If Sammy has a breakout 2017 year - How will the office feel

[nucci]

Granted - that's if he remains healthy - but if he does have a great 2017 season, how will the front office feel and how should us the fanbase think afterwards ??

 

I personally thought it over and would not know how to feel cause the kid has pulled through for us when we most needed his efforts (hurt and all)

You wouldn't know how you would feel if Watkins has a great season?

[John from Riverside]

I would think they would be thrilled.....his counterpart is on a rookie deal so he doesnt cost that much and they can afford to pay Sammy

[MarkyMannn]

Over/under on this thread starting again before the season?

HAHA I'll take 17. It's got to be 10 since last Monday

[Big Turk]

Granted - that's if he remains healthy - but if he does have a great 2017 season, how will the front office feel and how should us the fanbase think afterwards ??

 

I personally thought it over and would not know how to feel cause the kid has pulled through for us when we most needed his efforts (hurt and all)

 

they'll be happy and resign him long-term or franchise him. Not sure what the question is. Declining the option doesn't really mean much if anything as far as his status here.

Edited May 8, 2017 by matter2003

[transplantbillsfan]

I remember hearing that even though we didn't exercise the 5th year option, even franchising him would only cost about $3 million more than exercising that option would have cost.

 

If that's true, regardless of what Sammy does this year, I think it was smart to not exercise the option because injury and injury settlements are actually the only risks involved with exercising that option.

 

 

If Sammy plays really well this year and stays healthy, I don't think he goes anywhere.

[KellyToughII]

I remember hearing that even though we didn't exercise the 5th year option, even franchising him would only cost about $3 million more than exercising that option would have cost.

 

If that's true, regardless of what Sammy does this year, I think it was smart to not exercise the option because injury and injury settlements are actually the only risks involved with exercising that option.

 

 

If Sammy plays really well this year and stays healthy, I don't think he goes anywhere.

Yep 3-4 Mill for the tag, but so what, pay it if he breaks out.

[Magox]

Happy? What kind of question is this?

[BillsFan4]

I think they will do their best to sign Sammy if he has a great season, or just tag him.

 

I was a bit upset that they didn't pick up his 5th year option at first. I felt like Sammy has so much potential that has yet to be realized. Plus the Bills gave up so much to get him, and I also kinda felt like they were betting on him failing.

 

 

But then I started thinking more about it, and about what McDermott has been saying about every single person EARNING everything, and nothing just being given.

 

 

McDermott is trying to change the losing culture here, and the players are only going to take him seriously if he actually does the things he talks about. As much potential as Sammy has, it's kind of hard to say that he has legitimately earned more than double his current salary at this point.

 

So, making even your most talented player go out on the field and legitimately EARN his next contract sends a pretty loud and clear message to the entire locker room, IMO.

[oldmanfan]

I would imagine they'll back a Brink's truck up to his locker

[Punching Bag]

Granted - that's if he remains healthy - but if he does have a great 2017 season, how will the front office feel and how should us the fanbase think afterwards ??

 

I personally thought it over and would not know how to feel cause the kid has pulled through for us when we most needed his efforts (hurt and all)

 

They will feel surprised although there are not many there who were involved with his pick to have deep emotions to it.

[TOboy]

As others have said, they'll be thrilled if he has a huge season (for a multitude of reasons). We can then work towards a long term deal, with the franchise tag in our back pocket if needed. Fortunately we have the cap space to use it if needed.

 

Nobody minds paying someone top dollar, if they are producing on the field.

[sidbuff]

 

I think the bigger factor is his health. Even more than his actual stats/production.

 

Sammy's foot has progressively gotten worse over the last 2 seasons, and nobody knows for sure how it will respond going forward. Remember, he first had surgery after the 2015 season and missed all of OTAs last year. Everyone believed he was 100% and good to go Week 1. But then he re-aggravated the injury, played hurt for awhile and then missed half the season in Injured Reserve.

 

Maybe another surgery fixes the problem for good. Maybe it doesn't. If Sammy plays 16 games without a setback, then I think we can be confident the foot injury is finally behind him. But if he ends up re-aggravating it again, we may have to consider that Sammy will never be the same guy again and the foot will be a problem the rest of his career.

