When it comes right down to it, Jason Peters didn’t want to be a Buffalo Bill.

The franchise that signed the overweight, nonathletic, and undrafted Tight End out of Arkansas in 2004 traded the disgruntled left tackle to the Philadelphia Eagles for this year’s 28th overall pick, a 4th round pick this year, and a conditional pick in next year’s draft (believed to be a 6th rounder).

Let me preface this justification with the acknowledgment that having Jason Peters on the Bills would have made Buffalo a better team this year. He is an extremely athletic player for his position and I do think he has great potential. But I am glad Buffalo made the trade and I am also happy with the compensation.

Here is why:

Despite Buffalo not only signing him as un drafted free agent. Despite showing him the utmost patience in teaching him a new position. Despite rewarding his play with a switch to the coveted left tackle position. Despite giving him a huge 5 year $15 million extension. Despite starting him immediately after an ugly and lengthy holdout last summer.

Jason Peters showed no allegiance or loyalty to the organization that created his livelihood. Without the Buffalo Bills, Jason Peters would be working for UPS right now.

Peters made a scene out of himself with his dumb holdout last year. I wrote that I was proud of new GM Russ Brandon for his defiant stance with a player under contract. So Peters eventually came to the team, one day before the season started, and hurt his team on and off the field. He came into the season out of shape, out of sync, and without the skills that led him to the Pro Bowl the previous year.

Once Buffalo was eliminated from playoff contention, he got ‘injured’ and missed the last two games of the year. He led the league in sacks allowed, was called for a holding penalty every fifteen effin plays, was noticeably worse in run blocking, and gave every indication that he was prepared to holdout again this summer without a new contract (Apparently making almost $4 million per year wasn’t enough for Mr. Peters).

So I love the trade. Not only do we get three picks in the deal, we swing a potential $50 million in cap savings by shipping the most overrated offensive line commodity int he NFL. Philly gave Peters a six year extension worth $60 million with $25 million guaranteed. His contract was up next year and there was no way he would have resigned with Buffalo. So why not just pay him? The Bills simply weren’t going to make Peters the highest paid offensive lineman in football, because he isn’t even close to the best. He is probably only the fifth or sixth best lineman in the AFC East!

So the #11 pick may be an OT (If Andre Smith is still around), Langston Walker played VERY well at LT last year filling in for Peters so he is an option, or the Bills could use later picks to fill the new need. The cap savings is also prudent because in the next few years Buffalo is going to have lock up Marshawn, Trent, Poz, and a handful of other young stars.

Unfortunate but necessary. So long Peters, you were hardly worth any of our time.