Rival revival: Milloy signs with Bills

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff, 9/4/2003

If it had been a few years earlier, Lawyer Milloy wouldn't have handled it like this. Just moments after agreeing to an estimated four-year, $15 million deal with a signing bonus of approximately $5 million with the Buffalo Bills, a day after being released by the Patriots, Milloy declined to take shots at the Patriots on his way out the door.

"I just don't want to do it that way," said Milloy, who will earn about $9.75 million in the first two years of the contract and close to $7 million (including bonus and a $2 million base salary this season). "I think I've come a long way like that."

Not that he didn't say what he felt. He's always done that.

He was disappointed in Bill Belichick, the coach he endorsed in 2000, when he and Belichick were signed to longterm deals. He didn't like the way Belichick handled his situation in the end, and he acknowledged that at one point last Thursday when Belichick informed him he'd be released if he didn't take a pay cut. "I walked out on him," said Milloy, explaining he felt betrayed by someone he respected and had played hard for.

Asked to respond, Belichick said only that he has "a lot of respect for Lawyer as a person and a player."

Milloy wasn't in a funk too long after he was released.

"The Buffalo Bills made me feel good again," said Milloy. "They stepped right up to the plate. They made their best offer, and it showed me how much they wanted me. All of the teams in it -- Washington, New Orleans, they all gave a great shot. I was getting calls from general managers and owners and they were making me feel so wanted. I can't tell you how much I needed that after the last few days in New England."

The days leading up to his release were not the most pleasant in Milloy's NFL career. When he returned to Foxborough last Sunday for practice, he asked Belichick the same question he asked himself out loud: "Why are you doing this to me?" He had been the loyal soldier, the perfect teammate. He had taken the leadership role, did everything the coach and the organization asked him to do. He never missed a practice or a game.

Milloy said the Sunday meeting with Belichick was more cordial. Belichick told him how much he appreciated what he had done for the team and the organization. But it wasn't enough.

"I play this game for pride and respect, and I don't feel like I got it back," said Milloy.

According to Milloy, he saw this coming.

After Milloy's previous agent, Ray Anderson, left to become a vice president with the Atlanta Falcons, Milloy hired Carl Poston of Houston, known as a tough negotiator.

"Carl Poston is the best agent in the NFL," said Milloy. "He did an unbelievable job in this situation."

Milloy said the Patriots wanted him to take a $1.9 million cut in pay, from $4.4 million to $2.5 million, the amount he made in 2002. Milloy wouldn't budge, and Poston negotiated with Patriots vice president Andy Wasynczuk for the better part of the weekend.

Milloy did confirm the sides had been getting closer. In the end, Milloy said the Patriots wanted him to cut his salary to $3 million, a $1.4 million cut.

Milloy said Poston was given the go-ahead to pursue other deals. According to Milloy, Washington jumped out of the gate with interest. CNN/SI reported that the Redskins may have made Milloy a seven-year offer, with a $6.5 million signing bonus and average salary of $3.6 million.

As more calls were made, Poston and Milloy realized there was a market for Milloy's services, and a pretty good market.

"I think the Patriots felt that I wouldn't be able to get this kind of deal this close to the beginning of the season," said Milloy. "I came back to them and said unless you match this, I'm gone."

Rather than accept the Patriots' ultimatum, Milloy said he asked for his release and he was granted his wish.

Milloy was also angry at a rumor -- which he thought was initiated by the Patriots -- spreading around the league that he had lost quite a bit of speed.

"I've never worked harder on my conditioning and my speed more than I have this offseason," said Milloy. "I did a 4.3 40-yard for the Patriots in the offseason. You can ask the strength coach."

With the Patriots moving to a 3-4 defense, he understood "this was going to be a linebacker-oriented defense. And when they asked me take a pay cut, knowing what this defense had become, why would I do that? This just accelerated the free agent process for me. I knew this was probably my last season in New England. But I thought we had one more year together. Those guys -- like Ty [Law] and [Tom] Brady, those guys are my brothers. I loved playing with them. I'll miss them so much."

As for the fans, "I feel bad for them. They were always behind me. I can't tell you about the outpouring I've received from the fans through this. They've been so behind me. I get really emotional about it because they deserved better. I'll never forget the people there."

Milloy said he's been in close contact with Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe through the negotiations. And Milloy knows how much the both of them want to win a championship.

"I'm going to a very good team," said Milloy. "I just hope I can go in there and contribute right away. I know I can. I just have to learn the system and get that down. I know the fans in Buffalo love their team. The fans are really into it. I'm going to feed off that."

About facing the Patriots right off the bat, "What more can you ask for?"