Tim Graham of the Buffalo News expects to see Bills S Jairus Byrd hold out of the team’s training camp and return before the start of the 2013 season.
- Graham adds that he would be “less surprised if he misses games than he signs before camp ends.“
The Bills were unable to reach an agreement with Byrd on a long-term contract before the deadline. In fact, the two sides were never close to a deal that would keep Byrd in Buffalo beyond the 2013 season.
Skipping training camp really is not much of surprise, but he does have an incentive to join the team for the start of the season and collect his game checks that will add up to $6.9 million.
We have Byrd listed as the No. 5 player in our Top 50 – 2014 Free Agents list.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
To: Jarius, I feel for you, you are in tough situation. I believe you have to accept the things you can not change and change the things you can. I believe it is in your best interest to show up at St. John Fisher in top shape, learn the new system and prove to the Sapp’s of this world that you are worth every penny you deserve. If it makes you feel better bring a sign with you “Welcome to the Bills Training Camp the NFL’s premier Minor League Organization.” Then bust your butt, and prove to the BILLS and every team in the NFL that your are not just a Pro Bowl Safety but an ALL PRO SAFETY. Then sign with anybody but the BILLS, and laugh all the way to the bank.!
If Byrd holds out for the entire training camp he does nothing but hurts himself and this team. He may end up being the real loser not being familiar with the new defense and coming into the season out of shape. Decreased performance and possible injuries spell lower paychecks in the future.
I totally agree. We see this every year it seems where a player shows up days before the start of the season and needs weeks to get into game-shape. The fact that Byrd needs to learn a new system only complicates the situation further and you bring up a great point about a possible injury.
The Bills could always franchise him again next season, considering that it would cost them close to $8.2M, which is right in line with the average base salary of the top safeties like Eric Berry, DaShon Goldson and Eric Weddle. This is of course assuming that they would be willing to pay him that much and long-term contract talks weren’t progressing.
Nice…by the time he learns the defense and gets into game shape……he might be actually useful by mid-season….