The Bills and receiver Stevie Johnson appear to be ready to work out a deal on a long-term contract.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Bills and Johnson are on the verge of a five-year contract that is likely to be completed today.
Schefter writes that the Bills and Johnson’s agent had a long negotiation session on Sunday and are hoping to finalize their agreement on Monday.
Johnson’s agent, C.J. LaBoy, said recently that he was optimistic after a very productive meeting with the Bills. It appears that he had reason for optimism.
After being nothing but a bit player in his first two seasons, Johnson burst onto the scene in 2010 and has now had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. In Week 17 Bills coach Chan Gailey benched Johnson for picking up a celebration penalty, and there was some talk that the Bills were so angry about Johnson’s antics that they would let him walk in free agency. But the 25-year-old Johnson is among the Bills’ best offensive playmakers, and they appear set to keep him in the fold for a long time.