Fred Jackson, the modern day mature athlete....

[bourbonboy]

That will only matter if we send out WR's on patterns deeper than 7 yards and if Trent actually throws to them.

Which Trent can only do if he has time to throw to them....it all comes back to the OL. IMO, the OL will make or break this season.

[The Senator]

Evans was already, as a high first round pick, making a ton and the team negotiated with him from the get-go. Evans was also not exactly setting the league on fire.

 

They made Evans the third highest paid receiver in the league despite the fact that he finished 19th in yards, 33rd in receptions and 61st in TD's. The year before he was 45th in catches, 32nd in yards and 36th in TD's. With performance like that, I can see why he was perfectly happy with that contract. Peters' situation was entirely different. I just don't get how easily people villify the guy and give the front office a pass given the mediocrity that front office has, year in and year out, produced on the field. Where is the outrage over guys like Schobel, Kelsay and Evans whose performance on the filed is waaaaaaay below what they are getting paid?

 

At least this year people will have to blame someone else for what happens rather than hanging all their anger on what was our only pro bowler.

Try to forget about Jason, Mickey - he was no good for you anyway.

[Thurman#1]

I have really come to admire Freddy. He is not afraid to voice his opinions, even when he has zero negotiating power. On the other hand, he is also mature enough to know when to back off, take a deep breath, and continue being a team player. He balked when the Bills were slow to offer him an extension when you knew he absolutely deserved it. He used his agent to "negotiate in the media" a little bit, when the agent whined how the Bills refused to reward the most deserving athletes.

 

Then he & the agent shut up and he reported for workouts. Next thing you know, he has his unconfirmed 4 year deal, for an unconfirmed 2 Mil per plus unconfirmed extra incentives. Here's what he said about the process: "The terms that we came to, we didn't quite agree on in the beginning," he said. "You can say there was some frustration at times, but I think that's part of the process. Today's the day it's over and done with and now we have to play football."

 

When you consider the degree of greed and selfishness all around Jackson in the NFL today, you can't expect a better attitdue then that, and it's obvious Jackson will now become a leader in the locker room.

 

 

 

IMHO, his level-headedness came about for two reasons. The first is that he wasn't a star coming out of college. He took time to get there. That'll get your head on straight.

 

Second, he knew that he had no leverage whatsoever and a very limited time to make money. He's not a young guy.

 

Here's an interesting PFW article saying that without Marshawn's legal problems, the Bills were going to have him play out his one-year contract.

 

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/A.../wwhi051409.htm

[Thurman#1]

Lee Evans also was very professional and patient when dealing for his next contract.

 

Peters on the other hand....

 

 

 

So was Pat Williams. So was Nate Clements. So was Antoine Winfield. So was Jabari Greer. So was ...

 

Getting a good next contract isn't a function of acting professional and patient. It has a great deal to do with what the Bills feel like doing.

[GOBILLS78]

The level of football knowledge on this board baffles me.

 

Seriously? Read game-day threads. They're priceless. You should never be surprised about what you read on here.

[nucci]

So was Pat Williams. So was Nate Clements. So was Antoine Winfield. So was Jabari Greer. So was ...

 

Getting a good next contract isn't a function of acting professional and patient. It has a great deal to do with what the Bills feel like doing.

Just like every other team in the league. You cannot sign everyone.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

I have really come to admire Freddy. He is not afraid to voice his opinions, even when he has zero negotiating power. On the other hand, he is also mature enough to know when to back off, take a deep breath, and continue being a team player. He balked when the Bills were slow to offer him an extension when you knew he absolutely deserved it. He used his agent to "negotiate in the media" a little bit, when the agent whined how the Bills refused to reward the most deserving athletes.

 

Then he & the agent shut up and he reported for workouts. Next thing you know, he has his unconfirmed 4 year deal, for an unconfirmed 2 Mil per plus unconfirmed extra incentives. Here's what he said about the process: "The terms that we came to, we didn't quite agree on in the beginning," he said. "You can say there was some frustration at times, but I think that's part of the process. Today's the day it's over and done with and now we have to play football."

 

When you consider the degree of greed and selfishness all around Jackson in the NFL today, you can't expect a better attitdue then that, and it's obvious Jackson will now become a leader in the locker room.

 

lol, he is a backup RB who complained about making $500,000. Jackson is no different than Jason Peters, Jason Peters is justa starter and a porbowler. Jackson even said he had no choice because of the exclusive rights situation he was in.

[billsfreak]

Why can't a back up player or special teams player also be a team leader? He will be replacing the young and immature Marshawn Lynch, in the starting lineup, for the first 3 games at least this season, to answer your question directly. (Not that anyone can consider Lynch much of a leader at this strange cross roads of his career.)

 

Do you remember the last great Buffalo Bills teams? Do you remember players like Mark Pike, Kenny Davis, Frank Reich, & Don Beebe? None of them were starters, but all of them were terrific team players and leaders.

Those players you listed were all key parts to the great 90's teams, but aside from maybe Reich (and he wasn't very vocal), I would never have considered them the leaders. The leaders were Kelly, Talley, Bennett, Hull and a few others. Teams at any level are going to naturally look to the biggest stars for leadership. On this current team, I would have to say maybe Lee Evans, Mitchell, Whitner and maybe Schobel would fill the leadership position if anyone did.

[TheLynchTrain]

Fred Jackson signs = who outside of Buffalo cares

 

You obviously do because you took time to create a profile, log into a rival fan site, flip through the links and post a useless comment.

