obie_wan

Sounds like Brandon is going to stand on principle and not be proactive in resolving the Peters matter. He just might want to make a phone call to Peters and find out why he missed all of the off season activities. Hard to believe the front office has not had any direct contact with their best player since January - if nothing else to check on his recovery. But its good to know they have a solid backup plan in place if Peters holds out. Too bad it doesn't involve what the front office brought in to play LT. Walker can barely handle the 2nd tier rushers from the right side. should be a real adventure trying to handle elite rushers from LT. Bills not sure if LT Peters will report to camp http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-b...p&type=lgns Exerpts taken from By JOHN WAWROW, Associated Press Last updated: 6:32 p.m., Thursday, July 24, 2008 PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have had very little contact with Jason Peters in the past few months regarding his contract dispute, and aren't sure if the Pro Bowl left tackle will report for the start of training camp on Friday. "To be very honest with you, it's truly been a roadmap of silence to date," chief operating officer Russ Brandon said Thursday, as Bills players began arriving at the team's training camp headquarters in suburban Rochester. "We expect Jason to be here to honor his commitment to the organization because we made a substantial commitment to him two years ago." . . . . As for Peters, Brandon wouldn't rule out the possibility of negotiating a new deal but only if Peters begins taking part in team functions. "It's difficult to have discussions with someone that's not here and has not elected to participate in what we're trying to do," Brandon said. "Jason's a big part of what we're trying to do. But if he's not here, then we'll work around it and move on." Brandon also noted the team rewarded the player with a new contract prior to the 2006 season, when the converted tight end became a full-time starter at right tackle. Peters then made the switch to the left side midway through the 2006 campaign. Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert said last month he's already preparing contingency plans should Peters not report to camp. One option included moving Walker to the left side.

unless its a tear - it's not like he was able to play thru the injury. At LT, you can't hide an injury that reduces his ability to slide laterally and back pedal. He missed time Sounds like the Bills know this injury is much more severe than publicly reported and hence are waiting until he's healthy.

This happy talk is all predicated on 2 things: 1. Brett plays at an all-world level at 39 years of age 2. He plays at this level in a foreign offense with no prior interaction with the coaches, WRs, RBs and OL (not to metion lack of a TE) 3. He does not revert to the form he exhibited in the years prior to 2007 when he was a turnover machine 4. He does all this on Sundays with limited time commited in the off-season and during each week. He wants the glory but his commitment to getting there is gone

I had raised the point earlier. Peters has not shown that he is recovered from his serious injury. Unlikely the Bills throw money at him until they can validate that he is recovered. No problem, though, because the Bills are absolutely loaded with talent to fill in until his return. Good thing the Bills planned ahead knowing that Peters ended the season unable to play.

you do realize he is an old 39 He wants to play on Sunday, but can;t make the commitment for the rest of teh offseason and weekly practice. His magical 2007 season is clouding reality. Keep him away from Buffalo- unless we trade him to Minnesota

The defense better perform - sicne he spends most of the resources on the defensive side of teh ball. It is no coincidence that Schobel got a big increase and Peters is still waiting.

according to your timeline, we will need to replace anyone over 28 by the time they are ready to challenge

Saw this another message board. talking about return skills raising one's draft stock. Pretty surprising, though, is the low rating on McKelvin as a CB- If these scout opinions are accurate, he may not be starting at CB week 1 QUOTE Call it the "Devin Hester Effect." The Chicago Bears took a calculated gamble two years ago by drafting Hester in the second round almost entirely because of his kick-return skills. Hester has responded by returning four punts and seven kickoffs for touchdowns in his first two seasons. Now teams across the NFL are searching for players with similar game-changing ability on special teams. And it helps explain why Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin could get taken as early as the first round in April. McKelvin returned seven punts for touchdowns in his college career, including three during his stellar senior season. "There are some issues with him playing corner," said Frank Coyle of www.draftinsiders.com, referring to questions about McKelvin's technique and level of competition in college. "But he's going to come in and return punts and kicks and do it well. So I think that in itself has to move him up one or two rounds." Coyle rates McKelvin as the No. 43 overall prospect in this draft class, and other draft boards have him going late in the first round. Boise State offensive tackle Ryan Clady, UCF running back Kevin Smith and Houston wide receiver Donnie Avery – another potential special-teams demon – are the only non-"Big Six" league players rated ahead of McKelvin. McKelvin isn't the only senior who should benefit from the NFL's increased emphasis on special teams. The days of return men with Cribbs' potential going undrafted probably have ended for the foreseeable future. Utah State wide receiver Kevin Robinson isn't in Mobile this week, but he should catch the eye of any NFL scout looking for an elite returner. Robinson averaged 16.2 yards on 401 touches to set an NCAA career record for all-purpose yards per play. He led the nation in punt return average (18.9) this past season, ranked sixth in kickoff returns (29.3) and scored two touchdowns – one on a punt return and one on a reception – in last week's East-West Shrine Game. While Robinson won't be playing in the Senior Bowl, there a few other potential NFL return men joining McKelvin in Mobile. Avery and Purdue wide receiver Dorien Bryant each returned kickoffs for touchdowns this past season. Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski scored on three career punt returns, and Virginia Tech wide receiver Eddie Royal returned two punts for scores in '07. East Carolina running back Chris Johnson ranked 18th in the nation in kick-return average this season and set an NCAA bowl record with 408 all-purpose yards in the Pirates' Hawaii Bowl upset of Boise State. Johnson has wondered how the success of Hester and Cribbs might help his own pro prospects, but he also believes he could offer NFL teams an even greater dimension. "I look at those guys, and they really don't have a primary position," Johnson said. "And I've got a primary position. To have (special teams) as an asset is going to make my draft stock even higher." But no matter how well these guys play on offense or defense, it's their game-changing ability on special teams that could separate them from the pack. That's particularly true of McKelvin, who is generally regarded as the top return man in this draft class. McKelvin led his team with 1,022 all-purpose yards last fall despite not taking a snap on offense. Wherever McKelvin ends up in the NFL, he ought to shake Cribbs' hand or buy Hester a dinner the first time his team faces the Browns or Bears. After all, those two guys are going to end up helping McKelvin make more money than if he'd entered the league a couple of years earlier. link http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=765256

