| September 25, 2004 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 05:56 AM |
One of the biggest concessions won by the players during the 1987 players strike was the eventual move to free agency. Up to this point, NFL clubs owned the rights of players in perpetuity. The only “True” free agents were undrafted players and Canadian Football League cast-offs. And with the NFL and AFL drafts stretching into 16-18 rounds some years there weren't many undrafted players left.
The only times players could really exercise a “choice” (if one could call it that) was when the AFL and NFL would both compete head to head drafting college players. The draftee at least would have two teams to choose between. Initially the AFL won this war, signing 75% of all dual-drafted players. The AFL made the wise choice of not attempting to raid the NFL of players already under contract. A lesson the USFL failed to heed 23 years later. The Buffalo Bills did lose out on two fantastic players that they drafted #1. Syracuse's Heisman Trophy winning back (and the first African-American to win the award) Ernie Davis, along with 1964”s #1 pick, Hall of Fame DE Carl Eller, both bolted to the NFL. Unfortunately Davis would die of Leukemia the following year.
The NFL and AFL did not want to get into a prolonged bidding war forever for talent, so the two leagues- under the brilliant direction of NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle- chose to merge. 1n 1966 the two leagues combined to crown a common champion in the newly created “Super Bowl” with a combined draft in 1967. By 1970 the integration of the two leagues would be complete.
Buffalo did make some impact signings of free agents in their early AFL days. The great FB Cookie Gilchrist, along with TE Ernie Warlick both joined the Bills from the CFL in 1962. However -they would be the last free agents of any significance until free agency hit the league.
The strike of 1987 resulted in an agreement between the Player's Association and the NFL for limited free agency. Plan B, which began in February 1989, allowed each team to retain limited rights to 37 players each season. A protected player was unable to sign with other teams without giving his old team the first chance to sign him or forcing his new club to compensate his old club if he goes elsewhere. This was struck down in court in September of 1992.
In it's place- the NFL and the NFLPA agreed to the current system of player movement. The NFL guarantees the players receive 2/3rds of revenue generated from total league ticket sales and Television rights. The total of this revenue was to be divided amongst all the teams in the league- deriving a “Salary Cap” – or a total amount each team could spend on players. In return, players with 4 or more years of service not under contract were free to speak with other teams. Each team could use a “franchise tag” on a player- guaranteeing the club could retain the player for 1 season in exchange for giving the player the average salary of the top 5 paid players at their position. If the player still signed elsewhere at least the club losing him would get compensated with a pair of #1 draft picks.
Clubs losing more free agents than they signed would also receive compensatory picks in the draft to help restock depleted rosters. The players were successful in reducing the rounds of the NFL draft from 12 to 7. This allowed more freedom of movement to hundreds of undrafted college seniors and increased their opportunities to make the NFL.
1989
In February, as a compromise to the free agency demands by the player’s union strike in the 1987 season, each team in the league submitted a list of 37 “protected” players. Any player under contract not on the list became an unrestricted free agent. This was the beginning of “Plan B” free agency. Veterans Tim Vogler, Joe Devlin, Rob Riddick, Steve Tasker, and many others were left unprotected. Most eventually re-signed with the Bills. Dale Hellestrae and Martin Mahew were two noticeable losses . The Bills managed to pick up some valuable pieces in Plan –B. RB Ken Davis (Green Bay) and G- John Davis (Houston) were two of four players to sign with the Bills.
1990
Buffalo released or lost through Plan –B free agency long time veterans OL Joe Devlin, Nose Tackle Fred Smerlas, RB Ronnie Harmon, OL Tim Vogler, RB Rob Riddick, CB Derrick Burroughs, DE Art Still, and punter John Kidd. Punter John Tuten and RB Don Smith were added via free agency.
Following the Super Bowl debacle in Pasadena, the Buffalo Bills made some major changes on and off the field. Four days after the game, GM Bill Polian shocked both the team and fans alike when he announced his own dismissal during a press conference February 4th. The architect of the team, he turned the reigns over to chief scout John Butler. It was revealed that Polian had philosophical and business differences with Owner Ralph Wilson's business manager/treasurer Jeff Littmann. Polian went to work for the NFL offices in New York to help administer the leagues' Management Council. His new role was to advise teams on the new NFL free agency plan.
