Mike Williams seeks $12 Million bonus

[SoCalBillsFan]

I heard on the radio on my way home from work today that Mike Williams is looking for a 12 million dollar signing bonus. I have a feeling TD is a bit hesitent to dish that kinda cash out. I really hope he gets signed soon, but the closer it gets to camp. the more I keep thinking he's gonna hold-out

[Buffarama]

What's really the difference though. Over time, he's going to hit the cap big time anyways. 3 million here or there isn't going to matter. The difference between $10-12 million over 5-6 years really can't hurt that much, cause then his yearly salary will be less. Just my two cents.

[SABURZFAN]

that's a lot of money for not playing a single down.you can expect the price of tickets to increase in the near future.

[Buffarama]

Naw, its all under the cap provisions Sab, the Bills still make a ton of cash and cost the same to operate.

[RedEyE]

I think asking for a 12 million dollar signing bonus is too much. Carr only signed with a 10.9 mill bonus and Peppers signed with just a 9 mill bonus (1st and 2nd overall picks). TD is not going to be willing to pay out more then 9 - 10 mill. Plus, most 1st round offensive lineman agents are waiting for MW to sign his contact to gauge their negotiations. If TD gives in to 12 mill he will throw off the entire scale for all current and future signings.

[iceblizzard69]

They can give him a 10 million dollar bonus and then give him the following base salaries:

2002: 1 million
2003: 1.5 million
2004: 1.8 million
2005: 2.5 million
2006: 3 million

It would be 5 years, 19.8 million dollars, which I believe is more than what Leonard Davis got in his contract last year. I know Peppers got 7 years and 50 million, but offensive linemen tend to make less I think. I don't know if this sounds reasonable, but it sounds like a good contract to me for both sides. Tell me what you think.

[Dozerdog]

I'd pay that in a heartbeat, Blizz

[Billsouth]

his cap hit is going to be huge!! good thing we traded our number 1 for next year because we cannot afford to keep taking such hits.

[askabry]

You can figure on a six year deal at about 38MM, with a signing bonus of roughly 9MM. That's right in line with what Justin Smith got last year.

[BuffaloBalls]

Don't forget that since Big Mike is a first rounder, they can spread that bonus over two years. This year and next year.

[e-mo4life]

who does he think he is??? MOULDS? Just kiddin LOL

[Aero II]

I thought that bonuses were spread out over the length of the contract.

[Shiny Chicken]

Yeah, that's what I thought too Aero...

[John from Hemet]

I think it all boils down to this...

You need to be very careful nowadays to lock your "special" offensive linemen into long term contracts....

Take a look at what happened this year...any offensive tackle that you could use as a bookend was either signed or franchised before the bills had a chance to do anything....

The bills want Mike to be a fixture at tackle for them for a long long time.....

[BuffaloBalls]

I thought that bonuses were spread out over the length of the contract.

That's the entire bonus. The guaranteed portion can only be spread over two years.

Part of the financial solution for the Bills will be to give Williams his guaranteed bonus in two parts - one when he signs and one next spring. That's a way of lowering Williams' cap figure for this year, since signing bonuses get spread over the length of the contract when the cap is calculated.

Here is a link to the quoted story.