It is extremely frustrating that the front office continues to flaunt its arrogance about being able to find diamonds on the OL and at TE from low round draft picks and free agent rejects. They need to revamp their scouts on the offensive side of the ball. In conjunction with this, they severely overrate the talent level of their own players which prevents them from pursuing real talent.

In shape for a 40 year old is a lot different than for a 25 year old. Brett will crash and burn in 2008. Assuming that Brett will dulpicate 2007 is pure fantasy - especially if he has to learn an entire new offense and the tendencies of his WRs and RBs. If he plays anywhere it will be Minn because he knows the system and coach.

and Favre would refuse to report unless the clause was removed. then he would come to camp and make the Packers play him or cut him. The Pack needs plausible deniability for sending him to Minn. More likely is the Packers arrange a 3 way deal behind the scenes so they claim to their fan base that they traded him to the AFC. They could not stop the 2nd deal to Minnesota (wink, wink)

we should be in the playoffs by 2015!

Brett has been the center of attention - but always treated as a god by the green bay fans and media- like Madden No way does he even want to try to survive NY.

except Favre does not want and can not handle the media pressure of a major market. Big difference coming from an area where he is treated like a god to where they will hound him about those pesky picks.

more made up crap

Favre will never be a good mentor for any young QB. By defintion, that young QB is in line to take Brett's job. If this whole escapade has taught you nothing else, Favre is "all about Brett, all the time". Favre is old and getting older. That wall is coming up awfully fast and the end is not going to be pretty. Go back to how Favre played in the couple years before 2007 to see the preview.

1. Brett wants to win a SuperBowl - only player to win with 2 differnt teams - not happening in Buffalo this year. 2. Brett will not mentor anybody- it's all aboout Brett, all the time. Brett will not help his prime competition take his job. 3. Pack wants him out of the NFC, but Brett's best path to the SuperBowl is thru the NFC. Any team the Pack trades him to, can repackage Brett to his final destination (Minnesota)

maybe if he just interviewed one or two that actually had experience as an OC, he might have a better idea as to what they do.

How many QBs have won a Super Bowl with 2 different teams? That is the objective, the Vikings are the closest team to a Super Bowl appearance that could use a QB. He will stay in the NFC since there are too many good teams in the AFC

Favre's pact with the devil expired at the end of last year. He will go back to throwing more picks than TDs. He is a circus sideshow, not the centerpiece of a football team trying to develop a bunch of young guys. FAvre will ruin the chemistry since "it's all about Brett, all the time" On the other hand, maybe he can provide some improvement to the personnel side of things, since he fancies himself a junior GM.

a few more Pro Bowl starters would be good too

no substance here since no info from the Pack. some hack writer from the Green Bay picks out the teams with QB names he does not recognize and names them as a likely destination for the GOD. Favre is toast - inflate your hopes at your own risk

which is why the league needs to adopt a rookie pay scale where no negotiation is necessary. Drastically reduce the pay at the top of the draft and slot all picks to a fixed scale. All picks could be signed within a week of the draft, like in the NBA. Change the rule so players can only attend mini-camp if they are signed and there would not be a problem with delayed signings

I don't understand the need to sign Peters to big bucks. So he's a good player. The Bills have been fine for the last 15 years with crap talent on the OL. Why should they spend money on one LT? We have plenty of other options to take his place.

Parcells is also known to despise turnovers. JP is a turnover machine. not a real good match