by Steve
I know no one reads newspapers any more but in a sports town with basically only two major media outlets (WGR550 and the Buffalo News) we don't have many options. A lot of people's minds are molded by what the writers at the News say and what the people on WGR say. Just have a conversation with any random person and they are usually repeating whatever someone at either of those outlets recently said.
That's why when dumbasses like Bucky Gleason
write shit like this it pisses me off. I'm not saying everyone needs to be a homer and just say what we want to hear but at least say things with logical reasoning or have a freaking fact checker on staff.
"Williams was obtained for a sixth-round pick, which ever-optimistic
Bills fans viewed as a bargain for a player of his caliber. The deal
does look like a steal ... for the Bucs. They shopped him across the NFL
and considered waiving him before dumping the remainder of his
six-year, $40.25 million contract."
A sixth round pick for anything is not a "steal" it is a sixth round pick. Dustin Hopkins, Mark Asper, Chris White, Bryce Drake anyone? Oh they were Bills sixth round picks the last four years.
"New Bucs coach Lovie Smith, a respected NFL voice and class act, made it
clear that Tampa Bay had no room for players such as Williams. They
effectively ridded themselves of a headache and created some cap space
in the process."
Lovie Smith is respected? No he isn't, the guy is a bum. But the best part is the cap space. Bucky Gleason knows what Google is right? I mean he must because he certainly doesn't do any independent reporting. Here is a breakdown of Williams contract from
ESPN:
In 2014, Williams’ base salary is a guaranteed $1.2 million and his cap
figure is $1.8 million. In 2015, Williams’ base salary rises to a
guaranteed $5.2 million and his cap figure will be $6.8 million.
In 2016, the base salary is $5.6 million with a $1 million roster
bonus and a $600,000 workout bonus, and his cap figure will be $7.2
million.
$1.8 in cap space!!!! How shit the Buccaneers are geniuses!! They could sign their fourth round pick now! Furthermore, this "headache" could be cut by the Bills and all they would lose is a 6th round pick if this awful Michael Williams is such a drain on society.
"Williams is young, single and absurdly wealthy after signing his
extension with the Bucs. I'm guessing he's incredibly immature. His
behavior could be filed under Young and Dumb, but it also means
accepting the idea that Williams is selfish and reckless and a major
risk for the Bills."
Reckless because he likes to have friends over to party instead of going out on the town and getting into trouble? Eek don't have fun, don't do anything but concentrate on football 24/7. A major risk? A major risk is giving this guy a ton of guaranteed money (there is none in the contract he already signed). A minor risk is giving away a late round pick for a player that can actually make an impact on the field.
"Dude, seriously?"
Dude, seriously? Are you a paid (presumably) sports writer or a high school sports blogger?
"The Bills knew what they were getting into with Williams long before
making the trade. Williams' past was hardly a secret. Most recently,
his brother stabbed him in the leg and is facing criminal charges.
Overall, his career has been littered with problems going back to his
days at Syracuse.
The Bills should have picked up the telephone
and asked a few people around Western New York about Williams before
trading for him. You don't need to be an expert in 40-yard dash times
and the intricacies of route running to offer advice. You need to have
eyes and ears in the community."
Did you just contradict yourself within the span of two paragraphs? You say the Bills knew what they were getting then assume they didn't talk to any local people about a guy that grew up in Buffalo? Anyone else feel like their head is going to explode?
"But, apparently, the Bills believe a wide receiver who already had a
run-in with their coach, who has a lengthy arrest record, who is coming
back from a season-ending injury and was stabbed by a sibling, is the
answer."
Uh yeah, because you can't just get a guy that makes an impact for basically nothing unless there is risk involved (albeit very little ie a 6th round draft pick). This is professional sports not high school. You take the good with the bad. Do you want to win or do you want to be the small town small minded holier than thou lovable losers? The guy has ZERO, yes ZERO, violent offenses. Who doesn't run red lights or like to party when you are 26 and have a ton of money?
Oh wait, I saved the best for last:
"Bills coach Doug Marrone knows Williams, so maybe he can fix him.
Then again, how well does Marrone really know Williams? He never coached
him at Syracuse. Marrone took over in 2009. Williams already was
suspended once and was facing another when he left the team before
Syracuse played a game under Marrone."
Yes, Bucky Gleason actually wrote that and it was printed in the newspaper and is still online as we speak. Let's take a look at the timeline here:
December 1, 2008 Doug Marrone is hired as Syracuse head football coach. Mike Williams played for Syracuse football on Sept 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, October 3rd, 10th, 24th. He played in 7 games in Marrone's first season and he was
kicked off the team with four games left in the season. So, yes in fact Williams DID play for Marrone at Syracuse.
Maybe I could be your fact checker, then again I'm not getting paid to do this. But it worked out great when Marshawn Lynch was ran out of town.