NoCalMike Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=1608029 Tuesday, September 2, 2003 By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com If safety Lawyer Milloy is a veteran of at least moderately declining skills, as suggested by some New England officials after a Tuesday morning departure that sent shockwaves through the Patriots locker room, other teams around the league clearly don't share that assessment of him. Within two hours of Milloy's stunning release, ESPN.com reported Tuesday afternoon that the Buffalo Bills had already made a solid contract offer. By Tuesday night, Milloy and his representatives were mulling offers from at least three franchises, ESPN.com had learned. And a decision on where the seven-year veteran will resume his career could come as early as Wednesday, as some of the teams are seeking an expeditious resolution, and negotiations on all fronts are accelerating. "We'd sign him right now and play him on Sunday," said Buffalo team president Tom Donahoe. "We've made it clear that we want him here." The Bills host the Patriots in Sunday's regular-season opener in what already is viewed as a critical AFC East matchup. Beyond the Bills, the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints have made offers and remain in the hunt. It is believed Washington has offered a multi-year contract that would pay Milloy about $5 million over the first two seasons. League sources said that the Saints had offered a three-year contract. The Minnesota Vikings demonstrated early interest and then, when they saw where the market was headed, backed off later in the day. The New York Jets also made at least one exploratory phone call but it is believed their interest waned as well. Responses were mixed when ESPN.com phoned league personnel directors and general managers throughout the day Tuesday to ask if they think Milloy's abilities had declined. But most personnel men surveyed said they felt Milloy is still among the NFL's top players at his position. Several noted that his big-play skills were somewhat diminished but that he still had several good years remaining. "It doesn't show up on film," said one general manager of Milloy's alleged decline. Milloy was entering the fourth season of a seven-year, $35 million contract that was seen as a landmark deal for a safety when he signed it in 2000. New England will save $4.4 million on its 2003 cap but will have to count about $6 million on its 2004 spending limit because of various prorated signing bonus segments. Patriots sources said late Tuesday night that keeping Milloy on the regular-season roster would have pushed the team over the 2003 cap limit and perhaps forced the release of a starter or two. During the offseason, the so-called "rule of 51" applies to a team's salary cap, meaning it must count only its highest-paid 51 players against the ceiling. But when the regular season begins, every player under contract counts against the cap, and a club's account typically rises. The scheduled 2003 cap charge for Milloy was $5.836 million. The two sides had been working on a potential reworked deal for four or five months but could not get together on numbers amenable to Milloy and the Patriots brass. Of the three teams known to still be chasing Milloy, all offer a degree of attractiveness, and he may ultimately be forced to decide between money and a chance to perhaps play in a third Super Bowl game. In Buffalo, he would be reunited with former New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who urged Bills officials to sign Milloy, and who spoke with the safety by phone a few times on Tuesday. There is also the specter of being able to play the Patriots twice yearly, an obvious revenge element. Bledsoe, who is being counted on to demonstrate his skills as a recruiter, figures to be Buffalo's big plus. The Bills want more big plays from their safeties and their current starters, Pierson Prioleau and Coy Wire, combined for zero interceptions in 2002. Going to New Orleans would reunite Milloy with his former Patriots safety partner, Tebucky Jones, who was traded to the Saints this spring. During the several weeks in which team officials were negotiating the Jones swap, ESPN.com confirmed the Patriots several times offered Milloy as an alternative in the trade. New Orleans last week lost starting free safety Mel Mitchell to a knee injury. Last year's starter, Jay Bellamy, has been promoted into the lineup. Some Saints officials see him, though, as a liability in the club's revamped defense. Given the past history of owner Daniel Snyder, the Redskins may well offer the most money of all Milloy's suitors. Washington has more than $5 million in cap room, may not blink if the financial ante is raised, and certainly could use a player of Milloy's ilk to anchor its interior secondary. One of the Saints' players said Tuesday night that Milloy had hinted he favored the Redskins but wanted more time to consider his decision. While the action was heated for the teams pursuing Milloy, his former New England teammates remained puzzled by the move, and by its unusual timing. "Has it ever been this quiet in here? I don't think it has," said linebacker Tedy Bruschi, a former Milloy teammate, of the Pats' locker room. "I think 'shocked' is the word. . . . You sort of just shake your head and ask yourself, 'Why?' " Milloy started in 106 consecutive games going back to his rookie year in 1996, when the Patriots won the AFC championship but lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI. He led the team in tackles in 2001, when New England won Super Bowl XXXVI. But last year, Milloy had no sacks, no forced fumbles, no sacks and no interceptions. His 91 tackles represented his fewest since he became a full-time starter. The Patriots will not concede this point, at least not publicly, but some team officials and coaches felt Milloy had not performed on the field to his salary level. Said coach Bill Belichick in announcing the release: "Today is a day that nobody is happy about. This isn't the way we wanted this story to end. This is the hardest player that I have had to release. It was the hardest situation that I've had to go through like this, here or anywhere else." The Patriots have said they did not make the move in order to create a position for a player to be added from outside the organization. They stressed publicly the release was a financial matter only and said Milloy's successor will come from a group of younger players that includes Antwan Harris, Aric Morris and Chris Akins, none of whom has ever been a starter. "It is scary in the timing," said New England cornerback Ty Law, who has the same agent as Milloy, and who has also been approached about reworking his contract. "There is such a thing as good business and bad business. I don't know what category this one falls under. But to my eyes, and being selfish, at this late in the game and in regard to him and his family, I'm sure this is something that could have been done a long time ago." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 there goes Champ's bonus :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoCalMike Posted September 3, 2003 Author Share Posted September 3, 2003 Mulit-year contract for 5 million a year. Wow. It is still early, but already a Saints player said he favors the Redskins so far. Hmmm, this is interesting. I didn't think the Skins would go after him this aggresively. What do you think people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 there goes Champ's bonus :laugh: is there an echo in here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 The rumor in this article says Milloy would receive $5 million over two years, not $5 million a year. Depending on what we're talking about here I'm very interested. At a $2.5 million cap hit average this year and next, I'd try everything in my power to make this happen. And, as we know, if it's true Snyder really wants this guy, you might as well fit him for a uniform. The problem is how little time he'd have to actually come in and be a real contributor here this year. It's so late and he'd have so much to learn, especially in a system that would like to interchange the free and strong safety in disguise. He'd have to be seriously on the same page with everyone else back there and I don't know that he could be for months. I like this as a potential move. I think it seriously improves our secondary and our team in terms of talent. It's simply a matter of how long it would take to translate the system into terms that allow Milloy to be an athlete and play without tentative steps having to think through everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Punani2 Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 One of the Saints' players said Tuesday night that Milloy had hinted he favored the Redskins but wanted more time to consider his decision. SUPRIZE!