The $27.5M question: How will Bills interpret wording in Tyrod Taylor's deal?

[Strongman]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/th...-taylors-deal/


"The Buffalo Bills and the NFLPA could be headed to a showdown over the fine print of Tyrod Taylor's contract after the quarterback underwent surgery for a sports hernia Thursday. Taylor has $27.5 million in potential injury guarantees in his contract, with the Bills having until the third day of the league year in March to determine if they are going to pick up his five-year option."

[Strongman]

Saddest part of the article:

"Of course, had the Bills not utilized this unusual -- and many salary cap experts would say, unnecessary -- structure with Taylor's contract, putting such a massive balloon bonus potential due one year into the deal, they could have avoided all of this anyway. A two- to three-year deal would have made plenty of sense, with Taylor set to make under $1 million in 2016 and coming off his first year as an NFL starter. He had little leverage and was eager to do a reasonable extension of any sort.
Agents and NFL management people were somewhat dumbfounded with this deal at the time, and even more so now. A pay-as-you-go structure, with rolling one-year guaranteed base salaries in the $10-$15 million range (which have been commonplace in deals for young quarterbacks like Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick and Ryan Tannehill in recent years) would have achieved the same goal economically, with a far lesser injury guarantee in the balance."

[sudzy]

Why do the Bills feel like they have to give an extension to everyone that has even a little success? (Fitz, Jauron)

[Goobylal]

The surgery won't affect anything.

[Gilly]

Can u imagine if the Bills signed Tyrod to a 3 year $12-$15mil per contract after last year? People's heads would have exploded here in the zone. Now we have a choice, extend or renegotiate. Bill's hold all the cards and choice is up to them. Article is very misleading.

[Turf]

Saddest part of the article:

"Of course, had the Bills not utilized this unusual -- and many salary cap experts would say, unnecessary -- structure with Taylor's contract, putting such a massive balloon bonus potential due one year into the deal, they could have avoided all of this anyway. A two- to three-year deal would have made plenty of sense, with Taylor set to make under $1 million in 2016 and coming off his first year as an NFL starter. He had little leverage and was eager to do a reasonable extension of any sort.
Agents and NFL management people were somewhat dumbfounded with this deal at the time, and even more so now. A pay-as-you-go structure, with rolling one-year guaranteed base salaries in the $10-$15 million range (which have been commonplace in deals for young quarterbacks like Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick and Ryan Tannehill in recent years) would have achieved the same goal economically, with a far lesser injury guarantee in the balance."

And who was it that made this deal like many others (Dareus)? Our Rainman Whaley. The guy searching for our next head coach for the next 10-15 years. Like Sudzy said, there was no reason to give TT an extension, let alone handcuff themselves like this. But once again, One Bills Drive is without reproach as it goes about its business in a bullheaded, silent, clandestine, mickey mouse way run by people with little sport minds that literally have no clue what they're doing.

[EDS]

Apparently there is offset language in Tyrod's contract so any payments owed by the Bills are reduced by the amount of salary he receives from his new team. So not a total financial disaster in relation to the injury clause.

In any event, the Bills should be incentivized to finish their head coach search ASAP so the new coach can make a decision on whether he/she wants to move forward with Tyrod at QB.

[The Jokeman]

Apparently there is offset language in Tyrod's contract so any payments owed by the Bills are reduced by the amount of salary he receives from his new team. So not a total financial disaster in relation to the injury clause.

In any event, the Bills should be incentivized to finish their head coach search ASAP so the new coach can make a decision on whether he/she wants to move forward with Tyrod at QB.

Why rush the HC search? We have plenty of time to determine if Tyrod going to stay or not ad that decision shouldn't take the new HC more than 24-48 hours to determine what he thinks.

[bob86]

Looking at this from Taylor’s point pf view if the Bills cut him loose, he has three options: 1) maximize his money from the Bills but asserting he entitled to the guarantee because of the injury. 2) maximize his salary in free agency in 2017 and beyond by claiming he is fit. 3) Try to do both, get the guarantee money from the Bills and a big pay day in free agency in 2017.

Timing is everything is Taylor’s case. Because free agency will already have started when the Bills must decide on the bonus, Taylor runs the risk of having the all free agency money dry up by the time he hits the market. This is especially true if Taylor gets into a prolong legal battle with Bills over his injury and whether it is of a lasting nature. The worst case for Taylor is to get into a long legal battle with the Bills and lose that battle and then find the starting QB jobs already filled and no free agency money left. The safest way for Taylor to make a huge pay day is recover from the operation as soon as possible and show prospective teams he is fit and good to go day one. It is doubtful there would be a bidding war for Taylor’s services if he is claiming at the same time he suffers from a lasting injury from his days as a Bill.

