Bills general manager Buddy Nix made a public statement this week about the team’s interest in signing running back Fred Jackson to a contract extension before the start of training camp.
It’s not the first time we’ve heard that from Nix, which begs the question of why he keeps on saying there’s interest without ever reaching agreement on a new deal. The only saying about protesting too much might come to mind, although Jackson and his agent remain confident that Nix will make good on his word.
“Buddy Nix has been honest and consistent with us all along,” Jackson’s agent Ron Raccuia said to Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 Radio in Buffalo. “I’m confident talks will get started in the next couple of months.”
It’s not like the Bills haven’t been busy since the start of the offseason. They’ve re-signed several members of the team while also bringing in free agent defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. Draft preparations will probably move into the forefront now, which likely means Jackson will have to wait a little bit longer.
While there’s probably a good bit of negotiating to be done about how to structure the deal for a 31-year-old running back, Jackson’s camp is right to be confident about the contract eventually getting done. Unless Jackson’s demands were totally unrealistic, it would be a big blow to the credibility of Nix and the Bills to make so many public comments about re-signing Jackson only to blow him off.