This is a nice contract...especially if he meets all the incentives. By signing WR Evans, the Bills may have locked up a great future combination.
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Bills sign Evans, Losman in time for training camp

By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
July 31, 2004
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- Beyond salaries, there was a mental price Buffalo Bills general manager Tom Donahoe paid in getting both first-round draft picks signed Saturday.

``I'm numb,'' Donahoe said. ``It's been a tough week. ... We had so many things going on at the same time that it's amazing it all came together.''

In a few hours, the Bills reached deals with receiver Lee Evans and quarterback J.P. Losman. Evans was selected 13th overall out of Wisconsin, and Losman 22nd out of Tulane.

The moves came the day that Bills players reported for training camp, and it means the team will have all of its players under contract when practice opens Sunday in suburban Rochester.

Losman signed a five-year deal that included a $5.6 million signing bonus. The contract has a base salary of $7.7 million but could be worth up to $24.5 million if Losman meets all of his incentives.

Terms of Evans' deal were not immediately available but it's expected to be in the range of the five-year, $10 million contract signed by New York Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who was drafted 14th.

Complicating matters for the Bills was that they had little more than $4 million to sign all six draft picks.

Donahoe said he had to be creative and had only about $1,000 left after the deals were completed.

Evans set a career school record at Wisconsin with 175 catches for 3,468 yards and 26 touchdowns. He spent five years with the Badgers but missed the 2002 season with a knee injury. Last year, he led the Big Ten with 1,213 yards receiving and finished with 13 touchdowns in 13 games.

The Bills hope to groom Losman as an eventual replacement to veteran starter Drew Bledsoe. Losman is a strong-armed and mobile player who, last year, became only the third Tulane quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards. He finished with 3,077 yards passing, 33 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

The Bills were so interested in Losman that they gave up three draft picks, including a first-rounder next year, in a deal with Dallas to trade up into the first round.

``I can't even describe it, man,'' said Losman, shortly after he began unpacking his truck. ``The Bills, they stepped up in a big way and took care of it.''

Besides wanting to buy his mother a house, Losman said the only luxury he has afforded himself is the new pair of sneakers he was wearing.

``I'm here to work,'' Losman said. ``I feel not so much pressure, but the team has shown so much faith in me that it's my duty to back that up.''

Evans was expected to arrive at camp Saturday night and was not available for comment.

Receiver Eric Moulds spent the past few days with Evans, telling the rookie how important it was for him to report to camp on time.

``It was very important for him because we're counting on him doing some things for us this year,'' Moulds said.

Evans has an opportunity to become the Bills' deep-threat, a role they've lacked since before the beginning of last season, when they traded Peerless Price to Atlanta.

Rookie coach Mike Mularkey was pleased to have both first-rounders in camp before the first practice.

``It's a good start,'' Mularkey said. ``Every meeting, every walkthrough, everything we do, every second that we're together is critical. And there's some piece of information they may miss by missing one meeting.''