Archives for April 2007

‘Even though they traded away No. 1 running back Willis McGahee, the Bills are poised to potentially move up in the first round and select Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson or stand pat and see if he falls to them. They would also consider Cal RB Marshawn Lynch with the No. 12 overall selection. The biggest questions for Buffalo are on defense, where they have had some key losses.’

‘With their quarterback issue resolved in their minds, general manager Marv Levy and coach Dick Jauron have gone about tearing apart the rest of their lineup and are in the process of putting it back together. After free agent defections and trades, five starting holes need to be filled. On offense, they include finding a new starting running back after Willis McGahee was traded to Baltimore. The line, meanwhile, will have at least two new starters: free agent Derrick Dockery at left guard and free agent Langston Walker at right tackle.’

‘Had he not suffered a bad hamstring pull that sidelined him for two weeks in camp, Nall would have also pushed Losman for the permanent No. 1 job. At 34 with a contract that paid him $1.485 million this year and $1.535 million next year, Holcomb may have been released had he not been traded. He was a good teammate and had the occasional big game. But Nall is the better player at this stage.’

‘The Bills are dealing with a serious leadership drain after parting ways with players like Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher. Those departures mean young players like J.P. Losman, Lee Evans and Angelo Crowell will have to assume those roles, along with some new veterans.’

‘”Yes, we’re in a more advantageous position than a year ago,” General Manager Marv Levy said. “At least there’s a much more firm sense of what has to be addressed. Now we still have to put in a lot of work, but the work and energy we put in can be more focused than it was last year when we were trying to get things tied together.”‘

‘It’s quite possible that a deal for Turner could take place in the very near future, which is no doubt putting Bills fans on the edge of their vast seat. If Buffalo finds a way to acquire the fast, powerful Turner (5-10, 237) for fair compensation, it could quickly propel itself into relevancy in the AFC East.’

‘"I really believe that I’m one of the best coming out," said Walker flatly. "I really do. I really believe that there’s not another back that’s as versatile as I am."’

‘The Chargers tendered Turner at the high level ($2.35M) which would require compensation in the form of a first and third round draft choice if he was signed to an offer sheet that San Diego chose not to match. That scenario however is unlikely to unfold with the Bills or any other NFL team.’

‘But is Turner worth the current asking price?’

‘”The only thing I can say is: Those who think they’re in this alone, they’re not,” Dobler said. “You can be blessed by the good Lord, by good luck, or by good people.”‘

‘Even without veterans like Spikes, Fletcher and Clements, Buffalo could be looking at a better defense next year. Weight matters in the NFL, and the Bills’ ‘D’ has gained and lost it in the right areas.’

‘Somehow, I think we’re going to see the Bills draft a middle linebacker, and I think that player will be Mississippi’s Patrick Willis. I’m not a London Fletcher basher like some, but Willis is bigger and just as fast or faster.’

‘Cal running back Marshawn Lynch has a lot of big plans concerning his future NFL career, but none of them exist without his mother as part of them.’

‘Chargers Running Back Michael Turner will pay a visit to One Bills Drive today.’

‘I lost all respect for McGahee the day I read those comments. He snubbed a city and a team that took a chance on him in the draft, that gave him so much, and threw all their support behind him. I used to think Willis McGahee was different. I used to think he actually cared for his team and about a town that loved their football. I was wrong.’