TJ Graham's contract???

[YardRat]

Dude is third rounder...what the hell is the hold-up???

[Mr. Miyagi]

Maybe they're trying to looking for change under the couch cushions for him.

[psubills62]

Sheppard was the last to sign last year too. Not a big deal.

[FlyingDutchman]

Maybe they're trying to looking for change under the couch cushions for him.

That'll happen sometimes when you're trying to purchase a Graham

[stuckincincy]

That'll happen sometimes when you're trying to purchase a Graham


Buyers' (drafters') remorse?

[BillsOverDolphins]

He's got leverage because not only did we draft him 3 rounds too early, but we traded up to get him as well.

Double whammy.

[FlyingDutchman]

Buyers' (drafters') remorse?

Maybe they want to see what he weighs first? :D

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

They probably had an asking number for being an undrafted free agent and all of a sudden he was drafted in the third round. They had to scramble for numbers.

[Skooby]

His agent's yacht ran out of gas in Cannes.

[EricStratton]

It doesn't look like many around him have put their names on the dotted like either.

[mayotm]

It doesn't look like many around him have put their names on the dotted like either.Don't bring any logic into the thread. Some people are still bent because he was a perceived reach. Thus, looking for a reason to dislike him. He hasn't missed a single practice yet, but it's more fun to make him out to be a bad guy.

[Night Train]

The way the new CBA is written, there's a big drop in salary between the 2nd and 3rd round.

The holdup is probably a small bit of upfront bonus, like it was with Sheppard. Will probably happen in the next week.

[User Manuel]

He is the real killer. OJ has him locked up in his basement so, obviously, he cant sign.

[Dr. Lecter]

Obviously he does NOT want to play WR on a team that has Fitzpatrick as their starting quarterback

I just wanted to get that out of the way now.

[Mr. Miyagi]

He is the real killer. OJ has him locked up in his basement so, obviously, he cant sign.
Graham was only 3 back then. Freaky athleticsim I guess.

[BillsOverDolphins]

Don't bring any logic into the thread. Some people are still bent because he was a perceived reach. Thus, looking for a reason to dislike him. He hasn't missed a single practice yet, but it's more fun to make him out to be a bad guy.
No one said he's a bad guy. It's pretty understandable why some people dislike the pick. I like Buddy and think he's done well, but there's no need to throat his scrote over every pick.

[Yasgur's Farm]

The drop off from 2nd to 3rd round is amplified because they usually sign for 3 years... Less bonus... Less overall value.

I suspect that duration of contract is the main issue at hand. Bills want longer term... Graham wants to be FA sooner.

[Raptor]

Maybe their hoping that he forgets that they drafted him....


Seriously though, there is no way he isn't in camp on time

[DraftBoy]

Much ado about nothing. He won't miss a practice and likely he'll be signed right before mandatory OTA's.

[YardRat]

I thanked the responses that were worthy. The rest of you will have to attempt to step it up a little bit.

[Dr. Lecter]

I thanked the responses that were worthy. The rest of you will have to attempt to step it up a little bit.
My response was awesome.

[psubills62]

The drop off from 2nd to 3rd round is amplified because they usually sign for 3 years... Less bonus... Less overall value.

I suspect that duration of contract is the main issue at hand. Bills want longer term... Graham wants to be FA sooner.
I'm pretty sure the CBA has forced all drafted rookie contracts to be 4 years (except for those in the top half of the first round, who sign for 5 years). I've seen several times now that restricted free agency will only apply to UDFA's in the future, as they're the only rookies who sign for less than 4 years.

