Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

[X-Era]

"Buffalo continues to negotiate with starting guard Andy Levitre, but he could get interest from several teams in free agency and create a bidding war."

It appears to be a current update since it mentions re-signing Leodis.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/73635/afc-east-free-agency-primer-3

I don't mind bringing him back but it has to be a contract that doesn't strap us.

[ServoBillieves]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

Depends on price. Which... will be way too high.

[OpIv37]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

At least they are talking with him. It would have been blatant incompetence if they didn't even try.

[billsburgh]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

why the F did they wait so long if they were serious about signing him. probably just a PR move to save face with the fans so that when he signs somewhee else tomorrow, they can say at least we tried

[OpIv37]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

why the F did they wait so long if they were serious about signing him. probably just a PR move to save face with the fans so that when he signs somewhee else tomorrow, they can say at least we tried

My guess: they wanted McKelvin done first. Talent wise that makes no sense, but cap-wise it does.

[Skooby]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

Maybe Andy will realize that the Bills want him to stay, reasonably.

[clumping platelets]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

Maybe the Bills agreed to allow him to test the market to see his worth and then go from there

[coastal]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

Russ Brandon spin job.

that guy is PE #1

[jamze132]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

The Bills are doing the right thing here. It doesn't hurt us to allow him to test the market so OBD can get an accurate portrayal of his worth around the league. He's a flippin' LG who won't be all that hard to replace for a lot cheaper. However it would be nice to maintain continuity by retaining our own players, but we simply, nor should anyone pay a Guard an obsurd amount of money.

[Fixxxer]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

why the F did they wait so long if they were serious about signing him. probably just a PR move to save face with the fans so that when he signs somewhee else tomorrow, they can say at least we tried

Could it be that the market for a very good player without national recognition was a bit unclear? I believe Levitre's party wanted to see what they were worth in FA.

[Night Train]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

Maybe the Bills agreed to allow him to test the market to see his worth and then go from there

Bullseye. Ozzie Newsome does this all the time in Baltimore and so do multiple other teams.

Players tend to overvalue themselves, all wanting the big payday. Can't blame them... but FA with the big name guys and their huge contracts usually end up as a failure, long term. GM's know this and just deal with Plan B, if it happens.

They're not going to sink the future unless they're on the cusp of a SB run and wish to go for it that year. Quite the gamble and the odds are always against that move.

[X-Era]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

Bullseye. Ozzie Newsome does this all the time in Baltimore and so do multiple other teams.

Players tend to overvalue themselves, all wanting the big payday. Can't blame them... but FA with the big name guys and their huge contracts usually end up as a failure, long term. GM's know this and just deal with Plan B, if it happens.

They're not going to sink the future unless they're on the cusp of a SB run and wish to go for it that year. Quite the gamble and the odds are always against that move.

It's a quality move. But, it's a gamble. The Ravens are a perennial playoff team and money being equal the player may want a team with a legit shot. Buffalo isn't in that category.

[Night Train]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

It's a quality move. But, it's a gamble. The Ravens are a perennial playoff team and money being equal the player may want a team with a legit shot. Buffalo isn't in that category.

That's becuase Baltimore drafts well and keeps the right core players.

[better days]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

The Bills are doing the right thing here. It doesn't hurt us to allow him to test the market so OBD can get an accurate portrayal of his worth around the league. He's a flippin' LG who won't be all that hard to replace for a lot cheaper. However it would be nice to maintain continuity by retaining our own players, but we simply, nor should anyone pay a Guard an obsurd amount of money.

Yeah, just like Rueben Brown was not all that hard to replace for a lot cheaper. Oh wait, in the LONG list of his replacements, Dockery was NOT cheap & not a very good replacement.

[Buddo]

Re: Bills still negotiating with Levitre according to ESPN

Hutchinson has just announced his retirement. The Titans are going to be offering a boat load of $ to Levitre, imho, and even if the Bills got close to what he would be willing to accept from them, I believe that the Titans will be capable of significantly 'over paying' to acquire him. It also makes their early reported interest, much more definite.