 

Very well analogy - Think during camp that will be the main thing we should all be keying in on to see how he performs then - our rookie WR Z has been getting a lot of high praises from ESPN - NFL network and FOX sports

 

He may well take the light from Sammy if his food ( like U stated) does not pose an issue

 

I do recall how he made the one handed behind catch from K.Orton for us to win over at Detroit - and the catch in the endzone against the Vikings for us to win it. o Things like this just makes me hope that he can get back to that shine!!

[Southern Bills Fan]

Really shouldn't be looking for a guy picked that high to "break out" going into his fourth season.

[H2o]

Really shouldn't be looking for a guy picked that high to "break out" going into his fourth season.

Sammy is an elite talent who has produced that way when given the opportunity. When they throw him the ball he puts up the "expected" stats and good things happen for our team. He has battled injuries, yes, but the level he is on should not be in question.

[TPS]

I think there are two reasons SM decided not to pick up the 5th year option: the obvious, injury concern; the less obvious, is Sammy going to be the kind of player that fits McDermott's mold?

I saw an interview prior to draft where SM talked about buy-in by your elite players, and he said something to the effect, if you can't get them on board, you can lose the team. If you look at the FAs and draft picks, these all seem to be team first players.

Re Watkins, is he going to be a team-first player? I'm thinking of Sammy complaining about not getting the ball or expressing himself when a ball is poorly thrown. These are legitimate gripes, but I doubt McDermott wants to see these public displays. Hopefully Denison will do what Atlanta does with Julio which will be good for the O and Sammy. If not, and Sammy expresses his disappointment, then they will move on from him.

I see this as a one year contract to look at both issues. If they decide to move on, then they should tag and trade; if they want him, then they'll have to throw a boat load of $ at him, with no guarantee he wants to stay. anything but a pro bowl year, and I'd guess there's very little chance he's here beyond 2018 with the tag.

Edited May 8, 2017 by TPS

[oldmanfan]

I think there are two reasons SM decided not to pick up the 5th year option: the obvious, injury concern; the less obvious, is Sammy going to be the kind of player that fits McDermott's mold?

I saw an interview prior to draft where SM talked about buy-in by your elite players, and he said something to the effect, if you can't get them on board, you can lose the team. If you look at the FAs and draft picks, these all seem to be team first players.

Re Watkins, is he going to be a team-first player? I'm thinking of Sammy complaining about not getting the ball or expressing himself when a ball is poorly thrown. These are legitimate gripes, but I doubt McDermott wants to see these public displays. Hopefully Denison will do what Atlanta does with Julio which will be good for the O and Sammy. If not, and Sammy expresses his disappointment, then they will move on from him.

I see this as a one year contract to look at both issues. If they decide to move on, then they should tag and trade; if they want him, then they'll have to throw a boat load of $ at him, with no guarantee he wants to stay. anything but a pro bowl year, and I'd guess there's very little chance he's here beyond 2018 with the tag.

Sammy is the guy who said they need more structure and discipline when Rex left

[Manther]

Over/under on this thread starting again before the season?

13

[buffuct]

the office will feel good they don't have to draft a wr high next year they have the money next year to extend or franchise

[DrDawkinstein]

Why is there any question to how they would feel about a player having a breakout season?

 

They'd be happy. What other option is there?

[buffaloboyinATL]

Really, that's all?

 

Now I understand why they did it.

 

Bills knew they would have to make a decision on Sammy, one way or the other, sooner or later. They decided they could risk the $2 million to be free to cut ties early if they want to.

Or they could transition tag him for the exact same amount that his 5th year option would have been and then have the right to match any offers that he receives. But frankly, I prefer the non-exclusive franchise tag which gives us two first rounders if someone wants him badly enough.

Really shouldn't be looking for a guy picked that high to "break out" going into his fourth season.

It would not really be a "break-out" season, as he has flashed potential all along. It would just be staying healthy long enough to put it all together for a consistent season. Additionally, it is not uncommon for wide receivers to take a few years to hit stride and consistently show their true potential.