[madness]

Talked to one agent who said negotiations with prospects drafted in the third round have been more challenging than the first round. The reason, according to the agent, is that first and second-rounders receive their full slot allocation, while fourth- to seventh-rounders don’t. That puts the third-rounders right in the middle.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4722193/quick-hit-thoughts-around-nfl-pats-103


First-round picks get four-year deals that are fully guaranteed, and second-round picks still get contracts that average over $1 million in annual salary, plus multi-million dollar signing bonuses. From there, contracts are meager - and, apparently, not worth what the rookie wage scale says they can be worth. For third-round picks, who are stuck between the good contract rounds and the bad ones, it's apparently trickier than with other draft picks to get fair deals.
Last year, third-round pick Kelvin Sheppard (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/131203/kelvin-sheppard) was the last Bills draft pick to sign his contract, joining the team on July 30 after missing the opening practice of training camp. He signed a four-year, $3 million contract with a $690,000 signing bonus.


http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012/5/21/3033752/tj-graham-kelvin-sheppard-buffalo-bills-rookie-signings

[YardRat]

Talked to one agent who said negotiations with prospects drafted in the third round have been more challenging than the first round. The reason, according to the agent, is that first and second-rounders receive their full slot allocation, while fourth- to seventh-rounders don’t. That puts the third-rounders right in the middle.

I was wondering if something like that might be in play.

[Buffalo Roam'er]

Why do we even care about everyones contract. It's going to happen b/c TJ in not in position to hold out. 3rd round money is pretty much the same for someone in his position. Who really cares it will get done.

[YardRat]

Why do we even care about everyones contract. It's going to happen b/c TJ in not in position to hold out. 3rd round money is pretty much the same for someone in his position. Who really cares it will get done.

Yes, it will, but it's a little unusual considering the flurry of all of the other draft picks' signings, and some other teams have all of their picks signed already (before the Bill's rookie camp, as a matter of fact).

[Homegrown]

He's prolly pissed b/c he's been assigned #11...

[BloFan4Life]

Anyone know how much money we have in the rookie pool??

[YardRat]

Anyone know how much money we have in the rookie pool??

This is from another board...

The Bills were assigned their rookie pool tonight by NFL. They have 6.33 million this year and the total contracts cannot exceed 34.83 million for all draft choices. This from Aaron Wilson via twitter.

[YardRat]

Gilmore= 12.084mil
Glenn= 4.9
Graham= ???
Brooks= 2.5
Bradham= 2.56
Sanders= 2.298
Carder= 2.293
Asper= 2.21
Potter= 2.15

Most will count 390k base plus whatever the proration of their signing bonus is. Totals above = 30.991, so max dollars for Graham would be 3.839 total.

[Skooby]

Gilmore= 12.084mil
Glenn= 4.9
Graham= ???
Brooks= 2.5
Bradham= 2.56
Sanders= 2.298
Carder= 2.293
Asper= 2.21
Potter= 2.15

Most will count 390k base plus whatever the proration of their signing bonus is. Totals above = 30.991, so max dollars for Graham would be 3.839 total.

Seems cut & dry.

[acehole]

Seems cut & dry.


Like sabs mom mitch.

[kishoph]

I'd say the way a average fan perceives a second to third round pick is also how teams may look at it to a certain degree, a second rounder is looked at like a possible starter, while a third rounder is thought of more as a backup adding depth and a possible future starter. As psubills mentioned there was a delay with Kelvin Sheppard who was basically drafted in the same spot. I don't see any problem with them getting the contract done well before camp opens.

[Buddo]

Seems like the 3rd round is where there's any sort of wriggle room. No doubt his agent is hoping to see someone else around him sign a slightly out of kilter deal, to raise his bargaining power.

I'd say it's as much a function of the new rookie wage scale needing to have the wrinkles ironed out, but it does look as though the 3rd rounders could continue to take the most time of all the picks.

[YardRat]

Seems like the 3rd round is where there's any sort of wriggle room. No doubt his agent is hoping to see someone else around him sign a slightly out of kilter deal, to raise his bargaining power.

I'd say it's as much a function of the new rookie wage scale needing to have the wrinkles ironed out, but it does look as though the 3rd rounders could continue to take the most time of all the picks.

His agent can **** in one hand and wish in the other...it's either 3.8mil or less.

[YardRat]

Brandon Taylor, S, San Diego is the closest pick I can find that has signed. Four spots behind Graham, 4 years, $2.743mil.