Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Stevie Johnson adds free agent Gibson to call list

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

The Buffalo Bills have made bolstering their wide receiver corps one of their top priorities this offseason. So has No. 1 receiver Stevie Johnson.

Johnson has frequently voiced his excitement in bringing in some wideout talent, and he’s even reached out to some on his own. (photo: Jeffrey Beall)

Dwayne Bowe was one those players before ultimately re-signing with Kansas City, as was Greg Jennings, who Johnson said may be looking for warmer weather than Buffalo in his next venture.

While speaking on the NFL Network’s NFL AM show Wednesday, Johnson added another name to his wish list that hasn’t gotten much attention this offseason.

“I talked to my boy Brandon Gibson, who is in St. Louis,” Johnson said. “He’s a stud, and Dashon Goldson, I talk to him a lot. Anybody is good enough to come to Buffalo and turn things around because we’ve got guys in place. Maybe we’re missing that one extra guy or two guys, but I think if we can grab just one big name in free agency we’ll be alright.”

Gibson, who’s been overshadowed by fellow Rams star Danny Amendola’s availability on the free agent market, is a beast of a receiver with big-play ability. He’s put up solid numbers behind Amendola, and he’s shown, if only once, that he can fulfill Bills’ general manager Buddy Nix’s requirement of making plays even when he’s completely covered.

The Bills are currently ailing at the position, having passed on offering contracts to Donald Jones and David Nelson.

Gibson may also fit the Bills’ mold for how much money they’re looking to spend on a wide receiver. After slapping the franchise tag on safety Jairus Byrd to the tune of just under $7 million, Buffalo will likely be out to get some value for their dollar on their next free agent acquisition. Gibson’s previous contract was four years at $1.85 million.

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