San Jose Bills Fan

To be objective, the Bills attempted to keep Poz and Whitner and failed. Regardless of people's opinions of those two players, they are both solid pros who've contributed to their new teams and whose departure has left unfilled holes in Buffalo.

Well then he's too short.

I just scurried over to their website to see what you were talking about. I can't remember how many of these items existed back in 2002 when we still lived there but I see they just added a Chicken Cordon Bleu Sub which Avenue Subs used to make. Those have chicken fingers, slices of ham and swiss, and blue cheese dressing. You could feel your arteries hardening with each bite but they were scrumptious! http://www.jimssteakout.com/menu.php?item=hotsubs

Absolutely correct. But passing on Kaep (taken two picks after Aaron Williams and one pick after Dalton) is another story.

I really don't know what to make of Levitre's statement. I find it very difficult to believe for instance that the Bills and his agent haven't at least had a few discussions.

It ultimately comes down to not getting a QB AND making a mediocre hire as his first Head Coach. I like Buddy as a person and supported his hiring. However at this moment, he is lucky to still be GM of the Bills. I betcha that more than 50% of the time, a GM who goes 16-32, and fails to find a quarterback and a Head Coach within 3 years is fired, all other considerations aside.

No. None of us have any idea. If I were forced to make a guess, I would say that Levitre (and Byrd) were totally committed to seeing their value on the open market and told the Bills so. I believe that Nix and Marrone want to retain both players and will do everything they can to make that happen. Franchising Byrd was the first and most obvious play. The Bills have a number in mind for Levitre. If it's very close to what Levitre is offered in free agency there's a chance that he'll re-sign with the Bills. That is my guess.

It was merely a suggestion on my part, Cappy. I understand what advanced stats/sabermetrics are but I'm still not totally clear on "analytics." I don't think that they're quite the same thing but I think analytics are supposed to have some sort of predictive value. Not sure though. I don't know. They could be using advanced stats that we'd have to pay extra for. I do know that several NFL teams have been subscribing to advanced stats/metrics groups like Pro Football Focus, Cold, Hard, Football Facts, and Football Outsiders. I know that Aaron Schatz who founded Football Outsiders recently participated in the MIT Sloan Analytics Conference with Scott Pioli and the Niners' Paraag Marathe. I think as more teams create their own department that there will be some movement of talent between these private subscription sites and the teams themselves. I wish sports analytics existed when I was young because I was a major sports statistics nerd.

Virtually everything is conjecture right now as Marrone has been here less than two months and has been pretty unavailable to the media. I profess zero knowledge as to what the new regime might do and I'm making not making any predictions until I get to know them better. I'm trying to deal mostly with known facts and biding my time until things actually happen. The known facts are that Nix did say he liked Levitre (however long ago) and that Marrone had a finesse left tackle with the Jets in Ferguson and an undersized but effective right guard in Brandon Moore. I don't recall Marrone expressing a preference for big maulers. Like you I'm enjoying the trickle of somewhat significant moves (Barnett, Wilson, McGee, Kelsay) and looking forward to more significant moves which will define the new regime and give us a greater understanding of their values. Oh and for the record, I have no problem with the David Nelson and Donald Jones non-situations. I'm just relieved as all hell that they didn't become the 3rd consecutive new regime to offer Kelsay a lucrative extension.

Kdiggs made some nice points but OldTimer speaks for me in this discussion. As OldTimer suggested, the stats you posted might not be deep enough to be considered analytics.

You are correct.

Wow. You started that JaMarcus Russell comeback thread and now this? You really do want the Bills to sign him don't you?

In 2010 and 2011, Flacco was very good in the postseason. Last year he was brilliant and came within a dropped pass and a missed field goal of taking the Ravens to the Super Bowl. Everyone knows they should have beaten New England. This year Flacco was flawless in the playoffs throwing 11 TDs and ZERO INTS. He truly (not statistically) outplayed Manning, Brady, and Kaepernick in the playoffs. He made ad libs and plays with his feet that I never imagined he could make. And of course, QB contracts always go up over time. See what Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers end up signing for. Flacco's record is sterling and he's never missed a game in his career. He's only 28 years old. I don't know if he'll continue to be a slightly better than average QB in the regular season but he's been a cold-blooded assassin in the last two playoffs. Without looking at stats, you could easily make the argument that Flacco's a better QB than Eli Manning. IMO, he deserves the money, both for past performance and for present and future market value.

Next time I'm in WNY (possibly May) I'll have to make at least two trips. One for a Hoagie and a second visit for the fingers or maybe a finger sub. Steak fries with both, of course.

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130301/SPORTS/130309945/two-bills-drive-1004

http://blogs.buffalonews.com/press-coverage/2013/02/agent-bills-interested-in-corey-mcintyre-but-free-agency-awaits.html New coach Doug Marrone's offense apparently will feature a blocking fullback because the Buffalo Bills want veteran fullback and special-teams captain Corey McIntyre to return. Despite the interest, McIntyre plans to shop his services on the open market in a couple weeks... McIntyre's value can't be measured in yards from scrimmage or receptions. Former coach Chan Gailey used him on offense almost exclusively as a blocker for C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. On 103 snaps last season, McIntyre had one touch, a 9-yard reception. McIntyre was an important blocker on kick and punt returns. He helped spring Leodis McKelvin and Brad Smith on several long returns. McIntyre also made six solo tackles on special teams.

Your name is Smoke-E and Warmack is an Ogalalla Sioux? I respect you repping your people but I don't think that's a good reason to draft a player.

The release of Turner was a foregone conclusion. I'm a bit surprised that Robinson is gonna be let go and quite surprised that Abraham will be released. While Abraham isn't an every-down player at his age, he's still one of the premier pass rushers in the league and good pass rushers don't grow on trees.

For me it's about the individuals, not the positions.

Can this guy play linebacker?

That's exactly what this team needs, for the 3rd running back to be a bruiser, short-yardage, eat the clock type back. edit: Who never fumbles and is good in pass protection.

Thanks Numark. I appreciate that very much. And here I'd just gotten done saying I wouldn't have to discuss Chris Kelsay ever again and then I put my foot back in it like two posts later. Okay. I'm done with this discussion too. I hope.

Didn't he also invent the first lambskin condom?

Numark and Mob, This is what JW said in the post I quoted upthread: He's working out and approaching it as if he's going to be back, while aware that the decision is not entirely his. jw Add that to the fact that the Bills doctors cleared him to resume working out which speaks to me of an intention to return for 2013. So if we're being fair here, it seemed that Kelsay intended to play at least one more season. Then he suddenly announced his retirement. There are two possible explanations. The one given by Kelsay or the one I believe, that the team told him he wasn't in their plans. None of us know the truth but I think both explanations are equally plausible. I certainly give no weight to Kelsay's official statement. That's all PR and glad-handing stuff that always happens during retirement statements. Kelsay retired with a few million dollars left on the table. Again, I believe he was forced out. Sorry about the a-holishness of my pre-edited response. I changed it when I realized I was being a douche.