With the new free agency system, the Bills assigned NT Jeff Wright and T Will Wolford the team's transition tag- guaranteeing both players the average of the top ten salaries- or the right to match any offer received by any other club. They chose not to name anyone the team's "Franchise Player"- who would have been untouchable by any completing clubs. Indianapolis stepped in and made Wolford a blockbuster offer- $7.65 million over 3 seasons- with an escalator clause that would make him the highest paid offensive player on the team (excluding QBs). The Bills protested with the league claiming it was an unfair proposal- since Buffalo was loaded with high priced expensive stars on offense- (the Bills were the 6th highest paid team in the league) while the Colts were not. The Bills lost their appeal, and lost Wolford as well. The NFL soon closed the loophole, but it was too late for the Bills.
Other players lost in free agency included Pro-Bowl LB Shane Conlon who signed with the LA Rams. LB Carlton Bailey jumped to the New York Giants. DB Clifford Hicks signed with division rival New York Jets. James Lofton, the NFL's leading receiver in yardage and Buffalo's co-leader in TD receptions from the previous season, was not brought back for the 1993 season. Buffalo did acquire WR Bill Brooks via free agency after 7 seasons with the Colts.
The offensive line took a blow for the second straight season. Guard Jim Ritcher was released and signed with the Falcons. Tackle Howard “House” Ballard signed with the Seattle Seahawks. TE Keith McKellar could not recover from a knee injury and was let go. The Bills secondary was ravaged with losses as well. Safety Mark Kelso retired due to concussions. Starting CB JD Williams signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Nate Odomes, the Bills interception leader with 9 the season before, joined Ballard in Seattle.
GM John Butler also had to make some tough decisions with other fan favorites. RB Ken Davis retired after 9 seasons, 6 with the Bills. Guard John Davis, CB Micky Washington, NT Jeff Wright, and DT Mike Lodish also did not return. The biggest and saddest loss to the roster was 12 year defensive stalwart LB Darryl Talley. Talley was the heart and soul of a star studded defense and was the most underrated cog in the big play defense. He would sign with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent. It wasn’t all bad news on the personnel front. Replacing Talley was LB Bryce Paup from Green Bay. Massive DT Ted Washington was signed away from the Denver Broncos. Veteran DL Jim Jeffcoat was added off the Dallas Cowboys roster.
The Buffalo Bills continued their success as one of the AFC’s top clubs while undergoing a major transformation. Gone were the days of the high powered , almost a score-at-will offensive juggernaut that led the team to four consecutive Super Bowls. However, the Bills quietly built one of the strongest defenses in the league, under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. With the implementation of the NFL salary cap in 1994, the depth that made this team what it was slowly eroded. The Bills were forced into releasing or not resigning many popular long-term veterans. 1996 was no exception.
FB Carwell Gardner left to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, a franchise that uprooted itself from Cleveland in the offseason. The team’s leading receiver, WR Bill Brooks, signed on with the Redskins. But by far, the largest move in the offseason was the Bill’s decision not to re-sign long time All_Pro LB Cornelius Bennett. Bennett was acquired in 1987 for 2 #1 picks in the draft, a 2nd, RB Greg Bell and a TE in one of the biggest trades in team history. It was the catalyst of the Bills AFC East dynasty. Bennett went on to sign with the Atlanta Falcons, leading that team’s defense to it’s first appearance in a Super Bowl 4 seasons later. Buffalo Bills GM John Butler didn’t leave the cupboards completely bare. The Bills signed free agent Pro- Bowl LB Chris Spielman of the Detroit Lions. Butler also brought in veteran WR Quinn Early, formerly of the New Orleans Saints.
With Flutie not expected to be a serious challenger for the starting role, Bills GM John Butler made a huge splash by pulling the trigger on a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, trading the Bills ' first and fourth round picks for backup QB Rob Johnson. The Jaguars wound up selecting Pro-Bowl RB Fred Taylor with the first round pick. Bryce Paup's contract was not renewed and the outstanding Bills LB went to Jacksonville in free agency. In 3 seasons with the Bills, he played in 43 games, registering 33 sacks. CB Jeff Burris signed with the Colts. Guard Corbin Lacina signed with the Vikings, and QB Todd Collins was released during the preseason. Butler added FB Sam Gash from New England, WR Kevin Williams from Dallas, and Guard Joe Panos in free agency.