Perhaps Taylor’s best course of action would be to agree to not assert the injury claim in exchange for the Bills cutting him before or right at the start of free agency so that he hits the market when amount of money available is at its highest.

[stuckincincy]

And who was it that made this deal like many others (Dareus)? Our Rainman Whaley. The guy searching for our next head coach for the next 10-15 years. Like Sudzy said, there was no reason to give TT an extension, let alone handcuff themselves like this. But once again, One Bills Drive is without reproach as it goes about its business in a bullheaded, silent, clandestine, mickey mouse way run by people with little sport minds that literally have no clue what they're doing.

Rainman Whaley...

[swiper]

The surgery won't affect anything.

Then why are the Bills publicly back-pedaling about their knowledge of the injury?

[Goobylal]

Then why are the Bills publicly back-pedaling about their knowledge of the injury?

They're not. They're basically telling everybody that they don't agree with the surgery.

[trapezeus]

Looking at this from Taylor’s point pf view if the Bills cut him loose, he has three options: 1) maximize his money from the Bills but asserting he entitled to the guarantee because of the injury. 2) maximize his salary in free agency in 2017 and beyond by claiming he is fit. 3) Try to do both, get the guarantee money from the Bills and a big pay day in free agency in 2017.

Timing is everything is Taylor’s case. Because free agency will already have started when the Bills must decide on the bonus, Taylor runs the risk of having the all free agency money dry up by the time he hits the market. This is especially true if Taylor gets into a prolong legal battle with Bills over his injury and whether it is of a lasting nature. The worst case for Taylor is to get into a long legal battle with the Bills and lose that battle and then find the starting QB jobs already filled and no free agency money left. The safest way for Taylor to make a huge pay day is recover from the operation as soon as possible and show prospective teams he is fit and good to go day one. It is doubtful there would be a bidding war for Taylor’s services if he is claiming at the same time he suffers from a lasting injury from his days as a Bill.

Perhaps Taylor’s best course of action would be to agree to not assert the injury claim in exchange for the Bills cutting him before or right at the start of free agency so that he hits the market when amount of money available is at its highest.

I think if jets miss getting romo, they might see TT as an upgrade. so there may a lag that TT may benefit from

[swiper]

They're not. They're basically telling everybody that they don't agree with the surgery.

You're wrong again.

In a separate note, Schefter, however, says Bills team doctors were not only aware of the procedure, but actually recommended Taylor visit Dr. William Meyers and were "fully aware" of the possibility of surgery.

[DraftBoy]

You're wrong again.

The Bills are beyond leaking at this point, now they're basically taking on water like the Titanic.

I'm not sure who, or how many people, are leaking info but clearly it's not just coming from one person or is being targeted at one person.

[swiper]

The Bills are beyond leaking at this point, now they're basically taking on water like the Titanic.

I'm not sure who, or how many people, are leaking info but clearly it's not just coming from one person or is being targeted at one person.

Again this goes back to the owner. The owner who doesn't have tight control over his ship (you referenced the Titanic), should expect this.

No organization is so tight, but, as you've said, leaks are probably coming from a lot of folks who feel their jobs are in limbo with the Bills.

This is why the owner has to act quickly to plug the leaks or it just becomes worse (if it can get any worse). I think it was good news that you posted that McDermott's interview went well. Maybe he's the right guy.

[DraftBoy]

Again this goes back to the owner. The owner who doesn't have tight control over his ship (you referenced the Titanic), should expect this.

No organization is so tight, but, as you've said, leaks are probably coming from a lot of folks who feel their jobs are in limbo with the Bills.

This is why the owner has to act quickly to plug the leaks or it just becomes worse (if it can get any worse). I think it was good news that you posted that McDermott's interview went well. Maybe he's the right guy.

Agreed 100%. I would personally love to see McDermott get the job. He's a younger guy with an old school mentality who gets the most out of players.

[Goobylal]

You're wrong again.

Just because they were aware of it doesn't mean they agreed with it. And steering him to a doctor that would pass him physically in the required time is smart.

[swiper]

Just because they were aware of it doesn't mean they agreed with it. And steering him to a doctor that would pass him physically in the required time is smart.

Not only are you stupid, you can't read.

[BillsImpossible]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...-buffalo-bills

Bill Polian sums it up nicely in the closing seconds.

"Typically, with this doctor and this operation, 6 weeks is the recovery time."

Come March 11, Tyrod Taylor should be fully healed and pass the physical.

Btw, Polian looks great.