Jason Peters Holdout Continues

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The Buffalo Bills broke training camp outside of Rochester, NY yesterday without Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters who hasn’t reported to the team since last season. Jason has missed 21 practices, 16 walkthroughs, two preseason games and 28 total days since camp opened July 25. That translates to the Bills fining him more than $420,000 — or about $15,000 for each day he’s missed. And that doesn’t include the $8,600 Jason was docked for missing two mandatory minicamp practices in June. The fines get steeper once the regular season begins. He’ll be fined a percentage of his salary for each week he’s absent. But who’s counting?

I understand the reason for Jason’s absence. He’s scheduled to make a base salary of $3.25 million this season. That’s considered low for a player who protects quarterback Trent Edwards’ blindside. He’s currently Buffalo’s third-highest paid offensive lineman, behind guard Derrick Dockery and right tackle Langston Walker. I’ve heard varying stories on the Bills’ willingness to negotiate with Jason — a.) that they won’t negotiate a new deal until after the 2008 season and b.) that they won’t negotiate any kind of a new deal or extension until Jason reports to the team.

What’s so unusual is that Jason and his agent aren’t talking to head coach Dick Jauron or any Bills execs. I guess it’s in Jason’s best interests to get with the program because it doesn’t look like anything is going to get accomplished under the current standoff.

Source: NFL.com