Bills near a trade of Spikes Linebacker expectedto bring draft pick By Mark Gaughan NEWS SPORTS REPORTER Updated: 03/25/07 8:24 AM http://www.buffalonews.com/111/story/39588.html The Buffalo Bills are getting closer to trading linebacker Takeo Spikes, The Buffalo News has learned. Trade negotiations gained steam Friday and Saturday, and a deal might be consummated within the next day, a league source told The News. Numerous teams reportedly were interested in acquiring the 30-year-old former Pro Bowler, but which one ultimately would win his services still was not known Saturday night. Spikes is entering what likely would be the final year of his contract with the Bills, and a trade may involve Spikes agreeing to a new contract with his new team. The Bills have an option to pick up the last year of Spikes’ contract, in 2008. Spikes has been scouting potential trade partners, with the approval of the Bills, who have had him on the trade block. Any willing partner Spikes found, of course, has to meet the Bills’ trade demand, which is expected to be draft-pick compensation. Finances are playing a big part in the Spikes move, and they are the reason his trade has been expected for weeks. The Bills have made big free-agent purchases the past month and have committed about $105 million to this year’s player costs, by News estimates. They do not intend to spend more than the NFL salary cap total of $112 million in real dollars this year. (Teams are allowed to spend cash over the cap because signing bonuses can be spread out over the length of the contract for accounting purposes.) The Bills still need to spend a lot of money to sign their draft choices. That total could exceed $10 million, depending on how they structure the contracts. They also must keep some money in reserve to replace injured players during the season. So it’s hard to see how they could avoid spending over the cap in real money with Spikes, who is scheduled to make $4.6 million, on the roster. The trade of Spikes will be a big vote of confidence for Keith Ellison, the sixth-round draft pick from 2006 who started seven games last year and got good reviews. He’s virtually assured of one of the starting outside linebacker jobs this season. Angelo Crowell will man another starting spot, either in the middle or on the outside. The Bills will have to add someone, either via the draft or free agency or both, to join the starting linebacker corps.
that would be good for the jets, but i dont see that happening. He;s too good for them to give up another good player.
it might be the giants again since the al wilson deal fell through and their linebacker situation isnt too great.
Giants need anyone who can tackle. I hope they get Wilson or Spikes, im tired of seeing half ass tackles
Agreed. Cowart was my favorite player at one point too.. Such a huge injury, Cowart was on his way to an outstanding career being compared to Ray Lewis and such. Spikes probably won't ever be the same.
