Digger44

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3768911.html

Bills haggling with Texans over compensation

By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Talks continued Monday between the Texans and Buffalo Bills over wide receiver Eric Moulds, who is in town to meet with Texans officials and take a physical.

Last week, Moulds, 32, agreed to a $14 million four-year contract with the Texans, which included a $5 million signing bonus. But because Moulds is under contract for two more years with the Bills, the Texans must give compensation to the Bills to make the trade complete.


Negotiations between Texans general manager Charley Casserly and Bills general manager Marv Levy continued Monday. The Bills are asking for a fourth-round pick in the April draft; the Texans are offering a fifth-round pick.

If the Bills don't accept the Texans' offer, they risk losing Moulds for nothing. They have failed in their attempts to restructure Moulds' contract, and they have made it clear to Moulds that they will not pay the base salary of $7.1 million that he's due next season.

If the Bills cut Moulds, they receive no compensation.

Moulds, 6-2 and 210 pounds, spent the past 10 seasons in Buffalo. The three-time Pro Bowler has accumulated more than 1,000 receiving yards in four seasons, most recently in 2004. If he joins the Texans, he will start opposite Andre Johnson.


Whoa, only a 4th or 5th? We could offer 4th right now and get him. Don't like the $5 mil signing bonus, but we could do it easily. $14 mil over 4 isnt that bad either.

BelichickFan

It takes two to tango. The Bills are probably happier getting a 4 or 5 from Houston than a 3 or 4 from us.

Digger44

ya this makes no sense to me though. i think moulds is worth a 3rd rounder.

BelichickFan

I can't say I'd be upset with a #3 plus the above mentioned contract but at his age it's still a lot. Honestly I'm getting tired of the draft choice for player thing. We've now trade a #2, #3 and #5 and gotten : One good year of Dillon, one bad year of Dillon, one bad year of Starks and one unmemorable year of Andre Davis.

Given our draft history we seem to be better off going that route.

Digger44

good thoughts, never saw it that way.

JoeSixPat

Marv Levy is old school - you don't trade a guy like Moulds within the Division.

Once it became clear that they weren't going to release him it became clear that the Patriots really had no shot of getting him.

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BelichickFan

Well the last time they traded within the division it didn't really work out for them

Ty Warren for a benched Bledsoe - thanks Donahoe

flutie2phelan

Creative arrangement!

That one good year of Dillon, though ... to me ... is worth the 2nd-rounder.
It's the rich extension we offered that causes the burping about him now.

Funny thing, when you look back over the big picture, doesn't it seem? ... as if Belioli
are just average judges of pro-player talent (FAs and trades) ...
while being superb judges of collegiate talent (draftees and UDFAs).
That's a little counter-intuitive because they watch the pro guys play live and surely watch much more film starring NFL-ers than collegians.

Are the Pats' scouting squads that different in ability?

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BelichickFan

Arrange it how you like - it is what it is

Tough to disagree with any of that.

Pats726

Also, Moulds was looking more at Phillie..