GM John Butler and the Buffalo Bills rolled the dice in 1999. While the salary cap brought labor stability to the NFL that no other professional team sport could match, it destabilized the concept of team dynasties in the league. Retaining quality depth became more difficult. Some franchises rolled the salary cap dice, bringing in high profile players with the expectation of winning this year, not building for the future. The downside usually meant that the teams needed to be dismantled within 2 –3 years. The Bills nucleus of their championship years was aging, and Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith were all in the final season of their current deals. The Bills chose to stave off cutting these popular veterans and make one last charge to a Championship. Departing the Buffalo Bills in the offseason was fan favorite Chris Spielman, who in 1996 broke the Bills team record with 206 tackles in a season. The Cleveland Browns expansion club gave Spielman an opportunity to finish his career in his home state. Unfortunately, Spielman suffered a neck injury 2 games into the preseason forcing him to retire. The Browns selected two Buffalo Bills in the expansion draft, DB Ray Jackson and FB Clarence Williams. RB Darick Holmes signed on with Green Bay. WR Quinn Early signed on with the Jets, TE Lonnie Johnson was released.
More long time fixtures on the Bills were lost in salary cap moves and retirement. 12 year veteran DE Phil Hansen called it quits, as well as guard Jerry Ostroski. John Fina was a salary cap casualty. Another major loss was the departure of Sam Cowart, who signed with the New York Jets after missing the previous season with a torn Achilles tendon. The Houston Texans expansion draft was held, and the Bills lost WR Avion Black. After the draft, more cap casualties were announced. "Buffalo's Vietnam" came to an official end as QB Rob Johnson was released. Other casualties included former #1 pick DE Eric Flowers. Bills GM Tom Donahoe pulled the trigger on a deal, getting K/P return man Charlie Rogers from the Texans for LB Jay Foreman. Buffalo was also active in free agency, having some salary cap space to play with for the first time in a long time. The biggest acquisition was LB London Fletcher from the St Louis Rams. Others brought in were LB Eddie Robinson from the Titans, S Billy Jenkins, DE Chidi Ahanotu, K Mike Hollis, TE Dave Moore, WR Charles Johnson, C Trey Teague, and OL Marcus Price. Without the QB they needed, and with the Pats not getting the top 10 pick for Bledsoe they coveted, the two clubs struck a deal early the next day sending the Buffalo Bills' top pick in the 2003 draft for Bledsoe. It was one of the biggest trades in team history, rivaling the blockbuster deal of 1987 that brought Cornelius Bennett and the 1978 trade that dealt off OJ Simpson.
Donehoe wasted no time when Free Agency opened- becoming the first team in the NFL to sign a free agent. Minutes after the midnight deadline, the Bills signed former Houston Texan's LB Jeff Posey. Freed up with extrsa cap space after the Price deal, Donehoe then set his sights on the best available defensive free agent in the draft, Bengal LB Takeo Spikes. Spikes signed a 6 year, $32 million dollar deal. Next, to shore up a weak defensive line, former Oakland Raider and Baltimore Raven DT Sam Adams came on board. On offense, the main acquisitions were 3rd string WR Bobby Shaw from Jacksonville, and Backup RB Olandis Gary from the Denver Broncos. Donehoe traded a late round 2004 pick for TE Mark Campbell. Kicker Ryan Lindell was added from the Seahawks as a free agent. Former Bill All-Pro FB Sam Gash was also added via free agency .
Besides Peerless Price, notable departures were FB Larry Centers, TE Jay Riemersma, DE Chidi Ahanotou, C Bill Conaty, RB Shaun Bryson, LB Keith Newman, CB Chris Watson, and LB Brandon Spoon. In keeping with the Tom Donehoe tradition of draft day surprises, Buffalo shocked the football world selecting Willis McGahee, RB, Miami (FL) with the first selection. It was shocking because the Bills were already well-stocked at the position with Pro Bowler Travis Henry, Sammy Morris, and former 1,000 yard rusher Olandis Gary in the fold. Now overstocked at the position themselves, the Bills traded surplus RB Olandis Gary to the Lions a few days following the game.
In a shocking development less than a week before the home opener vs. the New England Patriots, the Patriots suddenly cut their Pro-Bowl Safety Lawyer Milloy for cap reasons. This was the final piece to the Buffalo defense they were looking for, and with plenty of room remaining the Bills snapped Milloy up. Three days before they were to face the Patriots, the Bills signed, sealed, and delivered Milloy.
