Post by lazarus on May 10, 2003 19:14:19 GMT -5
Posted on Sat, May. 10, 2003
Free-agent linebacker's agent cites desire for large role as reason contract not accepted
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal staff writer
CLEVELAND - Jamir Miller's time with the Browns is over.
The Browns withdrew their contract offer to the free-agent linebacker Thursday night and told Miller's agent, Leigh Steinberg, that they would move on without the player, Steinberg said Friday.
``Its understandable,'' Steinberg said. ``Because we had been in negotiations for some period of time. Obviously they had made proposals that Jamir didn't find acceptable. And it wasn't just one proposal; there were various options. There's some sadness there (on Miller's part) because obviously as Jamir began the process at the beginning of the off-season, his whole desire was to return to the Browns.
``But their projected use of him appeared to be more limited than the role he had played in his Pro Bowl, 13-sack season. Jamir's feeling has been that if he is going to play football that he could be a full-time contributor.''
The Browns' plans were to use Miller as a situational pass rusher. Steinberg said Miller wanted to play every down. That issue, not money, was what prompted him to not accept the team's offers, Steinberg said.
Steinberg added that Miller recently has been having trouble with the Achilles tendon he tore in the preseason last year.
``He's got some hard thinking to do,'' Steinberg said. ``He did visit a doctor (a foot specialist) in Los Angeles (Thursday) because there has been some swelling in the Achilles area of his foot. Part of the hesitation that occurred in these last couple weeks has been that his Achilles has really been bothering him and has not felt right.
``There's some question in his mind as to whether he could play (this year).''
Browns President Carmen Policy would not discuss the specifics of the letter he wrote Steinberg, but did say the Browns had waited long enough.
``I've tried 100 different ways to nicely say the time is now -- if he wants a deal with the Cleveland Browns he should do it now,'' Policy said. ``That plea has fallen on deaf ears -- or he has no incentive or interest in following through on it.''
With ``quarterback school'' starting next week, Policy said the team wants Miller signed and in Cleveland.
``He had to start getting back to being the kind of Cleveland Brown he was the year he went to the Pro Bowl,'' Policy said. ``We feel that it's just not going to work unless he really makes an effort, and we haven't seen that effort.''
Not re-signing Miller means the only Brown to reach the Pro Bowl since the team returned in 1999 will not be back.
The Browns feel strongly, though, that they made a sincere and strong effort to bring Miller back.
One offer the team had on the table included a $1 million signing bonus. The Browns felt the offer was more than fair, given that Miller was coming back from a serious injury and incentives could have earned Miller more money.
``Carmen has been honest and up front in all of the discussions we've had, and certainly we couldn't have asked for more in the way he's conducted the discussions,'' Steinberg said.
As a free agent, Miller talked to the Browns and visited Tampa Bay and Baltimore. The Ravens were very eager to sign Miller, but he never responded to their offer. The Ravens ended discussions with Miller after drafting Terrell Suggs.
The Browns felt that was the opening the team might need, but he still did not accept the club's offer.
``His sole focus was returning to the Browns and spending the remainder of his career there,'' Steinberg said. ``His intention was to move his family there full time. He had every hope and expectation that he would be playing a vital role for them. But, again, in the role that the Browns outlined he would be more of a situation player.''
Miller came to the Browns as a free agent prior to the 1999 season. When he started that year strong, the Browns tore up his deal and gave him a new one, then extended it through 2003.
In 2001, Miller had the best season of his career with 114 tackles and 13 sacks. He was named the team's Player of the Year by the local chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America and went to the Pro Bowl.
But shortly after returning, he asked for his contract -- which called for him to make $3.475 million in 2002 and $3.975 million in '03 -- to be renegotiated. Part of his demand was a signing bonus in excess of $10 million.
The Browns declined to make a major adjustment but did put new incentives in the '02 deal. The relationship between Miller and Coach Butch Davis became strained when Miller missed most of the team's off-season workouts. He tore his Achilles in the first preseason game, which ended his season and effectively ended the contract talks.
After the season, the Browns honored a commitment they had made to Miller by putting a $14 million roster bonus in his contract. The team knew it wouldn't pay the bonus, but also knew not paying it would allow Miller to test the free agent market.
The Browns felt confident that once Miller tested the market, he would see the team's offer was fair.
Things seemed to be working, except Miller never accepted the offer.
