gocong.

hey we have tons of cap room, we need a outside pass rusher. i think it could happen, but probably wont. i would be excited about spencer but that would mean we cut kelsay, as we should.

[Buddo]

And still no sign of any evidence that Chris Brown said the Bills would not franchise, or tag, Stevie.

[better days]

And still no sign of any evidence that Chris Brown said the Bills would not franchise, or tag, Stevie.

GREAT point. I have not read a word on Profootballtalk.com about Chris Brown saying that. I am confident if it were true that they would have reported it by now.

I believe the original poster was either mistaken or just outright BS'd about Brown saying that. He never said in the original post where he heard or read it.

I will take anything he reports with not a grain, but a shaker full of salt unless he provides a link from now on.