[billsfan_34]

Fred Jackson signs = who outside of Buffalo cares

Let them not care! He is a quality back in this league. IMO he is better than Lynch.

[The Senator]

Fred Jackson signs = who outside of Buffalo cares

Apparently, you freakin' P-Town queers do.

[billsfan_34]

lol, he is a backup RB who complained about making $500,000. Jackson is no different than Jason Peters, Jason Peters is justa starter and a porbowler. Jackson even said he had no choice because of the exclusive rights situation he was in.

Your a douche! He is way different. He has never held out and wasnt asking for more than he is worth. Jason is raping the Eagles.

[TheLynchTrain]

IMHO, his level-headedness came about for two reasons. The first is that he wasn't a star coming out of college. He took time to get there. That'll get your head on straight.

 

Second, he knew that he had no leverage whatsoever and a very limited time to make money. He's not a young guy.

 

Here's an interesting PFW article saying that without Marshawn's legal problems, the Bills were going to have him play out his one-year contract.

 

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/A.../wwhi051409.htm

 

It seems the article mentions that this was the stance before the season started. Also added that freddie's "inspired play" was a factor along with marshawn's troubles.

 

Sounds like the logical thing to do before 2008. I think a lot of us here liked Freddie before last year, but in reality he didn't do much in 07...had one good game against Miami and the versatile role against Washington, but I think most would have been comfortable tendering him the one year. Last year changed the whole story, regardless of marshawn's troubles...

[zazie]

Seems like Fred has all the attributes, he is like a slightly lesser Walter Payton. Soft-spoken, but wants to win and plays really great and really hard, when shown the opportunity.

 

I just really really like this guy.

 

Maybe it is because he had a chance to grow up (while keeping fresh legs), before hitting the NFL.

 

Many guys in the NFL have difficulty when entering but seem first class citizens by the time they hit 30 or so.

 

Still, few do it with as much class as fast freddy.

 

Finally a really great draft choice by the FO. Oops, NOT.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

The NFL could use a million Fred Jacksons.

Great point, I agree.

To Fred Jackson getting his

Well the signing is a feel good story...and I'm in the legion who feels good for Fred Jackson.

 

Lee Evans also was very professional and patient when dealing for his next contract.

 

Peters on the other hand....

The implication being that if you behave a certain way that you'll be rewarded. This unfortunately is bunk. I'm a big fan of ProFootballTalk but Florio posted a ridiculous piece on Tony Gonzales and how he got his wish to be traded just because he behaved himself: http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/05/14/...ce-his-way-out/

 

This is a naive and unrealistically hopeful viewpoint. There are plenty of players who behave poorly and get their way and just as many who behave well and still end up unhappy.

Here's an interesting PFW article saying that without Marshawn's legal problems, the Bills were going to have him play out his one-year contract.

 

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/A.../wwhi051409.htm

Silly connecting of dots. Not even an unnamed source. Pure speculation. Any of us could have written the same thing. Yes, insurance against Lynch screwing up. Yes, paying a fair contract to a deserving player well-liked by his teammates. Yes, rewarding for performance. There's several reasons, not one single reason (lots of grays, sorry black and white guys) that the Bills offered him a nice multi-year contract.

 

So was Pat Williams. So was Nate Clements. So was Antoine Winfield. So was Jabari Greer. So was ...

 

Getting a good next contract isn't a function of acting professional and patient. It has a great deal to do with what the Bills feel like doing.

Exactly. It worked out in this case for Fred Jackson and his fans (myself among them).

 

Just like every other team in the league. You cannot sign everyone.

Exactly. Not everyone will get what they deserve (when they play nice) and but some will.

[ChasBB]

The level of football knowledge on this board baffles me.

I think Mr. Weo's comment was a shot at the Bills leadership among the players -- there is none.

[StupidNation]

Sometimes players need to be locked up in anticipation for the future. Evans is exactly that case. If you can't watch his game, and see that he'd be a top 5 WR with Manning/Brady, then I can't really help you.

 

That's laughable. The moment you think Evans is in the same breath as Fitz, Q, Johnson, Moss, and Smith you don't understand football.

[afcfan1]

Let them not care! He is a quality back in this league. IMO he is better than Lynch.

 

The guy is a frickin backup for the least important position on an NFL team. Who cares??? The Bills are not going to win any additional games because Fred Jackson is on the team.

[VJ91]

Why is it that you consider an employee who tries to get the highest salary he can to be greedy and selfish or not a "team player", whatever that means? Have you ever turned down a raise for the good of the team? Freddie isn't playing a game for kids, he is earning a living out there.

 

When Freddy's kids go to college, will the team be paying their tuition or Freddie?

 

First, I applauded Jackson's class despite his frustration with the process. You sound like you are accusing me of trashing him.

 

Secondly, when you try to compare pro athletes and their world with "regular employees" and our world, you are just wasting your time. If you were earning over $450,000.00 per year, as Jackson was, and you were able to earn it for 4 years, banking about half of it, would you then have any problems sending your kids to college? Now that Jackson and his agent have negotiated a salary worth about 5 times more then that, I can't imagine the cost of sending his kids to college will weigh too heavily on his mind. Pro athletes don't hold out for more money because they need it. They hold out for it because they think they deserve it, and it is a status symbol amoung their peers of acceptence and respect.

 

I mean come on now. Did Jackson get his degree from Coe? I think he did. But would that college degree line up a job in any other walk of life for him that would pay him the minimum $465,000.00 the Bills could have paid him without renegotiating? See what I mean? Playing the "I have to take care of my family" card is laughable to the rest of us taking care of our families earning hundreds of thousands per year less annualy.