Now the Browns move on with the young linebackers Davis drafted the past two seasons.
Free-agent linebacker's agent cites desire for large role as reason contract not accepted
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal staff writer
CLEVELAND - Jamir Miller's time with the Browns is over.
The Browns withdrew their contract offer to the free-agent linebacker Thursday night and told Miller's agent, Leigh Steinberg, that they would move on without the player, Steinberg said Friday.
``Its understandable,'' Steinberg said. ``Because we had been in negotiations for some period of time. Obviously they had made proposals that Jamir didn't find acceptable. And it wasn't just one proposal; there were various options. There's some sadness there (on Miller's part) because obviously as Jamir began the process at the beginning of the off-season, his whole desire was to return to the Browns.
``But their projected use of him appeared to be more limited than the role he had played in his Pro Bowl, 13-sack season. Jamir's feeling has been that if he is going to play football that he could be a full-time contributor.''
The Browns' plans were to use Miller as a situational pass rusher. Steinberg said Miller wanted to play every down. That issue, not money, was what prompted him to not accept the team's offers, Steinberg said.
Steinberg added that Miller recently has been having trouble with the Achilles tendon he tore in the preseason last year.
``He's got some hard thinking to do,'' Steinberg said. ``He did visit a doctor (a foot specialist) in Los Angeles (Thursday) because there has been some swelling in the Achilles area of his foot. Part of the hesitation that occurred in these last couple weeks has been that his Achilles has really been bothering him and has not felt right.
``There's some question in his mind as to whether he could play (this year).''
Browns President Carmen Policy would not discuss the specifics of the letter he wrote Steinberg, but did say the Browns had waited long enough.
``I've tried 100 different ways to nicely say the time is now -- if he wants a deal with the Cleveland Browns he should do it now,'' Policy said. ``That plea has fallen on deaf ears -- or he has no incentive or interest in following through on it.''
With ``quarterback school'' starting next week, Policy said the team wants Miller signed and in Cleveland.
``He had to start getting back to being the kind of Cleveland Brown he was the year he went to the Pro Bowl,'' Policy said. ``We feel that it's just not going to work unless he really makes an effort, and we haven't seen that effort.''
Not re-signing Miller means the only Brown to reach the Pro Bowl since the team returned in 1999 will not be back.
The Browns feel strongly, though, that they made a sincere and strong effort to bring Miller back.
One offer the team had on the table included a $1 million signing bonus. The Browns felt the offer was more than fair, given that Miller was coming back from a serious injury and incentives could have earned Miller more money.
``Carmen has been honest and up front in all of the discussions we've had, and certainly we couldn't have asked for more in the way he's conducted the discussions,'' Steinberg said.
As a free agent, Miller talked to the Browns and visited Tampa Bay and Baltimore. The Ravens were very eager to sign Miller, but he never responded to their offer. The Ravens ended discussions with Miller after drafting Terrell Suggs.
The Browns felt that was the opening the team might need, but he still did not accept the club's offer.
``His sole focus was returning to the Browns and spending the remainder of his career there,'' Steinberg said. ``His intention was to move his family there full time. He had every hope and expectation that he would be playing a vital role for them. But, again, in the role that the Browns outlined he would be more of a situation player.''
Miller came to the Browns as a free agent prior to the 1999 season. When he started that year strong, the Browns tore up his deal and gave him a new one, then extended it through 2003.
In 2001, Miller had the best season of his career with 114 tackles and 13 sacks. He was named the team's Player of the Year by the local chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America and went to the Pro Bowl.
But shortly after returning, he asked for his contract -- which called for him to make $3.475 million in 2002 and $3.975 million in '03 -- to be renegotiated. Part of his demand was a signing bonus in excess of $10 million.
The Browns declined to make a major adjustment but did put new incentives in the '02 deal. The relationship between Miller and Coach Butch Davis became strained when Miller missed most of the team's off-season workouts. He tore his Achilles in the first preseason game, which ended his season and effectively ended the contract talks.
After the season, the Browns honored a commitment they had made to Miller by putting a $14 million roster bonus in his contract. The team knew it wouldn't pay the bonus, but also knew not paying it would allow Miller to test the free agent market.
The Browns felt confident that once Miller tested the market, he would see the team's offer was fair.
Things seemed to be working, except Miller never accepted the offer.
Now the Browns move on with the young linebackers Davis drafted the past two seasons.
