What an off season it has been for the Bills!! It has been one of the best in recent years and the best I can remember in some time. Back in the early to mid '90s when the Bills had great seasons and offseasons, I was too young to understand and appreciate it. Now after a 12-year playoff drought, I've really grown to appreciate and enjoy this off season. It just got better with the extension given to Fred Jackson.
The first thing the Bills really did to kickoff this off season was the contract extension of wide receiver Stevie Johnson. Johnson was set to become a free agent unless the Bills used their franchise tag on him, but thankfully they got the job done. Johnson has been a big part of Chan Gailey's offense the last two years as he is the first player in Bills history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Not even the great Andre Reed did that. Johnson has been a number one wide receiver and yes, he does crazy touchdown celebrations which have drawn fines and penalties and criticism. But he makes up for it on the field. By the way, Johnson is the lone wide receiver whom Darrelle Revis struggles with as Johnson has caught more passes for more yards against Revis than any other wide receiver. Had they let him go and figured he wasn't worth the money for his immature celebrations, then this off season would have probably just sucked. They would have had to probably draft a wide receiver in the 1st round to replace him and it would have been a joke. Johnson's signing set the tone for this fabulous off season so far. Of course one could argue it really all started when they gave Ryan Fitzpatrick a contract extension last October as they have their QB and receiver locked in.
The Bills went out and surprisingly were one of the most aggressive players in the free agent market. I heard they were talking a big game but I wasn't impressed until they landed a big player or two. They tried after wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Robert Meacham, but both signed elsewhere. Then they began going after the biggest free agent out there (not named Peyton Manning) in Mario Williams. Williams visited One Bills Drive first before any other team which was amazing. But again, if they fail to sign him, then it was a disappointment. Thankfully, the Bills managed to get Williams to sign before he even had a chance to visit elsewhere to a six-year, $100 million contract with $50 million guaranteed, most guaranteed money to a defensive player. Suddenly, the Bills became a contender as they were the talk of ESPN and all major networks for signing perhaps the biggest free agent out there. The Bills need Williams so bad because they need a pass rusher and they need as many great players as possible. In addition to Williams, the Bills also sign defensive end Mark Anderson, perhaps the second best defensive end free agent behind only Williams. The Bills went from one of the worst defensive lines to one of the best. Even though they couldn't get a big free agent wide receiver opposite Stevie, it was still a great off season.
Then came the draft, which the Bills seemed to pass with flying colors. They addressed their needs at corner back by taking South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore with the 10th pick and also took offensive tackle Cordy Glenn in the 2nd round, a player the Bills really seemed to like and were perhaps going to take him in the 1st round, but thankfully he fell right into their laps at 41. There were some who thought the Bills should have moved up to get USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil and give up their 2nd round pick, but I'm so glad they didn't. I don't value the tackle that much to move up and give up an early 2nd in the process, especially considering we got a potential shut down corner and hopefully a starting left tackle. I would only move up for a franchise QB. We will see how the other picks pan out. I wish they could still get a wide receiver, but there could be a guy available down the road and I am interested in seeing what TJ Graham could do. Like I've said before, the draft and off season would have been pointless had they not signed Williams as he was the key pickup.
Then there's the Fred Jackson contract extension Monday. I am amazed they were able to get Jackson an extension this early, I thought it would have lasted into training camp. But this team, that used to screw around with contracts, are prepared and willing to get their key players taken care and ready to go. You know the story about Jackson, undrafted out of tiny Coe College, played in both arena football (not the Arena Football League or even af2) and in NFL Europe. Jackson made the Bills in 2006 and had been a very good running back since. He became the first NFL player to have over 1,000 rushing and kickoff return yards in 2009. Last year, Jackson was among the NFL rushing leaders with 934 yards in the first 10 games before breaking his leg and ending his season. Jackson was such a huge part of the Bills offense during the 5-2 start. Even though he is 31 and generally running backs' careers end after 30, the Bills believe Jackson can still give them plenty in the next couple of years plus its a reward for all his hard work the last 6 years. There is also possible contract extensions for Jairus Byrd and Andy Levitre on the way.
The Bills in the past, maybe 3-5 years ago, were reluctant to give players contract extensions and sign free agents. When they'd sign a free agent or acquire someone in the off season via trade, it was usually a no name player or someone who was past his prime (IE Terrell Owens). The not resigning players and/or trading them away because they wouldn't resign them really bugged me. In order to win in this league, you need to have good players and you need to keep them. The Bills would be reluctant to not re-sign someone because they feel they could spend their money better, in other words, they were cheap. But they would pay a big price for being cheap. Anytime a player was a year away from their contract expiring, they would trade them away for a draft pick. Rather than re-sign a free agent, they'd let them walk. The solution: they would just draft their replacement. So instead of keeping good players and trying to fix holes and/or add depth, they would just keep creating more holes as if a rookie could replace the outgoing player. Here are some examples of players the Bills have let go: Pat Williams, Drew Bledsoe, Antoine Winfield, Nate Clements, Peerless Price (the first time), Willis McGahee, Marshawn Lynch, London Fletcher, Jabari Greer, Jason Peters to name a few. They are all pretty good players whether you loved all of them or not. Had they kept these players and signed and drafted others, the Bills wouldn't be on a 12-year playoff drought.
At least now giving Fitz, Stevie, and Freddy contract extensions along with the signing of Williams and Anderson and the last two drafts can hopefully give this fan base a playoff appearance. There should be no excuses for at least 9-7 or 10-6. Injuries can be a huge part. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but stay healthy. Trainers, do whatever you can to get these players to stay healthy and not get hurt. Go Bills!!!
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