itsandthings
12-28-2002, 02:39 PM
Travis Henry. Price aside, Henry has shown he is a franchise back and is the key to the long-term success of the Bills on offense. I realize people want to give all the credit to Bledsoe, but the real reason the Bills are improved so much on offense is Henry.
Henry currently has 2 years left on his original 4-year rookie deal with minimum salaries. When it is up after the 2004 season, he will be an unrestricted FA. So why should the Bills re-do his deal? There are many reasons:
1) Henry has earned an upgraded contract with his play, and the Bills should do the right thing.
2) In signing Henry to a lucrative contract extension, they will keep him a Bill long-term at a value rate. If the team waits a year or two to sign him, the cost will only go up.
3) The Bills, with Tom Donahoe in charge, are committed to building via the draft primarily, rather than going out and signing free agents to expensive contracts which create long-term cap problems. Part of that strategy is signing those drafted players that pan out to long-term contracts and not allowing them to leave via free agency. If Henry isn't a core player, no Bill is.
4) Donahoe let a lot of talent leave Pittsburgh when he was there, which may have ultimately led to his being forced out. Pittsburgh had many free agents leave and go on to be Pro Bowlers elsewhere (Rod Woodson, Chad Brown, etc.). Donahoe needs to show he is going to keep the best players in Buffalo.
5) If Henry's contract isn't dealt with soon, his pending free agency could become a distraction to him and his teammates and lead to friction with the front office. Signing him now sends a message to the players that they will be taken care of when they preform. It also sends a message to the fans that the Bills are going to take care of their good players and keep the team competitive long-term.
This is a no-brainer, IMO. Signing Henry to a 4-5 year contact extension with a tiered bonus structure to make it cap friendly. That will give the Bills a rock to build their offense around.
Henry currently has 2 years left on his original 4-year rookie deal with minimum salaries. When it is up after the 2004 season, he will be an unrestricted FA. So why should the Bills re-do his deal? There are many reasons:
1) Henry has earned an upgraded contract with his play, and the Bills should do the right thing.
2) In signing Henry to a lucrative contract extension, they will keep him a Bill long-term at a value rate. If the team waits a year or two to sign him, the cost will only go up.
3) The Bills, with Tom Donahoe in charge, are committed to building via the draft primarily, rather than going out and signing free agents to expensive contracts which create long-term cap problems. Part of that strategy is signing those drafted players that pan out to long-term contracts and not allowing them to leave via free agency. If Henry isn't a core player, no Bill is.
4) Donahoe let a lot of talent leave Pittsburgh when he was there, which may have ultimately led to his being forced out. Pittsburgh had many free agents leave and go on to be Pro Bowlers elsewhere (Rod Woodson, Chad Brown, etc.). Donahoe needs to show he is going to keep the best players in Buffalo.
5) If Henry's contract isn't dealt with soon, his pending free agency could become a distraction to him and his teammates and lead to friction with the front office. Signing him now sends a message to the players that they will be taken care of when they preform. It also sends a message to the fans that the Bills are going to take care of their good players and keep the team competitive long-term.
This is a no-brainer, IMO. Signing Henry to a 4-5 year contact extension with a tiered bonus structure to make it cap friendly. That will give the Bills a rock to build their offense around.