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeB Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 It's tempting to think of it... He would solidify a position that continually kills us. We seem to get burned deep at least once a game, costing us critical points. The only (huge) question mark is the DL. If they are decent this year then he would be a huge help and could virtually assure us of fielding a top 10 defense. If the line is porous though, no safety will help that, especially not a 5 mil/yr safety. It would all be for naught. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wicked Wop Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 I like this as a potential move. I think it seriously improves our secondary and our team in terms of talent. It's simply a matter of how long it would take to translate the system into terms that allow Milloy to be an athlete and play without tentative steps having to think through everything. I would say probably the 4th or 5th game.....atleast to the point you could depend on him back there. At 2.5 mil over the first 2 years however, I would do it in a heartbeat......maybe it doesn't payoff till after the Bye, but thats the stretch run anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thinking Skins Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 What the heck do the saints players know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Punani2 Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Well, you can't address everything in one season. The Skins will have to improve the DL through the draft next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMac Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 I think it would be awesome to have a pro bowl safety back there at 2.5 mil a year. When was the last time we all didnt cringe when we saw a deep bomb thrown and we PRAYED that it wasnt thrown at Terrell's direction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Punani2 Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Champ, Smoot, Milloy, and Bowen would be an awesome secondary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurent Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 I guess the good thing that could come out of the suspended Champ negotiations is that we have roughly $5million of cap space to play with this season. We could easily give him a front loaded contract with a high base salary for this year and then avoid bigger salary numbers for the following years. If Washington pulls of they better make damn sure that he isn't in fact declining as some may be suggesting. Carrier... anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsanity56 Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 i like this alot.it may take a few weeks to acclimate him to our system and we'd probably have to simplify some schemes defensively but he'd definitely give us instant respect in the backfield..i don't believe his skills have deteriorated to the point that 2.5mil is overpaid.he's got a few good/quality yrs left.look at woodson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redsk58417 Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Originally posted by NoCalMike Mulit-year contract for 5 million a year. Wow. It is still early, but already a Saints player said he favors the Redskins so far. Hmmm, this is interesting. I didn't think the Skins would go after him this aggresively. What do you think people? How I understand it, it was $5 Mil over *TWO* seasons. Not $5 mil a year. The Skins could still make a run at Bailey. They are approx. $3.45 Mil under as of today. If this Publication is correct the Skins are as much as $5 Mil+ under. If Milloy's contract is say, a 6 years $30 mil contract with a $7 Mil signing bonus and a modest $750K opening annual salary. Milloy would only count about $1.92 mil towards the cap. If these reports are true, that'll leave approx. $3.08 mil to sign Bailey. It could be done if the reported $5 Mil under is true. It'll be tougher with the more realistic estimate of $3.45Mil that is being reported by ESPN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom [Giants fan] Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Bufford, Why don't you tell us how you really feel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truant Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 The Saints source has to be Tebucky Jones. They played together their whole careers. If Lawyer isn't leaning towards New Orleans to be matched up with Jones, then the bills and redskins are really in the hunt. At 2.5 a year, i'd do it. He is a proven leader and is still a top 5 safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 If Ithis team was a playoff team/contender, I would be all for it. However, I think we are a year away from being a contender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Punani2 Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Originally posted by Truant The Saints source has to be Tebucky Jones. They played together their whole careers. If Lawyer isn't leaning towards New Orleans to be matched up with Jones, then the bills and redskins are really in the hunt. At 2.5 a year, i'd do it. He is a proven leader and is still a top 5 safety. Yeah, it was Tebucky Jones who quoted Milloy. I hope we sign him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskool Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Originally posted by Johnny Punani Champ, Smoot, Milloy, and Bowen would be an awesome secondary For the one to two years we could get out of Champ (with the tag) and Milloy not losing a step, it would be. after that it would explode in our faces. :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Sporting News Radio has reported that the skins have dropped out of the race. Sounds like he is going to be a Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yomar Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 I've heard that the best way to get promoted in some companies is to leave for a while and then come back at a higher salary, maybe thats what Champ has to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaSkin Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 He's been to the Pro Bowl 4 of the last 5 years. He's 29 which means that he's likely got a few years of solid play in front of him. We have a holes at safety. I like Bowen a lot but would much rather have him be our 2nd best safety. If we can do this deal for $5 million a year DO IT!!! This guy is a veteran who's been a leader in the clubhouse. We get him we may well have the best secondary in the league. That right there is a big help to the DL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins23 Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Milloy would be a great move! Low risk,high reward...If it works out and he regains his Pro Bowl form then it could mean the difference from being a good defense to a great defense.If it doesn't...then no big deal...the salary doesn't seem like to much of a burden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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